Celebrities cash in with overseas ads
Here are some lip-smacking commercials that Angelina Jolie appeared in for the Japanese beauty company Shiseido. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
Was James Brown really a ramen aficionado? Click here to watch his Nissin noodle commercial that aired on Japanese television in 1992. (George Rose / Los Angeles Times)
Before he was governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger made this commercial promoting a Japanese energy drink. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)
Suave George Clooney is a natural to sell booze and coffee. Here’s a Martini & Rossi vermouth commercial that aired in Europe, and a Nespresso commercial that aired in France. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
Brad Pitt -- an office drone working the copy machine? Really? Here he is selling Roots canned coffee in a Japanese commercial. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
Pop art icon Andy Warhol made his name finding the art in popular culture, and he wasn’t above appearing on TV -- he even guest-starred on “The Love Boat.” Here’s a commercial he did in the early 1980s for TDK video tapes that aired on Japanese television. And here’s another one he did for Braniff International Airways. (Anacleto Rapping / Los Angeles Times)
Connery pauses to flirt with Miss Moneypenny, played by Lois Maxwell, in a scene from “Goldfinger.” (Hand Out / Los Angeles Times)
Michael J. Fox cuts up in this Japanese commercial for Kirin canned drinks. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)
Snoop Dogg sings in German. Need we say more? Here’s his commercial for Vybemobile, a German phone and music brand. (Katie Falkenberg / For The Times)
Hulk Hogan shows his softer side -- and sings -- in this 1991 commercial for Hitachi air conditioners. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)
It’s no surprise the “Material Girl” would be selling something overseas. Here’s her commercial for the Takara sake and spirits maker. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)
Comic actor Ben Stiller tries to score a touchdown with this Japanese commercial for Kirin’s Chu-Hi canned alcoholic beverages. (Anacleto Rapping / Los Angeles Times)
This Japanese commercial for Eneos service stations looks a little more “Ghostbusters” than “Die Hard.” (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)