In a Vicks Formula 44 cough syrup advertising campaign in 1986, Bergman told the viewing audience, "Iām not a doctor, but I play one on TV." Chris Robinson, who played Dr. Rick Webber on ABC's General Hospital, was the original spokesperson in the ad campaign, which started in 1984. Bergman replaced Robinson after the latter experienced some legal difficulties. The writer of the commercial used this opening line as a disclaimer, because the then-existing "white coat rule" prohibited people from portraying doctors in commercials without some sort of clarification/disclaimer. The original commercial with Chris Robinson became the most-recalled TV commercial in the history of the Vicks brand.
