Who Has Played the Iconic Colonel Sanders for KFC Over the Years?

Colonel Harland Sanders, founder of the Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) franchise, is one of the most recognizable brand icons of all time. With his signature white suit, black string tie, and white goatee, Sanders came to symbolize the KFC brand. While Sanders himself portrayed the Colonel in advertising beginning in the 1950s, KFC has used a wide range of celebrities and public figures to play the famous mascot in various marketing campaigns over the years. So who all has had the honor of stepping into the Colonel‘s shoes? Let‘s take a look:

Before the Celebrities: The Real Colonel Sanders

Long before actors and comedians played the iconic colonel, the real Harland Sanders was the original face of Kentucky Fried Chicken.

After perfecting his famous secret recipe and launching his first restaurant in 1930, Sanders pioneered the concept of franchising in the restaurant business. He licensed his chicken recipe and cooking methods to restaurants around the country.

According to KFC, Sanders personally performed quality control inspections of these franchises, always dressed in his trademark white suit. When KFC began advertising on TV in the 1950s and 60s, Sanders naturally took on the role of the Colonel himself. He was featured in numerous TV commercials and print ads extolling the flavors of his secret 11 herbs and spices recipe.

With his distinct southern drawl and classic one-liners like “It’s finger lickin’ good!”, Sanders came to embody the KFC brand and its core values of homestyle cooking and hospitality. Even after selling KFC in 1964, Sanders remained a key figurehead for the company until his death in 1980.

George Hamilton Ushers in the Celebrity Colonels (2015)

After decades of using Sanders as its sole Colonel, KFC revived the founder as a central part of its marketing in 2015 by hiring actor George Hamilton as the first celebrity Colonel.

According to KFC‘s press release, the company wanted Hamilton‘s version of the Colonel to be "as rich, crisp and golden brown on the outside as KFC‘s world-famous fried chicken."

The resulting "Extra Crispy Colonel" campaign showed a tuxedo-clad Hamilton sailing on a boat and lounging poolside while enjoying KFC‘s revamped Extra Crispy chicken recipe. His smooth, sophisticated charm brought an aura of luxury to the classic character.

According to Kantar Media ad data, the George Hamilton ads resulted in a 6% sales increase for KFC in 2015 and started a trend of celebrity Colonels.

Darrell Hammond Brings Holiday Cheer (2015-2016)

In late 2015, Saturday Night Live veteran Darrell Hammond took up the mantle of Colonel Sanders just in time for the holiday season.

Hammond starred in the "Kentucky Buckets for the Holidays" campaign, surprising customers with special holiday gift buckets. KFC described his Colonel as embodying "all the qualities of the ultimate gentleman southern gentleman – witty, warm and wise."

In one memorable commercial, Hammond photo-bombed a family holiday card shoot to present them with KFC’s festive $20 Fill-Up meal. His jovial spirit and cheerful one-liners like "Oh Christmas Bucket!" aimed to spread holiday joy.

Jim Gaffigan Adds Comic Relief (2016-2017)

In early 2016, comedian Jim Gaffigan became the third star to play the Colonel in ads for KFC.

The "Kentucky Fried Chicken in the New Year" campaign featured Gaffigan prominently in a series of wacky, lighthearted TV commercials and social media videos promoting KFC‘s $5 Fill Up deal.

According to AdAge, Gaffigan‘s "goofier, softer Colonel" aimed to give the character more widespread appeal and comedic flair. Viewers responded well to Gaffigan‘s self-deprecating punchlines and exaggerated mannerisms.

Gaffigan even voiced Colonel Sanders in KFC‘s wacky dating simulator video game "I Love You, Colonel Sanders!" His comedic take on the Colonel generated buzz and laughs on social media.

Rob Riggle Brings the Laughs (2016)

In August 2016, comedian Rob Riggle delivered an outrageously funny performance as Colonel Sanders in ads centering around a fictional "Nashville‘s Chicken Sandwich Showdown."

Channeling over-the-top southern TV personalities, Riggle‘s Colonel hilariously blasted rival chicken sandwiches with hyperbolic criticisms and glowing praise for KFC‘s offering.

According to Adweek, the boisterous, exaggerated character played into "Riggle‘s strength as a bombastic personality." His goofy southern accent and zany energy brought big laughs.

Ray Liotta Adds Drama (2016)

In stark contrast to the comedic Colonels, acclaimed actor Ray Liotta brought an air of intensity and drama to the role in ads for KFC‘s Georgia Gold chicken launch in late 2016.

Dressed in the trademark white suit, Liotta‘s Colonel passionately delivers a dramatic monologue against a dark, moody backdrop describing the crunchy, golden Georgia Gold chicken as the "best fried chicken we‘ve ever served."

Liotta‘s theatrical, serious delivery focused on conveying the premium quality of the product rather than laughs. According to USA Today, the ominous tone and stylized visuals were meant to separate the campaign from the "zany Colonels of the past."

Rob Lowe Parodies Himself (2016-2017)

Actor Rob Lowe took a tongue-in-cheek approach to playing Colonel Sanders in 2016 ads for KFC‘s new fried chicken recipe.

The campaign introduced Lowe‘s Colonel as having "a penchant for drama" and showed him in various ridiculous scenarios like re-enacting famous movie scenes and staging flashy musical numbers.

One commercial presented "The Lowe Profile" mocking Lowe‘s short-lived reality dating show. An aloof, melodramatic Lowe complains about struggling to find romance despite being a wealthy, famous Colonel.

According to Adweek, Lowe‘s meta parody of his own dramatic tendencies and vanity brought "just the right mix of smugness and kitsch" to the role.

Vincent Kartheiser Takes a Sinister Turn (2017)

Mad Men actor Vincent Kartheiser portrayed a highly unsettling and macabre version of the Colonel in ads for KFC‘s $5 Fill Up promotion in 2017.

With haunting background music and ominous lighting, Kartheiser‘s cryptic Colonel speaks directly into the camera making strange allusions to "dark cravings" and "sinking your teeth into something hot and juicy."

According to Adweek, the disturbing ads were meant to be shocking and memorable by positioning the Colonel almost as a "gluttonous vampire." Kartheiser‘s dramatic theatricality took the character to spooky new heights.

Billy Zane Brings Mystery and Intrigue (2017)

To promote KFC‘s new Georgia Gold chicken, actor Billy Zane portrayed a smooth, sophisticated Colonel Sanders hosting an exclusive dinner party in 2017 ads.

Surrounded by glamorous party guests, Zane‘s handsome, enigmatic Colonel presents the new menu item in hushed tones like he‘s sharing a coveted secret recipe.

According to Adweek, Zane‘s "debonair" and "mysterious" Colonel brought an aura of exclusivity and luxury. Viewers buzzed about his striking costume and secretive mannerisms.

Mario Lopez Appeals to a New Generation (2018)

In 2018, TV personality Mario Lopez starred as a youthful, energetic Colonel promoting KFC‘s new Crispy Colonel chicken sandwich.

Dubbed "The New Colonel," Lopez‘s modernized appearance included aviator sunglasses, a sleek biker-style jacket, and a close-cropped goatee. The campaign depicted his exuberant Colonel as a "Sandwich Artiste" devoted to making the perfect crispy chicken sandwich.

According to KFC, the idea was for Lopez to put a "youthful spin" on the iconic role. His enthusiasm and charm portrayed the Colonel as more hip and relatable to a new generation.

Reba McEntire as the First Female Colonel (2018)

In 2018, country star Reba McEntire made history as the first woman to portray Colonel Sanders in KFC ads promoting Smokey Mountain BBQ chicken.

Sporting a red rhinestone suit and grey goatee, McEntire‘s charming southern twang and warm hospitality put a fresh spin on the renowned character. She refers to herself as "Colonel Reba" and reminds viewers that "finger lickin‘ good comes in all shapes and sizes!"

According to KFC‘s press release, the idea was for "Reba‘s vivacious personality [to] breathe new life into this iconic role." Her pioneering portrayal resonated with many as empowering and inclusive.

Jason Sudeikis Brings The Laughs (2019-2020)

Comedian Jason Sudeikis brought his cheerful, comedic energy to the role starting in 2019 ads for various KFC promotions and menu items.

Sudeikis‘ down-home, good-natured Colonel is shown enjoying chicken and spreading joy through gestures like leading a gospel choir and teaching aerobics classes. The feel-good tone aims to "spread chicken-fueled happiness across America," according to AdAge.

In 2020, Sudeikis appeared in a series of "behind-the-scenes" style ads showing the Colonel telling jokes, attempting viral dance moves, and trying to master social media trends – portraying a fun, contemporary version of the famous icon.

KFC has employed numerous big name celebrities and public figures to portray Colonel Sanders since 2015, but why does the company keep swapping out actors so frequently? There are several strategic reasons behind this approach:

Promote New Menu Items & Campaigns – Each new Colonel aligns with the launch of a new KFC product or promotion. The fresh face helps draw attention to menu innovations.

Appeal to Diverse Audiences – Various actors allow KFC to appeal to multiple demographics. A kids‘ movie star like Lopez attracts younger fans, while comedy stars like Riggle attract adults.

Generate Buzz – Frequent actor changes keep things exciting and consumers guessing who‘s next. KFC‘s rotating Colonels always generate tons of media buzz and social media chatter.

Showcase the Colonel‘s Range – KFC can showcase the beloved mascot‘s range by having different actors provide unique takes on the character – whether it‘s dramatic, comedic, mysterious or musical.

Boost Brand Awareness – Having high profile stars portray Colonel Sanders keeps the iconic mascot culturally relevant and cements his place as an instantly recognizable pop culture symbol.

Colonel Harland Sanders first debuted as a key part of KFC‘s marketing all the way back in the 1950s. Over 70 years later, he remains a beloved pop culture icon synonymous with the brand. While various celebrities have brought unique interpretations, the classic white suit and goatee remain instantly recognizable across generations.

As one of the most unforgettable brand mascots of all time, it‘s clear the famous founder and his secret recipe will continue to be the face of Kentucky Fried Chicken for decades to come. Whether portrayed in a zany comedic act, a musical spectacular, or a dramatic thriller, Colonel Sanders will no doubt continue to be depicted by A-listers in new ways that keep this iconic cultural symbol fresh and engaging.