Who is Papa John (John Schnatter)?

Papa John, also known as John Schnatter, is a well-known and successful businessman and commercial actor. As the founder of the American pizza restaurant chain, Papa John's, Schnatter has become a household name thanks in large part to his ubiquitous presence in television commercials and product branding.

Born in Jeffersonville, Indiana, in November 1961, Schnatter began his career in the food industry when he was still in high school. He worked as a dishwasher and later as a pizza delivery driver for a local pizza restaurant, which sparked his love for the industry. After studying business at Ball State University, he started his own pizza restaurant in his father's tavern in 1984, which later became Papa John's.

Schnatter's success with Papa John's can be largely attributed to his savvy marketing skills. He appeared in many of the company's television commercials, often wearing a red polo shirt emblazoned with the Papa John's logo. His folksy demeanor and charm endeared him to audiences and helped make the Papa John's brand a household name.

However, Schnatter's career as a commercial actor and his involvement with Papa John's has not been without controversy. In 2018, he resigned from his role as Chairman of the Board and Director of Papa John's after it was revealed that he had used a racial slur in a conference call. The controversy led to a decline in the company's stock price and a negative shift in public perception of the brand.

Despite this setback, Schnatter is still widely recognized as a successful businessman and commercial actor, and his legacy as the founder of Papa John's remains a significant part of his identity.