Eugene Roche

Eugene Harrison Roche (September 22, 1928 - July 28, 2004) was an American actor. He was the original "Ajax Man" in 1970s television commercials. Roche was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts, the son of Mary M. (née Finnegan) and Robert F. Roche, who was at the time serving in the U.S. Navy. He was the father of nine children including actors Eamonn Roche, Brogan Roche, and Emmy Award- winning writer/producer Sean Roche. Roche died in Los A... more

Eugene Harrison Roche (September 22, 1928 - July 28, 2004) was an American actor. He was the original "Ajax Man" in 1970s television commercials. Roche was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts, the son of Mary M. (née Finnegan) and Robert F. Roche, who was at the time serving in the U.S. Navy. He was the father of nine children including actors Eamonn Roche, Brogan Roche, and Emmy Award- winning writer/producer Sean Roche. Roche died in Los Angeles, California from a heart attack, aged 75. Roche made his Broadway debut in 1961 as a bit player in the play Blood, Sweat and Stanley Poole with Darren McGavin and went on to act in Mother Courage with Anne Bancroft in 1963 and The White House with Helen Hayes in 1964. In Hollywood, Roche would go on to appear in myriad supporting character roles, both dramatic and comedic, that would define his acting career. Television comedy would became his forte on with recurring roles on Soap (1977), Night Court (1984), and Perfect Strangers (1986)... less