History Main / TheDeadRiseToAdvertise

* In [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqqfvtbtYok this TNT ad for the NBA]], players from various eras of basketball were digitally added into shots to make it seem like they were playing together (Steve Nash meeting Pete Maravich, Larry Bird assisting Ray Allen, Magic Johnson playing alongside Kobe Bryant, Derrick Rose fist-bumping Michael Jordan, etc). Granted, most of these players are still alive, but it's sweet to see all these greats together in their prime.

* Creator/GeneKelly was made to breakdance to a remix of his own "Film/SinginInTheRain" in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4LzG3XZMUA this Volkswagen ad]]. Later, Gene was teamed up with his ''Film/SinginInTheRain'' co-star (and fellow grave-rester) Creator/DonaldOConnor in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXksZAKzJpc another Volkswagen ad]].

* Creator/BobMonkhouse did some [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmWtzfKcMpA prostate cancer awareness ads]], four years after his death from it, even posing with his tombstone! In this case, it was accomplished using editing of existing footage, as well as the voice acting talent of Simon Cartwright -- whose impressions of Monkhouse are so dead-on that even Bob ''[[ApprovalOfGod himself]]'' felt that Cartwright "[did] me better than I do". They have been followed up with carriage ads on UsefulNotes/TheLondonUnderground, complete with "six feet under" jokes.

* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwZT4tGKfJQ&fmt=37 A 2009 commercial]] for the charity One Laptop Per Child took the phenomenon in a new direction, not only using Music/JohnLennon's image, but ''digitally manipulating his voice'' to create an original statement. Lennon was also used as part of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9WkEqPEA58 a Citroën car "anti-retro" advert]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHhmA3T1U0I as was]] Creator/MarilynMonroe.
** Not only did they bring back Lennon and Music/GeorgeHarrison for this [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-qt5szlQ_U commercial]] for ''VideoGame/RockBand: Music/TheBeatles'', but they brought back Music/PaulMcCartney and Music/RingoStarr when they were young!

* In the late 2000s, [=DirecTV=] ran a series of ads combining edited pieces of old films with new footage of an actor from the film (Creator/ChristopherLloyd endorsing it dressed as [[Franchise/BackToTheFuture Doc Brown]] combined with footage of the [=DeLorean=], for instance). Controversially, a couple of these ads have also involved editing in dead co-stars: First Craig T. Nelson did one interacting with footage of the late Heather O'Rourke from ''Film/{{Poltergeist|1982}}'', then [[http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/10/26/david-spade-brings-pal-chris-farley-back-from-the-dead-to-shill/?icid=main David Spade did the same]] with footage of Creator/ChrisFarley taken from ''Film/TommyBoy''. The backlash was loud enough that the campaign was discontinued shortly after.

* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDl_7-dHg3A This]] Russian commercial for Sberbank and other Sber services featurey Leonid Kuravlev as [[Film/IvanVasilievichChangesProfession Zhorzh Miloslavsky]] via the magic of neural networks. In the ad, Miloslavsky travels in time to see the expansion of "Sberkassa" he famously alluded to in a fourth-wall breaking moment.

* Briefly touched upon in [[https://web.archive.org/web/20160322040353/http://www.toughpigs.com/bttf/ this]] {{Zeerust}}-y article about ''Franchise/TheMuppets'', made in celebration of [[Film/BackToTheFuturePartII the day Marty goes into the future]] and set in an alternate 2015, where the old [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtId1k-sYfo Royal Crown Cola Muppet birds]] are set to be voiced by Creator/JimHenson "using the latest computer-generated voice technology" and "in a way that is state-of-the-art and not at all creepy" as part of their resurrection for a new Royal Crown campaign.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Webcomics]]
* ''Webcomic/{{Mulberry}}'' provides a literal example when they reveal that the then-latest [[spoiler:Orville Redenbacher]] commercials star a zombie![[spoiler:Reddenbacher (sic)]].

* The Canadian audio comedy group Radio Free Vestibule did a skit in 1995 called "Creator/LaurenceOlivier for Diet Coke", which purported to be an ad for Diet Coke assembled by splicing together things Laurence Olivier said in his many films and interviews. ("I wish I could have some now. But I can't, because I'm dead!")
%% ** It became HilariousInHindsight when the real Laurence appeared in ''Film/SkyCaptainAndTheWorldOfTomorrow''.
* The restaurant chain Moe's used to adorn its shops with posters of various musicians, both living and dead. They eventually had to pull all of the posters after being sued by the estate of Jerry Garcia. At first, they replaced the artwork with generic music-themed images, then later used pictures of celebrity look-alikes... with the disclaimer that there is no implied endorsement by any actual celebrities whom the pictures might resemble.

* The story of the Hollywood Tower Hotel used as the premise for [[Ride/DisneyThemeParks The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror]] isn't based on an actual episode of [[Series/TheTwilightZone1959 the show]], so it combines footage of Rod Serling from an unrelated episode with the voice of a very convincing soundalike to form the narration.

[[folder:Other]]

* The Canadian audio comedy group Radio Free Vestibule did a skit in 1995 called "Creator/LaurenceOlivier for Diet Coke", which purported to be an ad for Diet Coke assembled by splicing together things Laurence Olivier said in his many films and interviews. ("I wish I could have some now. But I can't, because I'm dead!")
%% ** It became HilariousInHindsight when the real Laurence appeared in ''Film/SkyCaptainAndTheWorldOfTomorrow''.
* The restaurant chain Moe's used to adorn its shops with posters of various musicians, both living and dead. They eventually had to pull all of the posters after being sued by the estate of Jerry Garcia. At first, they replaced the artwork with generic music-themed images, then later used pictures of celebrity look-alikes... with the disclaimer that there is no implied endorsement by any actual celebrities whom the pictures might resemble.
* The Unification Church has released documents in which [[http://messagesfromspiritworld.info/United%20Nations/United%20Nation3.html every deceased former president up to that time]] endorsed them.
** Not to be outdone, the Japanese Happy Science sect [[http://www.mutantfrog.com/2017/02/26/politician-from-japanese-cult-happy-science-at-cpac/ has done the same]], adding in interviews with "guardian spirits" from various political and cultural figures.
* The story of the Hollywood Tower Hotel used as the premise for [[Ride/DisneyThemeParks The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror]] isn't based on an actual episode of [[Series/TheTwilightZone1959 the show]], so it combines footage of Rod Serling from an unrelated episode with the voice of a very convincing soundalike to form the narration.
* The Lincoln Project produced an AI-generated (labeled as such) anti-[[UsefulNotes/DonaldTrump Trump]] video clip in which Trump's late father Fred Trump [[CallingTheYoungManOut mocks and berates Donald]].

[[folder:Fictional]]

* In ''VideoGame/DeusEx'', UsefulNotes/{{Jesus}} is seen on a billboard advertising a brand of cigarettes: Holy Smokes! (Apparently, "They're [[{{Crunchtastic}} saviorific]]!")
* In Thane's loyalty mission in ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'', you learn that a two-bit criminal has been selling buggy illegal [=VIs=] of [[PlayerCharacter Shepard]] while the latter was dead (s/he got better). You can convince him to give Shepard a copy or a cut of the profits.
** Shepard can also give his/her endorsements to various (even claiming every one of them is his/her favorite) stores in the Citadel, making him/her a ''literal'' example of this trope.
** The Alliance themselves got in on the action using Shepard's likeness to advertise joining their military, however, it apparently fell through by the time Shep came back.
* Near the end of the "Year of the Bastard" arc in ''ComicBook/{{Transmetropolitan}}'', the late beloved Senator Longmarch's image and voice are used in a ''political ad'' endorsing would-be candidate Gary Callahan; Spider remarks that the nomination must be in the bag already for them to be stooping to such tactics without fear of backlash.
* In "Mike Tyson Grill," a ''Series/{{MadTV|1995}}'' parody of the George Foreman Grill, Abraham Lincoln advertises the grill, though it's actually the same guy who is playing Mike Tyson dressed up as Lincoln.
* In chargesdotcomdotbr, there's an animation of Creator/SteveJobs recording commercials before his death to be used after it. It was a TakeThat to the fact Apple products tend to be more compact than previous models.
* ''Webcomic/{{Mulberry}}'' provides a literal example when they reveal that the then-latest [[spoiler:Orville Redenbacher]] commercials star a zombie![[spoiler:Reddenbacher (sic)]].
* Briefly touched upon in [[https://web.archive.org/web/20160322040353/http://www.toughpigs.com/bttf/ this]] {{Zeerust}}-y article about Franchise/TheMuppets, made in celebration of [[Film/BackToTheFuturePartII the day Marty goes into the future]] and set in an alternate 2015, where the old [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtId1k-sYfo Royal Crown Cola Muppet birds]] are set to be voiced by Creator/JimHenson "using the latest computer-generated voice technology" and "in a way that is state-of-the-art and not at all creepy" as part of their resurrection for a new Royal Crown campaign.
* The Colonel Sanders example is parodied in the ''WesternAnimation/WhatACartoonShow'' short "Podunk Possum in: One Step Beyond", where the protagonist is harassed by a [[CaptainErsatz character]] on a fast-food commercial who is also a ghost.

* Happens in ''WesternAnimation/{{Ratatouille}}'' with Chef Skinner using the late Gusteau's image to sell many frozen foods, just changing his outfit to match whatever stereotype fits the food he is selling.
* It's said that [[spoiler:Sarah Lynn]]'s mom exploits her daughter's death for this purpose in ''WesternAnimation/BoJackHorseman.'' [[spoiler:Sarah Lynn]]'s music appears in a GEICO commercial and she appears on a billboard proclaiming, "I'd die for a Pepsi!"

A variation of this is to use historical footage of said celebrities from when they were still alive.

* Creator/CharlieChaplin's Little Tramp was resurrected in TheEighties for [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQT_YCBb9ao&t=240s a series of adverts]] for Creator/{{IBM}}.

* Creator/CharlieChaplin's Little Tramp was resurrected in TheEighties for [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQT_YCBb9ao&t=240s a series of adverts]] for Creator/{{IBM}}.

* The story of the Hollywood Tower Hotel used as the premise for [[Ride/DisneyThemeParks The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror]] isn't based on an actual episode of [[Series/TheTwilightZone1959 the show]], so it combines footage of Rod Sterling from an unrelated episode with the voice of a very convincing soundalike to form the narration.

* Creator/{{Hulu}} Japan used film critic [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1hJaMUFU0o&t=8m10s Nagaharu Yodogawa]], who died in 1998, to tell that your family can watch ''Film/JurassicPark'', ''Film/ETTheExtraTerrestrial'' and ''WesternAnimation/DespicableMe'' free for the first two weeks. It averts the UnintentionalUncannyValley by rendering Yodogawa in a low poly model (similar to Professor Kawashima's head in ''VideoGame/BrainAge''), but still uses audio editing for his speech.

* Briefly touched upon in [[http://www.toughpigs.com/bttf/ this]] {{Zeerust}}-y article about Franchise/TheMuppets, made in celebration of [[Film/BackToTheFuture the day Marty goes into the future]] and set in an alternate 2015, where the old [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtId1k-sYfo Royal Crown Cola Muppet birds]] are set to be voiced by Creator/JimHenson "using the latest computer-generated voice technology" and "in a way that is state-of-the-art and not at all creepy" as part of their resurrection for a new Royal Crown campaign.

-->-- '''Homer Simpson''', ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', [[Recap/TheSimpsonsS10E5WhenYouDishUponAStar "When You Dish Upon a Star"]] (referring to the Creator/FredAstaire [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZ8GgkmcNjE Dirt Devil commercial]])

** ''[[VideoGame/LegoAdaptationGame LEGO Rock Band]]'' features the likenesses of the band Music/{{Queen}} as Lego avatars, including the late Freddie Mercury.

** Gatorade did a similar thing in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97dMpta3fKQ one of their ads]], illustrating that timing is everything. Included are depictions of UsefulNotes/MichaelJordan missing The Shot, that famous Derek Jeter relay a fraction off with the runner scoring, and Dwight Clark unable to haul in The Catch.

%% Which charity campaign was it? * Inverted in an ad for a charity campaign, in which a regular guy asked for money for some cause and ended saying "Or would you only help us if ''she'' asked you?" while holding a mask of [[UsefulNotes/TheHouseOfWindsor Princess Diana]] up to his face.
* A British ad campaign featured real footage of Music/EdithPiaf singing "Je ne regrette rien." Instead of an accurate translation, the subtitles claimed she's singing that there's actually one thing she does regret- she could have got cheap glasses from Specsavers.

* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8r6Nxcae_7s Braun made]] a 1996 commercial starring [[Series/TheHoneymooners Ralph Kramden and Ed Norton]], and it was a relative cinch, since they took footage from an episode in which they're already shilling a kitchen tool. (Art "Ed" Carney was still alive then [he died in 2003], and in fact even recorded a few ADR lines for the ad; Jackie "Ralph" Gleason, on the other hand, had been dead for 9 years, and was dubbed by Joe Alaskey.)

* In 2010 a Chinese lingerie company put up a series of billboards [[http://www.adweek.com/creativity/chinese-ad-honors-diana-undressing-her-12283/ featuring the late Princess Diana]] clad in their undies.

* Johnnie Walker, a brand of alcohol, created a Chinese ad in which a CGI Creator/BruceLee walked around an empty apartment/loft/hotel room and delivered motivational dialogue in Mandarin Chinese.

* Long-time Chicago Cubs announcer Harry Caray died in 1998. The day after the Cubbies won the 2016 World Series, Budweiser produced a congratulations ad that combined audio recordings of Caray with game footage to "let" him [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nApTGkLd2hs call the final out]]. (The ad was produced with the approval of Caray's family.)

* A [[Series/TheJoyOfPainting Bob Ross]] deepfake painted a bottle of Mountain Dew in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojQAV7tMtlY a 2021 commercial]]. The ad is a clip from a 40 minute "lost episode" sponsored by Mountain Dew.

* Creator/SteveMcQueenActor (1930-1980) showed up in a ''Film/FieldOfDreams''-style [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZzXHq7gKN8 commercial]] for the Ford Mustang, and also in a UK commercial for Ford, where he appeared to be driving it during the ''Film/{{Bullitt}}'' chase sequence. Photos of [=McQueen=] frequently appear in ads for [=TAGHeure=] and Persol.

[[caption-width-right:203:[[UsefulNotes/MaoZedong Mao]] disapproves.]]

* In "Mike Tyson Grill," a ''Series/{{MadTV}}'' parody of the George Foreman Grill, Abraham Lincoln advertises the grill, though it's actually the same guy who is playing Mike Tyson dressed up as Lincoln.

* Creator/MarilynMonroe was also used in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXrWiJcmvBI&feature=player_embedded the Dior J'adore]] PerfumeCommercial, along with Creator/MarleneDietrich and Creator/GraceKelly. Dietrich and Kelly look fine, but Monroe falls '''hard''' into the UncannyValley.

* Creator/{{Hulu}} Japan used film critic [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1hJaMUFU0o&t=8m10s Nagaharu Yodogawa]], who died in 1998, to tell that your family can watch ''Film/JurassicPark'', ''Film/ETTheExtraTerrestrial'' and ''WesternAnimation/DespicableMe'' free for the first two weeks. It averts UncannyValley by rendering Yodogawa in a low poly model (similar to Professor Kawashima's head in ''VideoGame/BrainAge''), but still uses audio editing for his speech.

** In 2015, they launched a new series of ads with a live-action Darrell Hammond, of ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'' fame, portraying Colonel Sanders, reportedly as part of a campaign to try to boost struggling sales that have been lost to Chick-fil-A. The campaign was instantly reviled (though more due to its terrible, aggressive attempts at anti-humor than anything else), and fellow ''SNL'' alumnus Creator/NormMacDonald quickly stepped in to play a more low-key Colonel; while this change was ''slightly'' better received by some, the consensus by most was that the campaign was just generally a bad idea.
** Still, KFC has continued to rotate actors and comedians into the role of the Colonel, the latest being Creator/JimGaffigan and George Hamilton (as the "extra crispy Colonel," to promote extra-crispy chicken).

* ''Every single'' Presidents Day will bring commercials showing ''UsefulNotes/GeorgeWashington'' and ''UsefulNotes/AbrahamLincoln'' pitching Presidents' Day sales, most of them for car dealers.

* Nando's South Africa produced a somewhat {{Tear Jerk|er}}ing advert featuring [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ls1VCPoN9GI Robert Mugabe and several of his deceased dictator friends.]] The dictators included UsefulNotes/MuammarGaddafi, UsefulNotes/SaddamHussein, UsefulNotes/IdiAmin, and South Africa's own P. W. Botha.

* A variation: When Creator/YulBrynner learned he was dying of lung cancer, he filmed [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNjunlWUJJI this PSA, to be shown after his death.]] A similar PSA was done by [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmjRkpge-jk William Talman]] of ''Franchise/PerryMason''.

** ''Guitar Hero 5'' features Music/JohnnyCash and Music/KurtCobain; unlike Hendrix, they can be used in ''any'' song, resulting in such oddities as [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYRObnl8JQk&t=59s Cobain performing "YMCA", complete with dance moves, accompanied by a band consisting entirely of Cobain clones.]]

** ''Guitar Hero 5'' features Music/JohnnyCash and Music/KurtCobain; unlike Hendrix, they can be used in ''any'' song.

There was a point when the UncannyValley was theoretical. Today, we have proof. [[GoneHorriblyRight Horrible, horrible proof.]] Computers have given producers incredible abilities to manipulate images and create breathtaking effects for film and television audiences. However, this power has a very controversial dark side.

Famous but long-dead celebrities have been digitally resurrected to lend their endorsements to numerous commercial products. Photographs or scenes from their filmed appearances are digitally processed to show them interacting with various products or people hawking those products. These appearances aren't limited to film and TV stars. Historical figures have given their digital support to numerous products and services as well.

** Incidentally, this [[http://books.google.co.th/books?id=KWYEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA64&lpg=PA64&dq=braun+honeymooners&source=bl&ots=3EnD6-3iZ8&sig=2PSjj4qwz31NyyrRi5rRLkzrXRw&hl=th&ei=ue6qTPaIPM2XcYv7qMEI&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=12&ved=0CFEQ6AEwCw# Popular Mechanics article]] talks about how the Astaire, Wayne, and Gleason ads were made.
* In 2010 a Chinese lingerie company put up a series of billboards [[http://www.adweek.com/creativity/chinese-ad-honors-diana-undressing-her-12283/ featuring the late Princess Diana]] clad in their undies. On the 13th anniversary of her death, no less.

* Johnnie Walker created a Chinese ad in which a CGI Creator/BruceLee walked around an empty apartment/loft/hotel room and delivered a bit of a motivational dialogue in Mandarin Chinese. Two problems: 1) Bruce spoke Cantonese, not Mandarin and 2) Bruce Lee didn't drink.

** ''[[VideoGame/LegoAdaptationGame LEGO Rock Band]]'' features the likenesses of the band Music/{{Queen}} as Lego avatars, including the late Freddie Mercury, although having him appear in adorable Lego form is a lot less insensitive.

** It became HilariousInHindsight when the real Laurence appeared in ''Film/SkyCaptainAndTheWorldOfTomorrow''.
* The restaurant chain Moe's used to adorn its shops with posters of various musicians, both living and dead. They eventually had to pull all of the posters after being sued by the estate of one of the musicians. At first, they replaced the artwork with generic music-themed images, then later used pictures of celebrity look-alikes... with the disclaimer that there is no implied endorsement by any actual celebrities whom the pictures might resemble.

* A 1990 ad campaign for Diet Coke featured Music/PaulaAbdul and Music/EltonJohn dancing with Creator/GeneKelly (1912-1996), [[Creator/TheMarxBrothers Groucho Marx]] (1890-1977), Creator/HumphreyBogart (1899-1957), Music/LouisArmstrong (1901-1971), and Creator/CaryGrant (1904-1986), among other dead people. See it [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9_Yjt9XYxo here]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiHZ7xolk3I here]].

* A 1996 ad for Diet Coke features Music/PaulaAbdul dancing with Creator/GeneKelly (1912-1996) and [[Creator/TheMarxBrothers Groucho Marx]] (1890-1977). Creator/CaryGrant (1904-1986) poured her a Diet Coke when she was finished. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9_Yjt9XYxo See it here.]]
** It's actually a "sequel" to an earlier spot with Music/EltonJohn, and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiHZ7xolk3I other dead people]].
** Creator/GeneKelly was likely still alive when this was filmed, but a ''lot'' older.
* And speaking of Gene Kelly, he was made to breakdance to a remix of his own "Film/SinginInTheRain" in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4LzG3XZMUA this Volkswagen ad]].
** Later, Gene was teamed up with his ''Film/SinginInTheRain'' co-star (and fellow grave-rester) Creator/DonaldOConnor in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXksZAKzJpc another Volkswagen ad]].

* Creator/JohnWayne (1907-1979) hawked Coors beer.
** And Great Western Savings and Loan... before it was acquired by Washington Mutual... before it was acquired by Chase Manhattan.
* Creator/SteveMcQueenActor (1930-1980):
** He showed up in a ''Film/FieldOfDreams''-style [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZzXHq7gKN8 commercial]] for Ford Mustang.
** And also in a UK commercial for Ford, where he appeared to be driving it during the ''Film/{{Bullitt}}'' chase sequence.
** Photos of [=McQueen=] frequently appear in ads for [=TAGHeure=] and Persol.

* The less said about "[[UncannyValley Evil Undead Orville Redenbacher]]", the better.
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fcn4p213Zg8 You can't unsee this]]. Serious NightmareFuel.
---> '''"[[http://www.cracked.com/article_17093_10-awesome-ads-for-traumatizing-children_p2.html Hello, I'm an abomination against nature, and I'm here to give you a heart attack.]]"'''

* Music/ElvisPresley appeared in a mid-90's Pizza Hut commercial.

* Nando's South Africa produced a somewhat {{Tear Jerk|er}}ing advert featuring [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1EX--vdxh4 Robert Mugabe and several of his deceased dictator friends.]] The dictators included UsefulNotes/MuammarGaddafi, UsefulNotes/SaddamHussein, UsefulNotes/IdiAmin, and South Africa's own P. W. Botha.
* A variation: When Creator/YulBrynner learned he was dying of lung cancer, he filmed [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNjunlWUJJI this PSA, to be shown after his death.]]
** [[Creator/BillHicks Though they didn't do one for Jim Fixx.]]
** A similar PSA was done by [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmjRkpge-jk William Talman]] of ''Franchise/PerryMason''.

* Inverted in an ad for a charity campaign, in which a regular guy asked for money for some cause and ended saying "Or would you only help us if ''she'' asked you?" while holding a mask of [[UsefulNotes/TheHouseOfWindsor Princess Diana]] up to his face.
* The use of actors playing dead US presidents is a long tradition in US advertising, especially in February around Presidents Day. Now, CGI presidents are becoming common.

* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwZT4tGKfJQ&fmt=37 A 2009 commercial]] for the charity One Laptop Per Child took the phenomenon in a new direction, not only using Music/JohnLennon's image, but ''digitally manipulating his voice'' to create an original statement. [[HilariousInHindsight Remember when that was a farfetched plot device in season 2 of]] ''[[Series/TwentyFour 24]]''? ScienceMarchesOn.
** Lennon was also used as part of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9WkEqPEA58 a Citroën car "anti-retro" advert]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHhmA3T1U0I as was]] Creator/MarilynMonroe.

* A 2000 commercial for the U.S. Sacajawea dollar coin had UsefulNotes/GeorgeWashington (who was green, like on the dollar bill) promoting it, saying it was just as good as the dollar bill.
** Voiced by Creator/MichaelKeaton.
* [=DirecTV=] have been running a series of ads combining edited pieces of old films with new footage of an actor from the film (Creator/ChristopherLloyd endorsing it dressed as [[Franchise/BackToTheFuture Doc Brown]] combined with footage of the [=DeLorean=], for instance). Controversially, a couple of these ads have also involved editing in dead co-stars: First Craig T. Nelson did one interacting with footage of the late Heather O'Rourke from ''Film/{{Poltergeist|1982}}'', then [[http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/10/26/david-spade-brings-pal-chris-farley-back-from-the-dead-to-shill/?icid=main David Spade did the same]] with footage of Creator/ChrisFarley taken from ''Film/TommyBoy''. The backlash was loud enough that the campaign was discontinued shortly after.

* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8dLHZ6jKFc This Greenpeace ad]] features a CGI-animated UsefulNotes/JohnFKennedy complete with robotic voice talking about global warming. Dead President + CreepyMonotone + bad lipsyncing = NightmareFuel.

** Unfortunately, one of the last commercial spots Dave filmed before his death was a bumper that was added to the end of numerous commercials, advertising the fact that Wendy's drive-thru was now open until midnight. The last many of us saw of Mr. Thomas was an image of him, pale and clearly not in good health, leaning out of a drive-thru window and sleepily intoning, "See you later..."
* Also averted with Creator/BillyMays; his commercials have slowly been phased out, or manipulated to feature different salespeople in his place for full-body shots.
** A commercial starts with Billy Mays, then switches to Anthony Sullivan, a close friend of him, with the Mays ad inset into the background. Sullivan uses the fact that Mays used to advertise [=OxiClean=] as a selling point for the product, as well as carrying on Mays' legacy on the product with respect.
* {{Nike}} created a stir by broadcasting an ad in which the voice of Tiger Woods's dead father, Earl Woods, seemingly chastises him for his infidelities. The audio came from a 2004 documentary, and Earl Woods is actually talking about differences between himself and his wife/Tiger's mother.

* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wxf1h0YrDE&feature=related This car commercial]] features [[AnachronismStew a lot of historical (mostly communist) revolutionaries]].
** Even more hilarious ([[DudeNotFunny or offensive]]), is apparently the fact that you're ''supposed to want'' to buy their car by having it associated with people who have killed millions. [[DoubleStandard Imagine if it were]] [[GodwinsLaw Hitler]], UsefulNotes/FranciscoFranco, and UsefulNotes/BenitoMussolini [[DoubleStandard used in the ad]].

* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8r6Nxcae_7s Braun made]] a 1996 commercial starring [[Series/TheHoneymooners Ralph Kramden and Ed Norton]], and it was a relative cinch, since they took footage from an episode in which they're already shilling a kitchen tool. (Art "Ed" Carney was still alive then [he died in 2003], and in fact even recorded a few ADR lines for the ad; Jackie "Ralph" Gleason, on the other hand, had been dead for 9 years, and was dubbed by Joe Alaskey)

* One surprising example comes from [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUo-ybk-SuU this AT&T anti texting while driving ad]] as part of their It Can Wait campaign. It features 2 teens talking about how their lives may have been if "things turned out differently.", although it's not immediately explained what they're referring to. The ad then reveals that both teens are actually CGI reconstructions of an older version of them, and then stating that they were killed in distracted driving accidents when they were young. Old images and videos of them at the time are shown while their families talk about their accidents, and then the ad shows how they created the reconstructions using those old photos. It ends with two title cards showing their last photos taken while alive, along with the year they were born and the year they were killed.

** ''Guitar Hero 5'' features Music/JohnnyCash and Music/KurtCobain; unlike Hendrix, they can be used in ''any'' song, which resulted in much hilarity ([[CrossesTheLineTwice of the wrong kind]]), FanDumb-raging and Music/CourtneyLove pissing-off.
** ''Music/TheBeatles Rock Band'' features the two dead Beatles, Music/JohnLennon and Music/GeorgeHarrison, although the game would be epic bullcrap if it didn't.