Sean Whalen Shares How a ‘Got Milk?’ Commercial Affected His Relationship with Peanut Butter for 5 Years

Sean Whalen in the “Got Milk” Commercial.
Credit:

Propaganda Films

NEED TO KNOW

• Sean Whalen was a young character actor when he auditioned for the first-ever “Got Milk?” commercial in 1993, directed by Michael Bay.
• Whalen took a different approach to the audition, which helped him secure the role.
• Whalen discusses the unforgettable ad and its impact on his creative journey.

Sean Whalen’s career took a pivotal turn when he landing the first “Got Milk?” commercial. The veteran actor recently shared insights with PEOPLE about the 1993 ad, which sparked a larger campaign that became iconic throughout the ’90s and early 2000s.

Reflecting on the audition, Whalen noted that many contenders believed a specific actor had the role guaranteed due to past collaborations with director Michael Bay. “It was pretty known to me and to the guys around town that we really felt this one character actor was going to get the job because he had worked with Michael Bay before and Michael Bay really liked him,” he said.

The commercial features a man eating a peanut butter sandwich while listening to a trivia question on the radio: “Who shot Alexander Hamilton in that famous duel?” Whalen recounted how the audition involved peanut butter and bread, but the actors were given no guidance on their reactions to losing the trivia question. “When I went into the audition, they had peanut butter, they had bread, and they told us the situation, but they didn’t tell us what to do when we were told we didn’t win. It was wide open,” he recalled.

In a humorous twist, the character tries to answer the phone with a mouthful of peanut butter, only to realize he is out of milk. Whalen observed that many auditionees became frustrated with their performances. “I heard a lot of people got mad at the end. They were pounding the table or screaming or breaking things.” Instead, he chose to embrace the moment, saying, “I went there thinking, ‘All right, I’m not going to get this gig anyway. I may as well have fun.’ So I shoved so much peanut butter in my mouth, and my head was very skinny back then, so my mouth full of food looked pretty funny.”

Whalen’s unorthodox approach culminated in a touching moment at the end of the commercial where he expresses regret, achieving a narrative arc that resonated with viewers. “I just was whining, when I look at the phone, going, ‘My life has been a joke. My life has led up to this and I blew it.’ That sadness gave them a fuller arc,” he explained.

When he learned he had landed the role, Whalen was “shocked.” During filming, he was surprised to discover the team wanted to replicate his original audition direction. “They literally said, ‘Just do what you did in the audition,’ and that’s what they told me,” he stated. “You’re the only one who had that unique take at the end.”

Whalen described the set as stunning, filled with artifacts relevant to Alexander Hamilton, and described the shooting process as more grueling than expected. “Michael Bay just shot it over and over again for nine hours straight,” he recalled. “I had five handlers… and we’d go again. I would do that over and over and over again.” Despite the grueling schedule, he remembers the day fondly, noting, “It was easy and fun, although there were a few bumps along the way.”

Sean Whalen in 1991’s “The People Under the Stairs” (left) and in 2023.

Moviestore/Shutterstock; jfizzy/Star Max/GC Images

However, the shoot did have its challenges. Whalen mentioned the discomfort of holding a mouthful of peanut butter during technical difficulties, explaining, “My body does what it does because it goes, ‘Wait a minute, we got to break down this food, and he’s not chewing.’ So juices would come in my mouth.” The aftermath left him with canker sores and chapped lips due to the salt and oil content, and for five years, he abstained from peanut butter.

The commercial’s impact largely exceeded Whalen’s expectations, as it began as a local advertisement. He explained, “They went to the California Milk Board president… Just be creative and sell my milk. That is unchecked freedom for a creative person.” The ad ultimately increased milk sales by 25% in California, leading to its national adaptation. “And that’s why you have ‘Got Milk?’ with the mustache,” he noted.

Whalen acknowledged the complex implications of the commercial on his career. While it curtailed his commercial work, it opened doors in film and television, imparting an important lesson. “It reinforces that some of my best stuff I’ve ever done is when you just can’t care about it. You just go, ‘I’m just going to go. Since I have no chance, I’m just going to have fun,'” he reflected. “Whenever I get down… your whole career is because you trusted yourself 100%. You just got to trust yourself.”