Actor Jonathan Goldsmith is most famous for his Dos Equis beer commercials as The Most Interesting Man in the World for nine years. He was in Burlington, VT this Saturday judging a competition called Vermont Beardies. Goldsmith, who now lives in Manchester with his wife Barbara, was one of four judges supporting Make-a-Wish Vermont.
Make-a-Wish Vermont helps grant wishes to children living with life-threatening conditions. Saturday's event helped raise nearly $30,000. Goldsmith maintains his own closely cropped white beard with lice comb given to him by a veterinarian.
President and CEO of Make-A-Wish Vermont, James Hathaway, said the winner of the event will take away bragging rights. All contestants will receive products from Vermont Beard and Mustache Co., one of the event's sponsors.
Career started in NYC
He later pursued a career in film and television. From 1960 to 1990 he appeared in several TV shows. However, he is best known for being the face of Dos Equis beer.
As a young actor, Goldsmith, used the name, Jonathan Lippe, using his stepfather's name. He later changed his name back to Goldsmith – his birth name because he wanted his father to enjoy his success and allow his son to carry on the Goldsmith name. For a time, Goldsmith started a network marketing business, taught theater at Adelphi University in Garden City, New York, and once lived on a large sailboat.
The most interesting man in the world campaign increased by 15.4 percent sales for the Do Equis brand in the U.S. in 2009 and is also credited for turning Goldsmith into a very popular meme. Goldsmith got the role of the Dos Equis man by auditioning for it. He said that the character he portrayed was taken from his, now deceased, sailing partner and friend Fernando Lamas.
Goldsmith has been a lifelong advocate
Aside from Make-a-Wish Vermont, Goldsmith has been an advocate for landmine victim support. The actor has also helped the Morris Animal Foundation and the S.A.B.R.E Foundation. His advocacy doesn't stop there. He supports Free Arts for Abused Children, in addition to the Stella Link Foundation. He just might be the most interesting man in the world and perhaps one of the most charitable, too.
