Quick Summary:
The biggest recent Burger King campaign is “There’s a New King and It’s You,” a 2026 brand spot that puts Burger King guests at the center of the ad rather than a traditional celebrity spokesperson. Burger King’s official newsroom says the campaign “puts its Guests in the spotlight” and officially moves away from the old King mascot as the focus of the brand. The answer to the article’s main question is: the latest major Burger King commercial is not centered on a famous actor, but Burger King has a long history of using recognizable performers and figures in its ads, including Mary J. Blige, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Andy Warhol, and the long-running King mascot.
Quick Facts
- Brand: Burger King
- Hub Page Topic: Burger King Commercial Actors
- Major recent commercial: “There’s a New King and It’s You”
- Current campaign focus: Burger King guests, not a celebrity spokesperson
- Current public face tied to the campaign: Tom Curtis, President, Burger King US&C
- Notable past Burger King commercial figures: Mary J. Blige, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Andy Warhol, The King
- Current campaign theme: Guest feedback, “You Rule,” and “Whopper by You”
- Ad style: Fast food, humor, nostalgia, customer empowerment, and brand storytelling
Burger King commercials have changed a lot over the years. In 2026, the brand’s most visible campaign is “There’s a New King and It’s You,” and Burger King says the ad campaign is specifically designed to put guests in the spotlight. The company’s official newsroom explains that the campaign celebrates the people who helped shape Burger King’s turnaround and even says the old King mascot is officially “fired” from the central role in the advertising.
That means the latest Burger King commercial is different from many celebrity-driven ads. Instead of focusing on one famous actor or actress, Burger King is focusing on customers, feedback, and the idea that the guest now wears the crown. At the same time, Burger King has a long ad history that includes well-known performers, memorable spokes-characters, and recognizable pop-culture faces.
| Actor / Celebrity / Figure | Burger King Commercial or Campaign | Role / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tom Curtis | “There’s a New King and It’s You” era / guest-feedback campaign | Burger King’s president became a visible public face of the brand’s customer-feedback push. |
| The King | Classic Burger King mascot campaigns | Burger King’s most famous recurring ad figure for many years. |
| Mary J. Blige | Chicken snack-wrap commercial | One of the brand’s most talked-about celebrity ad appearances. |
| Sarah Michelle Gellar | Early Burger King commercials | Appeared in Burger King ads as a child before becoming a major TV star. |
| Andy Warhol | “Eat Like Andy” Super Bowl commercial | Burger King used famous footage of Warhol eating a Whopper in a memorable campaign. |
| Burger King guests / everyday performers | “You Rule” / “There’s a New King and It’s You” / “Whopper by You” | Current Burger King campaigns rely more on real-people energy than traditional celebrities. |
The current Burger King brand platform emphasizes guests, “You Rule,” and “Whopper by You,” according to official Burger King press materials from 2022 through 2026.
The latest major Burger King commercial is “There’s a New King and It’s You.”
According to Burger King’s official newsroom, the campaign launched in March 2026 and was created to spotlight guests as the real stars of the brand. Burger King says the campaign reflects years of listening to customer feedback and ties into a larger turnaround effort for the company. The same release says the campaign officially moves away from the old King mascot as the centerpiece of Burger King advertising.
That is important because it shows a shift in strategy. Burger King is not currently leaning on a Hollywood celebrity in its main national message. Instead, it is using a broader, more inclusive message about customers shaping the future of the brand.
While Tom Curtis is not a traditional commercial actor, he has become one of the most visible named figures tied to Burger King’s recent advertising and publicity.
Burger King’s official 2026 announcements say the brand invited guests to call or text President Tom Curtis directly to share their Burger King experiences. The company describes that effort as part of a broader strategy that also includes Whopper by You, product improvements, and the guest-centered “There’s a New King and It’s You” campaign.
That makes Curtis a notable name in the Burger King advertising universe. Even though he is a corporate executive rather than a professional actor, he is clearly part of the brand story the company is telling.
For many viewers, the most famous “actor” in Burger King ads is still The King.
The King was not a celebrity in the usual sense, but he became one of the most recognizable fast-food mascots in television advertising. The character was used in surreal, funny, and sometimes intentionally creepy commercials that made Burger King stand out from competitors.
Burger King’s current 2026 campaign is especially interesting because the company’s official release says the new campaign effectively removes the King mascot from the central role and hands the crown to guests instead.
So even though The King remains a huge part of Burger King commercial history, the brand is now moving in a more customer-first direction.
One of the most widely remembered celebrity appearances in a Burger King commercial came from Mary J. Blige.
Her Burger King ad became one of the brand’s most discussed celebrity campaigns. Even years later, it remains one of the first examples people mention when they talk about famous performers who have appeared in Burger King commercials. The ad is remembered both because Blige is such a major music star and because the commercial sparked strong public conversation.
From a commercial-acting standpoint, it shows that Burger King has not always relied only on mascots or anonymous performers. At times, the brand has turned to major entertainment figures to create attention and buzz.
Before she became famous for Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Sarah Michelle Gellar appeared in Burger King commercials as a child.
Her Burger King appearances are often cited as part of her early on-camera career. That gives Burger King an interesting place in TV-commercial history: the brand can point to at least one future major television star who passed through its ads before becoming a household name.
This is the kind of detail ActingMagazine.com readers love, because it shows how commercial work often becomes an early stepping stone in an actor’s career.
Another unusual but famous Burger King commercial figure is Andy Warhol.
Burger King itself highlighted the campaign in its “65 Fun Facts About the Whopper” post, noting that the 2019 Super Bowl commercial featured an iconic film clip of Warhol eating a Whopper. Burger King framed that moment as part of the broader mythology of the Whopper and its place in pop culture.
That ad worked because it was simple, strange, and memorable. It did not feel like a normal fast-food commercial, which made it stand out even more.
Burger King’s recent ad strategy has increasingly focused on regular customers rather than celebrity actors.
In 2022, Burger King officially introduced “You Rule” as its new brand positioning and said the campaign puts the guest at the forefront of the brand experience. In 2024, Burger King launched the Million Dollar Whopper contest, inviting guests to submit custom creations. In 2026, the company continued that direction with the “There’s a New King and It’s You” campaign and its emphasis on guest feedback and real participation.
That means many current Burger King ads are less about celebrity casting and more about everyday relatability. From an acting point of view, that leads to more natural, “real-person” performances in the commercials.
Who is in the latest Burger King commercial?
The latest major Burger King commercial is “There’s a New King and It’s You,” and it focuses primarily on Burger King guests rather than a single celebrity spokesperson.
Who is the actor in the latest Burger King commercial?
There is not one single headline actor in the current main Burger King campaign. The commercial is built around the idea that the guest is the new king.
Who is Tom Curtis in Burger King ads?
Tom Curtis is the President of Burger King US&C and has become a visible public figure in Burger King’s guest-feedback messaging.
Was Mary J. Blige in a Burger King commercial?
Yes. Mary J. Blige appeared in one of Burger King’s most famous and widely discussed celebrity commercials.
Was Sarah Michelle Gellar in a Burger King commercial?
Yes. Sarah Michelle Gellar appeared in Burger King commercials as a child.
Was Andy Warhol in a Burger King commercial?
Burger King used a well-known film clip of Andy Warhol eating a Whopper in its “Eat Like Andy” Super Bowl campaign.
Burger King uses actors and recognizable figures for a few different reasons.
Sometimes the brand wants humor, which is why mascot-driven or character-driven ads work well. Sometimes it wants instant attention, which is why a celebrity such as Mary J. Blige can create buzz. And sometimes it wants emotional or cultural impact, which is why a strange, memorable figure like Andy Warhol can make a commercial feel bigger than a normal burger ad.
More recently, Burger King has shifted toward a different kind of casting strategy. Instead of asking, “Which celebrity should represent us?” the brand is asking, “How can we make the guest the star?” That shift is visible across You Rule, Whopper by You, and There’s a New King and It’s You.
Burger King commercials usually work best when the performances feel broad, clear, and memorable.
The King mascot ads worked because the character did not need much dialogue. The performance was visual, exaggerated, and instantly identifiable. Mary J. Blige’s ad worked differently: it relied on her celebrity persona and public recognition. The current guest-centered campaigns work through realism. They try to make the audience feel like ordinary Burger King fans are shaping the brand.
That range is what makes Burger King an interesting advertiser. The company has used mascots, celebrities, archival cultural icons, executives, and regular people — all in different ways, depending on the campaign.
For official Burger King campaign information, product details, and news releases, visit the Burger King Newsroom and the official BK.com website. Burger King’s own press materials are the best source for its recent campaign direction, including You Rule, Whopper by You, and There’s a New King and It’s You.
What is Burger King’s latest campaign called?
Burger King’s latest major campaign is “There’s a New King and It’s You.”
What is the “You Rule” campaign?
Burger King introduced “You Rule” in 2022 as a brand-positioning campaign that puts the guest at the center of the experience.
What is “Whopper by You”?
It is Burger King’s guest-inspired Whopper platform, which grew out of the Million Dollar Whopper contest and customer-created menu ideas.
Does Burger King still use The King mascot?
Burger King’s 2026 campaign says the crown now goes to guests, marking a shift away from the King as the central figure in the advertising.
Do Burger King commercials always use celebrities?
No. Burger King has used celebrities at times, but many of its recent campaigns focus more on customers and brand experience.
What makes Burger King commercials memorable?
The brand often combines humor, recognizable figures, strong slogans, and simple food-focused storytelling.
Carmichael Phillip is a managing editor of Acting Magazine. In addition to editing, Mr. Phillip is a writer, coordinator and creative director.
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