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Advertising Volkswagen (VW) Star Wars

The kid from Volkswagen’s 'The Force' Super Bowl ad now advocating on child healthcare

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By John McCarthy, Opinion Editor

July 13, 2017 | 3 min read

Max Page, the child actor who in 2011 starred as Darth Vader in one of the most famous Super Bowl ads of all time – Volkswagen’s ‘The Force’, is now using his ad fame to advocate for better healthcare for children in Washington D.C..

Volkswagen

Darth Vader' boy Max Page

Twelve-year-old Page, who suffers from a rare congenital heart condition, is serving as a healthcare advocate at Capitol Hill this week, six years after he starred as the Star Wars villain.

Page is making use of the retention of his role. He told People. “I hope that I can be the face for healthcare and show them that kids have health problems and that we didn’t do anything to deserve this.”

He reportedly served as a representative of Children's Hospital Los Angeles in order to oppose the Senate’s GOP health bill that would reduce cover for millions of people, particularly those with pre-existing conditions.

Back in 2011, The Force was one of the first major Super Bowl slots to see success by being published online before the big game, redefining advertising in a space where brands are jostling for attention weeks before kick off.

The ad aired to 111 million people live and accumulated more than 60m views online, although Volkswagen removed the video due to its license on the Star Wars property expiring. It will have been seen many more millions of times since due to reuploads.

Advertising Volkswagen (VW) Star Wars

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