Shaq's Greatest Acting Performances In Commercials, Ranked
Shaquille O'Neal is in a lot of commercials...like...a lot of commercials. This is a list to compile his greatest acting performances in visual advertising.
RKO Radio Pictures
NOTE: There are a lot of Shaq commercials. A lot. I narrowed them down based on YouTube access, and after weeks of research, watching endless Shaq commercial videos... I picked the top 20.
Food rations are low. Morale has hit rock bottom. I close my eyes and see Shaq promoting something. I wake up from nightmares of Shaq bursting out of my closet door with red eyes, screaming, "Did you try this new flavor topping?" Earlier this week, I even called my own cat "Shaq" by accident...and then she proceeded to yell, "Can you dig it?!" which led to Shaq, once again, bursting through my closet door and me waking up from the same nightmare.
It is all an endless cycle, and please just know, I tried my best with this list.
20.TNT
Shaq in Spanish...what could go wrong?
Flex on them, Shaq. This commercial would foreshadow Shaq's career with TNT, or is it just the mastermind Shaq-Psychic speaking it into existence?
Either way, pretty funny commercial, although the Spanish sounds like it can use some work.
19.The General
Shaq goes to the General to save some time and show off his acting range.
My mind was blown when I was told that Shaq was standing in front of a green screen. He sold it so well with compelling acting. What's next — someone's going to tell me the General isn't real?
18.Epson Printers
Shaq also does printer commercials. Why? Because he can.
This man is never not amazed by the product he is selling. That's a hall-of-famer right there.
17.Carnival Cruises
Shaq knocks this song out of the park to get people to go on a cruise.
It's 15 seconds, but man, Shaq's (totally his) voice brought a tear to my eye. Plus, the costume design for this advertisement was somewhere toward 200K, but I can't confirm that.
16.Icy Hot
Shaq brings the fire (and ice) to acting.
In this Icy Hot commercial, Shaq reminds everyone that he can take on a more serious tone. Seriously, Shaq said, "Rise from pain," and I literally was ready to run through a brick wall.
15.Buick
Shaq oozes charisma in this Buick commercial and shows it is even comfortable for a big man.
Maybe the best choice of ad by the Big Shamrock. If Shaq is comfortable in this car, then there is enough space for you. Genius.
Plus, Shaq does a good job with his lines. Top-notch execution. Top notch.
14.Pepsi Big Slam
Past the VHS quality of this commercial, Shaq shows why he was and still might be the biggest personality in sports.
13.Papa John's Shaq-a-roni
Shaq gives back to the community in the form of Papa John's Shaq-a-roni pizza.
The gift of Shaq keeps on giving.
This time, in the form of a greeting from the big man himself. A silly commercial in a much-needed rebrand for Papa John's.
12.Age of Beard
Shaq has beard mojo! Beard mojo! Beard mojo!
Some of the best child actors in any Shaq commercial, but let's be honest, who is elevating who? #NoChildCanDefeatTheShaq
Plus, the man can pull off a fake beard.
11.The General (again)
Shaq in this does his best Revenant impression in the woods.
Maybe the best commercial by the General. Shaq proved he doesn't need the General to score a bucket on commercials. Leo DiCaprio could never.
10.Forto Coffee
Shaq makes a shot of coffee look like a baby bottle in his hands.
A look inside Shaq's morning routine proves he is willing to dabble in both fictional and nonfictional roles. The Academy is really wasting everyone's time with those lesser actors.
9.Epson Rapid Receipt Scanner
Shaq breaks out a surprise leaf blower to sell a receipt scanner.
He really did make it look like a piece of cake. Shaqel Day-Lewis really shows how easy this "Rapid Receipt Scanner" is to use.
8.The General (a third time!)
Shaq and his friend are the cool kids at the lunch table.
The General delivers another gem. This time Shaq doesn't let Kenny Smith and Ernie Johnson sit at the cool kids' table. His translation of the young lad's satisfied "aaah" is textbook. The Big Shaqthurity is batting a thousand.
7.Frosted Flakes
Shaq brings out the best acting from Tony the Tiger that we have seen in ages.
Don't lie. Tony is stiff and has one line he delivers with any charisma. Not like Shaq, who brings his A-game all day. Heck, he even says, "They're great!" with more gusto.
6.American Express
The Big Shaqtus does a great job reacting authentically in this commercial, and the smack of soap on his head was the icing on the cake.
5.ESPN
Shaq's Scrabble skills are limitless and Shaqtastic.
Maybe the funniest commercial Shaq has blessed planet Earth with. The delivery of "don't worry about it" might be the best Shaq acting in a single moment...ever.
4.SportsCenter
Shaq rescues a cat, and audiences everywhere weep in a "This is Sportscenter" TV spot.
Not all Shaq's wear capes. In this commercial, Shaq shows off his athleticism by carrying a very heavy cat down a ladder.
The cat was later identified as LSU's mascot. We reached out for a comment, but the cat said he had no comment right meow.
3.Gold Bond
Shaq's Gold Bond commercials are the stuff of meme legend.
The shimmy. The facial expressions. All too good. No notes. Just enjoy.
2.Papa John's (again)
Shaq's shocking reveal proves he is a master of disguises.
When he said, "I'm the new guy," it totally threw me off the scent. It was only until the reveal that I recognized Superman.
10/10 for the twist.
1.Vitamin Water
Shaq as a jockey for this Vitamin Water commercial might be the movie we all desperately need.
Seriously, give me a movie where 7'2" Shaquille O'Neal is an aspiring jockey with his horse, "Chunk of Love." It sounds like an SNL-produced film, and I'd love it.
Of course, this whole list was tongue-in-cheek, but the joke's on everyone else...Shaq keeps getting paid.
