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The Brooklyn-born Vale's run as "Fred the Baker" lasted from 1982 until his retirement in 1997.
In a statement Dunkin' Donuts said Vale's Fred "became a beloved American icon that permeated our culture and touched millions with his sense of humor and humble nature."
It wasn't all glazing and crème-filling for Vale, who had studied acting at the Dramatic Workshop in New York City with classmates Tony Curtis, Ben Gazzara and Rod Steiger.
A veteran of the Broadway stage, film and television, Vale appeared in more than 1,300 TV commercials, the Associated Press reports.
