KFC’s best-known modern U.S. Colonel Sanders campaign began with Darrell Hammond in 2015 and went on to feature a rotating cast of celebrities and character versions. The list below covers notable, identifiable portrayals—not a verified worldwide roster. KFC’s campaigns differ by country, and its own sources confirm selected casting rather than a complete master list.
Who played Colonel Sanders in the modern U.S. commercials?
The modern celebrity rotation began in May 2015, when Darrell Hammond played the Colonel. In August, Norm Macdonald took over in a self-aware campaign that treated the previous Colonel as an impostor. The sequence below combines that broader U.S. chronology with campaign-specific details confirmed by KFC or contemporaneous reporting. The retrospective casting chronology is secondary, so its entries should not be mistaken for a complete official record.
| Performer | Date and market | Portrayal or format |
|---|---|---|
| Randy Quaid | 1998–2001, U.S. | Voiced an animated Colonel, according to the secondary chronology. Source |
| Darrell Hammond | May 2015, U.S. | First performer in the modern live-action celebrity rotation, according to the secondary chronology. Source |
| Norm Macdonald | August 2015, U.S. | Played the Colonel in a campaign that joked the preceding Colonel was an impostor. Source |
| Jim Gaffigan | February 2016, U.S. | Played the Colonel, according to the secondary chronology. Source |
| George Hamilton | July 2016, U.S. | Played the Extra Crispy Colonel, a character variant. Source |
| Dolph Ziggler | 2016, U.S. | Appeared in a wrestling-themed spot, according to the secondary chronology; the source does not establish a more specific role. Source |
| Rob Riggle | September 2016, U.S. | Played the coach of the fictional Kentucky Buckets, rather than being identified as the Colonel. Source |
| Billy Zane | January 2017, U.S. | Played the Solid Gold Colonel, a character variant. Source |
| Rob Lowe | 2017, U.S. | Played the Colonel, according to the secondary chronology, which notes he was announced in April. Source |
| Ray Liotta | Date not stated, U.S. | Listed as a Colonel portrayal in the secondary chronology, which gives no precise date. Source |
| Reba McEntire | January 2018, U.S. | Reported as the first female celebrity to play the Colonel. McEntire said, “I thought the transformation was really funny.” Source |
| Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson | 2018, U.S. | Played the Colonel, according to the secondary chronology. Source |
| Jason Alexander | Announced August 6, 2018, U.S. | KFC named him its “Family Colonel” and tied the character to family dinners and its $20 Fill Ups. KFC announcement |
| Peter Weller | February 2019, U.S. | Played Colonel RoboCop, a character variant, according to the secondary chronology. Source |
| Sean Astin | Announced September 5, 2019, U.S. | Played “Colonel Rudy,” drawing on his role in the 1993 film Rudy. KFC said four campaign spots would air from September through November. KFC announcement |
| Mario Lopez | 2020, U.S. | Portrayed a fictionalized Colonel in A Recipe for Seduction, a KFC-branded short film—not an ordinary television commercial. Source |
Which actors played Colonel Sanders outside the United States?
Japan: Kento Kaku
In 2022, KFC Japan named actor Kento Kaku its new commercial character and said he would appear as Colonel Sanders in a television advertisement beginning May 18. KFC Japan announcement
Italy: an unnamed actor
KFC Italy said a professional actor played Colonel Sanders in a campaign running June 24 to July 14, 2019, but its release did not name him. The company later described an Italian serial campaign featuring the founder and a “crunchy” Colonel alter ego; the available release does not identify the performers. 2019 KFC Italy announcement Later KFC Italy campaign announcement
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#1 Best Overall
- Measures 5.75"
- Accessories included: bucket of fried chicken, drumstick, and pistol
- Packaged in retro style action figure packaging
- Officially licensed
Is Matty Matheson the Colonel in KFC’s 2025 campaign?
KFC announced the Colonel’s return to U.S. advertising on July 14, 2025, in a campaign titled “The Colonel Lived So We Could Chicken.” Matty Matheson joins the Colonel in the campaign, but KFC’s announcement does not say Matheson plays him. He should not be counted as a Colonel performer on that evidence alone. KFC announcement
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why is there no definitive worldwide count?
The Colonel is based on KFC founder Harland Sanders, whose image became central to the brand. KFC says Sanders died in 1980 at age 90. KFC heritage The available record mixes voice work, live-action ads, comic character variants and a branded short film, while regional campaigns have separate casts. Some official releases name the performer; others do not. There is no verified complete global casting list in these sources, so a precise total would imply more certainty than the evidence supports.
Rank #2
- Comes in original packaging and is bundled with a Plastic Box Protector with the collector in mind (Removable Film)
- From Kentucky Fried Chicken - Colonel Sanders, as a Funko pop! Vinyl Figure. The founding father of fast food fried chicken might not be willing to reveal his super-secret recipe but if you’re really nice he might be willing to share his bucket of chicken.
- Stylized collectible stands 3 3/4 inches tall, perfect for any Ad Icons fan!
- Ships in acid-free PET plastic Pop Protector with peel-able protective film
- Push-lock tab that adds structural integrity to the Pop Protector when formed
Also, appearing in a campaign does not automatically mean someone played the Colonel: Rob Riggle was described as a coach, and KFC’s 2025 announcement places Matty Matheson alongside the Colonel without identifying him as the character. No comparable audience-performance figures establish which portrayal was most popular.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Chase Version, ships in pop protector case
Rank #4
- 7" Action Figure
- Highly Poseable with 20 points of articulation
- Colonel Stars & Stripes with his dog Eisenhower
- Hooded Version
Rank #3
- Unhooded Version
- 7 Inches Tall
- Comes with Eisenhower
- Over 20 points of articulation
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