Casting Trends: Drugs Are The New Beer

by Jenny O'Haver

Beer commercials used to be the 'cherry' jobs in the commercial acting world.  They almost always run nationally and often pay the actors terrific residuals.  You can practically put a deposit down on a house for what you'd make if you booked just one!  While beer spots are still a big score, there just aren't as many being made anymore.

Nowadays, the pharmaceutical industry is where the residuals are.   Where once the big cha-ching jobs were going to the younger good-looking talent that often dominate the beer spots (though you have to be legally 25 years old to appear in any alcohol commercial), now the big residuals seem to be leaning toward the aging baby boomers.  Many of the pharmaceutical spots feature actors over 50 years old...but they are still darn good looking!

Photo by Voraorn