NEW YORK -- Michael Vale, the actor best known for his portrayal of a sleepy-eyed Dunkin' Donuts baker who said time to make the donuts, has died, his family said on Tuesday, according to the Associated Press. He was 83.
Vale's long-running character, Fred the Baker, became a cultural icon. The ad campaign lasted 15 years, until Vale retired in 1997.
Vale died Saturday in New York City of complications from diabetes, according to the family.
Canton, Mass.-based Dunkin' Donuts said in a statement that the [image-nocss] corporation was saddened. It said Vale's character became a beloved American icon that permeated our culture and touched millions with his sense of humor and humble nature.
Brooklyn-born Vale studied acting at The Dramatic Workshop in New York City with classmates Tony Curtis, Ben Gazzara and Rod Steiger. A veteran of the Broadway stage, film (including Marathon Man) and TV, Vale appeared in more than 1,300 commercials.
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