Post by Laurence Aikens

Rodney Allen Rippy (July 29, 1968) is a former child actor, television personality, marketing director, producer, and politician. He appeared in TV commercials for the fast-food chain Jack in the Box in the early 1970s, as well as in numerous roles in television and movies. He was seen trying to wrap his mouth around the super-sized Jumbo Jack hamburger. The tagline “It’s too big to eat!” became a catchphrase. Another spot showed him giggling while singing the song “Take Life a Little Easier,” which was released as a single in the wake of the commercial’s popularity. The single (b/w “World of Love”) appeared on the Billboard magazine “Bubbling Under” chart, peaking at #112. At the age of five, he became the youngest person ever to make the Billboard music chart. An LP, titled Take Life a Little Easier, was released. He had guest roles in many popular television shows, including The Six Million Dollar Man, Marcus Welby, M.D., Police Story, and The Odd Couple. He appeared on talk shows such as The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and Dinah’s Place with Dinah Shore. He had a co-starring role in The Harlem Globetrotters Popcorn Machine. He made his big screen debut in Blazing Saddles. He portrayed a young Sheriff Bart. In a Peanuts newspaper comic strip, Snoopy awakens from a dream in which he “had been invited out to dinner by Rodney Allen Rippy!” He graduated from Cerritos College and California State University, Dominguez Hills, where he majored in marketing. He opened his marketing firm, which he named Ripped Marketing Group. He worked on campaigns such as promoting leisure wear and country music, among other projects. He has taken on a few acting roles since his childhood stardom, filming a few episodes of Parker Lewis Can’t Lose and appearing in Former Child Star and Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star. He is a partner in the film production company Bow Tie Productions and a spokesman for Hurricane Housing Relief. He worked at KABC-TV in Los Angeles. He has served as master of ceremonies for the Carson Relay For Life. He was a national director of marketing with Metro Networks. He ran for Mayor of Compton in 2015. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence