The Original Geico Caveman: Revealing the Face Behind the Iconic Character
Unveiling the Actor Behind the Geico Caveman: John Lehr
Back in 2004, a Geico commercial aired featuring a cave-dwelling character known as “The Caveman.” This quirky character quickly caught the attention of viewers, but do you recognize the actor behind this iconic role? It’s none other than the talented John Lehr.
When John first appeared in the commercial, dressed as a caveman with his rugged appearance, crooked teeth, disheveled hair, and Neanderthal-like features, he instantly became a household name. Not only did the role bring him recognition, but it also provided a welcome boost to his bank account.
In a recent interview with Interviewing Hollywood, John revealed, “It’s the perfect job for someone like me, a character actor. I’ve made a good amount of money from these commercials, and the best part is that nobody knows it’s me. It’s a perfect blend of reality and absurdity, which aligns perfectly with my sense of humor. It’s been a fantastic experience.”
John added, “I’ve been amazed by the response. My wife recently searched for ‘GEICO caveman blogs,’ and it’s incredible. There’s a whole community of people out there who are captivated by these commercials.”
However, the role of the caveman character came with its own set of challenges for John. It required long hours of makeup and improvisation to fully embody the hairy, prehistoric figure.
Reflecting on the process, John shared, “I would simply lie there and let them glue stuff onto me. It never bothered me. I mean, after about eight hours, all I wanted was to get it off! It’s a unique experience. You have to find your zen place.”
He continued, “The only part of me that remained unchanged was my eyes. Everything else was transformed. It’s the best job because you get to be the spokesperson for a product, but nobody associates it with you. You’re not typecast. I ended up shooting over twenty-five national spots, which is unheard of. It truly became a phenomenon.”
Interestingly, the popularity of the caveman character even led to the creation of a sitcom series in 2007 called “Cavemen,” based on the character. However, the show did not achieve success, and John Lehr did not appear in the sitcom.
The Geico commercials had a profound impact on John’s life, opening doors he hadn’t even dreamed of. He had the opportunity to attend the Oscars, rubbing shoulders with A-list stars, and collaborating with other renowned brands.
Recounting his experience at the Oscars, John nostalgically shared with Forbes, “They sent me to the Oscars in full makeup and even arranged for a stunning model to be my date on the red carpet. The funny thing was that all the celebrities wanted to take pictures with me. Gary Busey, John Voight, you name it.
And then this gorgeous actress comes up to me and starts hitting on me. I dropped character and told her, ‘You do realize I’m not actually a caveman, right? I’m an actor with glued-on hair, and I’m happily married.’ She responded, ‘I don’t care. Let’s have sex.'”
Today, John leads a fulfilling life with his wife, Jennifer, whom he married in the early 2000s. Together, they raise their children and cherish the memories and opportunities that the Geico caveman role brought into their lives.
