Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Thursday, February 2, 2012
(WASHINGTON) - While some see the Super Bowl as just a football game, Washington resident Gene Wood sees it as a source of revenue.
That's because the 87-year-old is currently being featured in a national commercial for Visa centered around the Super Bowl.
The commercial is running on the big three: NBC, ABC and CBS, as well as Fox network. Wood plays himself, or an elderly man watching as his wife learns their grandson has won tickets to the Super Bowl.
The commercial was filmed in Indianapolis, with actors coming in from New York and California. The other actors were in town for about a week, because the commercials are progressive and they had to complete the pretend trip to the Super Bowl.
The Visa commercial isn't the first Gene has done. He and his wife of 64 years, Patty, have appeared in several commercials. The two have been acting for more than 45 years.
The couple appeared on an episode of "Unsolved Mysteries" they shot in Indianapolis and have done a national commercial for Big Boy restaurants.
The Woods are the parents of 12, grandparents of 17 and great-grandparents of two. And entertainment seems to run in the family.
The Woods' seven daughters often sing together, and have performed the national anthem for several pro sporting events. Janie, Julie, Melissa, Carolyn, Jackie and Jennifer, all live in Indianapolis, while Ellen flies in from her home in Florida when the girls have a gig.
Besides his acting, Wood is probably best known for his piano tuning business that also includes buying and selling pianos.
Wood couldn't play the piano and, according to his wife, at that time couldn't tell one note from another. He took a correspondence course on piano tuning and taught himself a skill that he still uses today.
Wood has slowed down some, but still takes part in most all of the Veale Creek Players productions and has directed quite a few.
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