Star of iconic TV ad and face of a leading brand has died at age 84

Terry Procter, the face of popular food brand Mainland Cheese, has died at the age of 84. 

His son Charlie Procter confirmed the sad news to Stuff New Zealand this week. 

Terry appeared in the TV ads for Mainland Cheese for years alongside late co-star and close friend Kevin Corcoran, who died at age 78 in 2012. 

‘He was just one of those typical Kiwi blokes working the hard yards – he never thought he’d get to the point where he was in advertisements,’ Charlie told the publication. 

Remembering his adopted father’s friendship with Kevin, he said: ‘In the end, they weren’t really bothered with the money. They just liked getting together, and with the other people who created these adverts.’

The pair became known in the ads for the catchphrase, ‘good things take time’.

Charlie sweetly said his dad once gave him some life advice and would often say: ‘He always said to me, ”don’t let life consume you too much, just enjoy what you can actually hang onto”. I’ve never forgotten that.’ 

Fans reacted to the shock news on Twitter, with one person writing: ‘RIP Terry. Filmed within minutes of my childhood home, the same characters we would see leaning on the bar having a beer after a hard weeks work. Genuine Kiwis.’

Terry appeared in the TV ads for Mainland Cheese for years alongside late co-star and close friend Kevin Corcoran, who died at age 78 in 2012

‘Aww, sad news,’ another wrote. 

‘End of an era,’ one said. 

Both Procter and Corcoran both reportedly had no acting experience before taking on their iconic roles in the ads, which they held onto for a decade. 

Fans reacted to the shock news on Twitter, with one person writing: ‘RIP Terry. Filmed within minutes of my childhood home, the same characters we would see leaning on the bar having a beer after a hard weeks work. Genuine Kiwis’