Pepsi ad man passes away

Last Friday, Pepsi ad man Alan Maxwell Pottasch died. He was behind many of the iconic Pepsi ads, including "Pepsi Generation" concepts.

Pottasch died in his sleep Friday in Los Angeles, where he was on location working on a TV commercial. Even though he retired in 1991, he continued to work for the company as a consultant.

Pottasch was the creative force behind five decades of Pepsi advertising campaigns, the company said. He started working for the company in 1957, and as a marketer recognized the shift from promoting products to selling a way of life.

He produced ads such as the famous 1980s Pepsi commercials that starred Michael Jackson, as well as those featuring celebrities such as Lionel Richie, Ray Charles, Michael J. Fox, Cindy Crawford, Britney Spears and Beyonce.

"Alan had an extraordinary ability to understand and connect with people, whether they were his family, friends, colleagues or consumers of the brands he loved to market," PepsiCo's ex-Chief Executive Roger Enrico said in a statement. "He was a beautiful person - creative, talented, funny and caring."

Diet Pepsi - Michael J Fox - Opera (1990) - 0:60 (USA)

Diet Pepsi - Ray Charles - Wise Guy (1990) - 0:30 (USA)

Diet Pepsi - Ray Charles - Uh Huh - Auditions (1991) - 0:60 (USA)

Diet Pepsi - Michael J Fox - Robot Clone (1989) - 0:60 (USA)

Pepsi - MC Hammer (1991) - 0:30 (USA)

Diet Pepsi - Michael J Fox - Mad Dog (1988) - 0:60 (USA)

Pepsi - Cindy Crawford - New Can (1992) - 0:30 (USA)

Pepsi - Beyonce - Gas Station (2003) - 0:30 (USA)

Pepsi - Britney Spears - Enjoy the Ride (2001) - 0:60 (USA)

And here are some Michael Jackson spots: