Jonathan Goldsmith facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jonathan Goldsmith
Goldsmith at a charity event in 2009.
Born	(1938-09-26) September 26, 1938 (age 86) New York City, New York, U.S.
Other names	Jonathan Lippe
Alma mater	Boston University
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1963–present
Spouse(s)	Barbara Goldsmith (2006)
Children	1

Jonathan Goldsmith (born September 26, 1938) is an American character actor. A character actor is someone who often plays unique or unusual supporting characters rather than the main hero. While he has appeared in many movies and TV shows, he is most famous for playing "The Most Interesting Man in the World" in TV commercials for Dos Equis beer from 2006 to 2016.

Early Life

Goldsmith was born in the Bronx, a part of New York City. His mother was a model, and his father was a gym teacher. After graduating from Boston University in 1958, he decided to become a professional actor.

Acting Career

Getting Started in Hollywood

Goldsmith began his career acting in plays in New York. In 1966, he moved to California to work in movies and television. Like many new actors, he had to take other jobs to support himself. He worked as a construction worker and even drove a garbage truck.

For a while, he used the professional name "Jonathan Lippe," which was his stepfather's last name. He later changed it back to Goldsmith. He wanted his father to be able to share in his success and have a grandson with the same family name.

A Familiar Face on TV and in Movies

Goldsmith became well-known for acting in Western films. He appeared in 25 Westerns. In the 1976 movie The Shootist, he played a villain who had a showdown with the famous actor John Wayne.

He was also a guest star on more than 45 different TV shows. Some of these popular shows included Gunsmoke, Knight Rider, Hawaii Five-O, MacGyver, Murder, She Wrote, and The A-Team. He had a recurring role on the hit show Dallas, appearing in 17 episodes.

The Most Interesting Man in the World

From 2007 to 2015, Goldsmith starred in a very popular series of TV ads for Dos Equis beer. In the commercials, he played a character known as "The Most Interesting Man in the World." The ads were a huge success and helped the company sell a lot more of its product. The character also became a famous meme.

To get the part, Goldsmith had to improvise during his audition. He was told to imagine he was telling a story that ended with the line, "...and that's how I arm-wrestled Fidel Castro." Goldsmith took off one of his socks and talked for 30 minutes. His creative performance won him the role.

In 2016, the company decided to hire a new actor for the part. The next year, Goldsmith began appearing in commercials for Astral Tequila.

Life Outside of Acting

In the 1980s, Goldsmith started a business that was successful enough for him to take a break from acting. For a few years, he taught theater at Adelphi University in New York. He wrote a book about his life in 2017 called Stay Interesting: I Don't Always Tell Stories About My Life, But When I Do They're True and Amazing.

Goldsmith also spends time helping charities. He has supported groups that help victims of landmines and that work to cure cancer in dogs. He also supports foundations that protect Siberian tigers and help abused children.

Selected Filmography

See also

In Spanish: Jonathan Goldsmith para niños