Creator of Pillsbury Doughboy Dead at 89

First the creator of the pet rock dies, and now the creator or another American fixture often accompanied by the word "iconic:" The former Chicago ad man who invented the Pillsbury Doughboy in 1965 has died at age 89, reports the Chicago Tribune. Rudolph Perz was working for the Leo Burnett ad agency when he dreamed up the character of a talking crescent roll, also known as Poppin' Fresh. Perz's first thought was to make him an animated cartoon figure in commercials, but that looked too much like Casper the Ghost, notes the Tribune. Hence, the move to a more real-life figure via stop-motion film. The first commercial cost all of $16,000, reports CNN Money. (More advertising stories.)