June 17, 2010 (Pen Men at Work): Isaiah Mustafa is the Old Spice mascot at present and has clinched a deal with the NBC to showcase his talent. He had been a former player for the NFL. The authorities for the network informed that Isaiah will be kept in-house for the time being and will be sent out for auditions. He is also expected to be cast in several pilot episodes of shows after a period of time.

His career has taken a definite turn since the year 2000 when he changed tracks and became an actor ending his career as a footballer of repute. He had also completed a tour with the Barcelona Dragons in NFL Europe.

He did not taste success as an actor initially as he could only get miniscule parts in shows like Ugly Betty and Castle. His fame increased when he appeared as the man of ‘Old Spice’. The shirtless actor on a magnificent stallion set many a heart aflutter as did the catch line of the ad which proclaimed that your man could actually smell like Isiaiah Mustafa.

The ad was launched during the Super Bowl event and became immensely popular. This prompted both Oprah Winfrey and Ellen DeGeneres’ to have him on their talk shows.

Mustafa, seemed to be delighted with the deal that he has signed with NBC. He is supposed to have said that he has been acting for a long period of eight years but had never tasted success like this before. Grace Wu, the VP with Universal castings seemed pleased to welcome him aboard as well. She said that he is really an attractive guy who can be charming and witty at the same. She had, in fact, wanted him in one of the pilots just after the Super Bowl game which unfortunately did not take off.

However, the new talent deal entitles him another TV show or two. Mustafa has acknowledged that comedy is his forte and he is eager to make people laugh.