Who is joe isuzu

There were always long shots of sedans on swerving roads, quiet cabins, and relaxed drivers. It was hard for consumers to tell one from another. That all changed with Joe Isuzu, one of the most dishonest, unethical—and successful—car salesmen of all time. From to , actor David Leisure played the fictional automotive dealer who lied through his plastered-smile face, turning the modest car company into a household brand name.

With a limited budget, the firm decided to focus on a salesman who never met a tale too tall. But the agency eventually went with Leisure, an actor who had bit parts in the Airplane! Prior to that, he lived in his car—a Volkswagen.

He filmed just one Isuzu spot before being called in to do six more. Despite dealerships being apprehensive over a parody of their own sales staff, the spots were an immediate hit.

Isuzu hit a reported 18 percent spike in sales during the rest of the year, with Leisure achieving the kind of spokesman recognition reserved for cereal mascots. After the spurt in sales, the company sold roughly the same amount of vehicles in the first half of Actually, 50 fewer. Both Isuzu and advertising industry experts expressed concern that Isuzu was such an entertaining persona that people were actually paying more attention to him and less attention to the product he was selling—the car.

How much of David Leisure's work have you seen? Known For. Empty Nest Charley Dietz. First Krishna. Show all Hide all Show by Jump to: Actor Soundtrack Self Archive footage. Hide Show Actor 76 credits. Captain Roger. Michael Nospine. Charles Woods - Episode 1.

Charles Woods. Charles Woods credit only. Show all 31 episodes. Rev Grace. Reverend Grace. Roger Wilkes. Show all 21 episodes. Bus Org voice. DMV Driving Instructor. David Leisure uncredited. Lenny Rosen. Sal voice. Chip Barker.

Pal Acres. Trace Cagney. Guy McMahon voice. Dean's Boss. Sergeant Gene Fagan voice. Bud Masada. William Tilbrook. Councilman Hinkley. Success - Mr. Success Nick Adams.

Spencer Spencer. Charley Dietz. Show all episodes. Stormy Gilliss. Teddy Wolfe voice. Lenny Salvino. Customer uncredited. Bink Winkleman. Guard Chester. Officer Jackson.