Fred Thomas Jr. Talks 'Whassup?!' Fame and Hollywood's Evolving Landscape

Podcetera

Fred Thomas Jr., actor, director, and producer skyrocketed to fame as one of the original stars of Budweiser’s legendary and iconic "Whassup?!" commercial campaign. With the 25th anniversary of the viral ad fast approaching, Fred shares captivating stories from his career, reflecting on his iconic role in pop culture and the lessons he’s learned along the way. From his time as an Army Reserve combat medic to navigating the evolving entertainment industry in the era of AI and streaming, Fred offers a unique perspective on fame, fatherhood, and the future of Hollywood.

Fred is a three-time NAACP Theatre Award winner for his play 12’ X 9’, he is an alumnus of Lincoln University and Temple University’s Masters in Film and Media Arts program. He founded Temple University’s Black Media Collective and received accolades as a Film Independent Screenwriting Fellow and a Writer’s Guild of America Veterans Writer Program Recipient.

Fred directed the award-winning short film 22 Years, which screened at 76 film festivals and garnered numerous accolades. His film credits include 24 Hour Love and Ladies Book Club, available on Amazon Prime and Apple TV. Additionally, he has worked as a production coordinator for E! Entertainment’s red carpet events and has spent 15 seasons as a robotic camera operator for CBS’s Big Brother. Currently, he plays Detective Caine on the ALLBLACK Network's Kold x Windy and continues to pursue innovative projects that challenge and inspire creativity.
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