Commercials can often be perceived as dull by many individuals. To counter this, businesses incorporate mascots and humorous skits to engage viewers. One widely recognized example is the small gecko serving as the mascot in Geico’s insurance advertisements. The gecko’s distinctive voice and its effortless portrayal of an attitude towards the world around it are aspects that viewers appreciate.
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Certainly, the gecko’s voice is quite enjoyable. Whether you perceive it as British or Australian, it adds a distinctive charm. Having been associated with the company for an extended period, there is curiosity among some individuals about the identity of the person behind the voice of the diminutive character.
This is the Person who Voices Geico Gecko?
“You can save up to 15% on your car insurance in just fifteen minutes.” This familiar phrase from Geico’s memorable and award-winning commercials has likely caught your attention (via Investopedia). While you’ve probably heard the voice repeating it in those iconic commercials, have you ever wondered who is behind the Geico gecko?
The answer is British actor Jake Wood, who lent his voice to the Geico gecko, also known as Martin (via Hot Cars). Before Wood, several other actors, including Richard Steven Horvitz, Kelsey Grammer, Thomas Bromhead, Dave Kelly, and Andrew Randall (Behind the Voice Actors), contributed to bringing the adorable gecko to life.
Beyond his voice acting endeavors, Wood has made appearances in notable films such as “The Illusionist” and has been featured in numerous TV shows. His most prominent role, aside from voicing the gecko, was his 31-year stint as Max Branning on “EastEnders” (via IMDb).
The voice that is Geico gecko?
While there are some conflicting reports online (details to be discussed later), it seems that actor Jake Wood, who reportedly assumed the role of the Geico mascot in the mid-2000s following several predecessors, continues to be the voice of the beloved gecko we know today.
Jake, with a distinctly British accent that resonates in the gecko’s voice, has maintained a steady acting career since the 1980s, making appearances on various television shows.
For an extended period, Jake was part of the cast of a London-based soap opera titled “EastEnders,” a role he concluded at the beginning of 2021. The series revolves around the inhabitants of a fictional borough called Walford, with Jake portraying the main character, Max Branning, since 2006. Max’s storylines often revolve around his relationships and numerous marriages. In the early 1990s, Jake briefly portrayed another character named Jackson for a few episodes.
The story of Geico gecko voice actor Jake Wood is quite impressive.
In 2020, Jake Wood shared a heartfelt announcement, revealing his retirement from “EastEnders.” Expressing gratitude for his 15 wonderful years on the show and the friendships he formed, Jake Wood posted on his Twitter account (via Hello!), “I’ll naturally miss everyone from the show, but I’m happy they’ve opened the door to my character Max, and I’m looking forward to finding out what’s in store for the next chapter.”
Aside from his successful acting career, Jake Wood enjoys a fulfilling personal life as a content husband and a proud father. Married to Alison since 2001, the couple has two children, Buster and Amber. In a sweet Instagram post in 2019, Wood shared that his daughter Amber Bo aspires to enter the modeling industry, expressing gratitude that she is following in her mother’s footsteps.
While it remains uncertain whether Wood will take on another prominent role in the near future, he is currently occupied with raising his two children and assisting people in securing the best deals on car insurance.
Do you think you notice that the Geico Geico’s gecko’s vocal tone change?
According to The Mirror, Jake tweeted towards the end of the year that his insurance company removed him when he refused a substantial pay cut, although he didn’t specify the exact amount. Jake expressed on Twitter that the cut equated to “10 years of work wiped out within a single day.”
After initially tweeting about being replaced, Jake deleted all his tweets shortly afterward and issued an apology on Twitter for his rant. “Hey Twitter, regarding a disagreement I encountered with a lizard last week. I apologize,” he said. “I was irritated. I’m moving on. Nothing to be concerned about.”
While some media outlets suggest that Jake stopped voicing the gecko in 2015, others report that as of 2021, he continues to be the voice, indicating that he may have resolved the issues with the company before 2015. (Jake’s deletion of the original tweets and subsequent apology implies a resolution.)
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