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Original Coke Commercial Star Talks About New Ad

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Feb 1, 2009 7:38 pm US/Eastern

Original Coke Commercial Star Talks About New Ad

(KDKA) Part of the attraction of the Super Bowl is the commercials.

This year, during the third quarter, a remake of the old Mean Joe Greene commercial will air. But this time it features Troy Polamalu, and, of course, there's a new kid in the commercial as well.

But whatever happened to the child who appeared in the original spot 30 years ago?

Tom Okon was a child actor and a Steelers fan at the time he made the commercial. Now, he lives in Yonkers, New York, with his wife and four children.

Okon was only 9-years-old when he made the commercial.

He says the advertiser, Coca Cola, did call to tell him his famous commercial was going to be remade.

Okon said when he saw his spot the first time, he and his family suspected it was going to be winner.

"You have no way of knowing that and seeing it the first time in my house with my mom, the first time it was made, and her being in the business advertising, after she saw it - she said that's a good spot," said Okon. "That's something you're going to be proud of."

As for the famous shirt, Okon said didn't get to keep the one from the commercial, but after hearing it about year after they shot the spot Greene sent him one.

"The following Christmas, he read an article, an article that said I didn't end up with that shirt at the time of the commercial, which is something that people always ask me," said Okon.

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