He is the life of parties he’s never attended.If he were to punch you in the face, you would have to fight off the urge to thank him.
Sharks have a week dedicated to him.
He is, the most interesting man in the world.
You don’t always forget the name of an actor, but when you do, it’s Jonathan Goldsmith. You aren’t alone. He is one of the most recognized actors for whom people don’t know the actual name.
Long before his mythical character paraded across Dos Equis ads, being idolized by young women, traveling the globe on a 70-foot yacht, sipping on a beer, and before his likeness was celebrated through countless memes:
Jonathan Goldsmith’s life would become quite interesting. If anything, his story will inspire you — because nothing about his early life could have predicted all that would come.
Jonathan was born in New York City in 1938 and took an early interest in acting. He studied improvisational theater and comedy for years. After graduating from Boston University, he moved to Hollywood where he struggled through his mid-20s. He worked a series of bad jobs to make ends meet. He was in construction and even worked as a garbage man.
In fact, he often drove his garbage truck to auditions, changing into a suit right there in the parking lot as he took up five spots and angered other cars. Initially, Jonathan landed one-off spots in popular shows, including standing alongside an oiled-up William Shatner in a “Star Trek” episode.
Shatner allegedly insisted he do these scenes with his shirt off — it wasn’t in the script.
Jonathan eventually escaped menial jobs with recurring roles in Western films, which were big business at the time.
Jonathan lied to get his big acting job.
The producer asked if he knew how to ride a horse and he said, “Like the wind, and without breaking a stride.” It worked. Unfortunately, he’d never actually ridden a horse.
His first ride happened right on the set. The horse immediately sensed Jonathan’s lack of confidence and freaked out. After a chaotic few moments, everyone ran to help him, and the producer then said, “‘Like the wind, huh?” They worked it out and moved forward. His days in construction and delivering trash were over.
Goldsmith appeared in a slew of famous Westerns alongside the likes of Clint Eastwood, Dustin Hoffman, and John Wayne. His appearances read like an episode of “1,000 Ways to Die.”
His on-screen deaths included gunshots (many times), electrocution, being run over by a wagon, and an inglorious public hanging.
His character was even killed by John Wayne during Wayne’s final film, “The Shootist.”
The death scene required shooting Goldsmith between the eyes with a blood pellet (that hurt). Unfortunately, Wayne was older and off of his game, requiring them to do seven retakes. However, Jonathan’s role as a villain kept the paychecks coming for decades. He appeared in more than 350 different films. And he eventually got quite good at riding a horse:
One of his funnier blunders occurred early in his career. He was starring in a Broadway show alongside a young Dustin Hoffman. They didn’t get along with each other and often argued during rehearsals.
In his memoir, Goldsmith said they nearly fist-fought backstage. It ended with him shouting at Hoffman, “You are just mad that I’m going to make it, and you aren’t!”
He openly admits to eating those words (but has a good sense of humor about it).
Jonathan’s acting career eventually fizzled. He went into the business world before retiring in 1998. Then, after going through a bitter divorce, he lived on a sailboat and traveled up and down the East Coast.
By 2006, he needed money and missed acting. He got a new agent. She called him to discuss a possible role in a commercial campaign. The audition was improvisational and required to end with the line, “And that’s how I arm-wrestled Fidel Castro.” The character was to be an over-the-top Ernest Hemmingway type.
He showed up at the audition to see hundreds of men in line, wrapped around the building. Most of them were young, handsome Latinos (Dos Equis is, after all, a Latin beer).
Jon had grown up Jewish but had spent his previous years sailing with a charming Latin friend. Additionally, unlike his handsome contemporaries, he had a lifetime of acting and practiced improvisational skills.
He channeled his friend’s thick accent and, for 30 minutes, made the room of producers laugh. His agent got the call one week later.
Unfortunately, the directors said they loved Goldsmith but he was too old. His agent then pushed back during the call, “How can the most interesting man in the world be young?”
They told her they’d call her back. A week later, it was a much better phone call that came in. Fifty years after his long grind as an actor began, he was immortalized as an advertising legend. His role in the Dos Equis ads tripled beer sales. He pocketed millions during his decade as their spokesman and later married the agent who landed him the role. No, Jonathan Goldsmith can’t “speak French, in Russian” or cure narcolepsy just by stepping into a room. But he has lived a very rich and interesting life.
He once saved a woman from drowning. He went out with Judy Garland. He’s escorted Miss America to the Oscars. And he’s died every which way but up in dozens of Western films.
Today, he rubs shoulders with celebrities everywhere he goes.
Goldsmith and Jennifer Lawrence.
He even became friends with President Obama and has been to the White House several times.
Jonathan Goldsmith, we salute you. You are “The Most Interesting Man In The World.” And you are also quite interesting.
Now, if you’ll allow me to add my own personal note here.
This is our family dog, Bear. We frequently joke and refer to him as, “The Most Interesting Dog In The World.”
