Who played the Faygo Man in the famous 1972 TV commercial?

Actor Harold Peary.

Born in San Leandro, CA in 1908 as Harrold Jese Pereira de Faria, he started his career in 1925 doing radio.

In 1935, Peary was cast as Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve in the “Fibber McGee and Molly Show”. The success of the character got Peary his own radio show, “The Great Gildersleeve” which broadcast from 1941-1958. His numerous TV appearances include “The Brady Bunch”, “Petticoat Junction”, “My Three Sons”, “Perry Mason” and “The Dick Van Dyke Show”.

Peary also appeared in the 1967 film “Clambake” starring Elvis Presley, Shelley Fabares and Bill Bixby.

He died in 1985 at age 77.

Many people thought the Faygo commercial was filmed near Boblo Island on the Detroit River, but internet references indicate it was actually filmed in South America!