Q: I stop everything to watch the Swiffer commercials featuring the endearing old couple, Lee and Morty. Are they married in real life? Were they actors before this commercial gig? They are so sweet.
—Phyllis Rich Carpenter, Dallas
A: Morty Kaufman is a 91-year-old retired pharmacist and his wife Lee is a 90-year-old retired teacher. They have been married 44 years, marrying one another after their previous spouses died. They live in the Long Island town of Valley Stream, N.Y., and have a combined six children and five grandchildren. The Kaufmans are active in their community, but neither of them had acted professionally before their Swiffer commercials. One of their daughters knows a casting director who was looking for a mature couple and she told the director about her parents. "And so we began a new career at the age of 90," Lee told The Huffington Post. "Morty worked for 40 years and has been retired for 30 and now, all of a sudden, we're doing something completely new." On July 1, Swiffer launched a series of commercials on YouTube, where they were a huge success, before beginning a TV commercial campaign. "We feel that all the commercials are made by young, beautiful people and we think our age group has been neglected, and so we're holding up our end," Morty said. Their commercials also can be viewed at YouTube.
Andy Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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