The chances are slim that you’ve come across Simon Kane before. He’s not from around here, and he’s not exactly a sports enthusiast, having never watched a college football game in his life.
However, his face is familiar to you. More importantly, his voice is likely etched into your memory, especially through the two iconic words that have cemented his place in Alabama football pop culture:
HIGH TIDE!
HIGH TIDE, GUYS! HIGH TIDE!
Yes, he’s that guy. The British actor finds it quite amusing that his brief appearance in an Allstate commercial has earned him a cult following on this side of the Atlantic. The ad features a memorable blunder where Kane, donning a Crimson Tide hat, amusingly botches the brand’s signature chant as the team bus arrives for a game. It’s a simple yet unforgettable moment, much like a musical earworm that sticks with you long after you’ve heard it.
Despite his research before filming, Kane had never encountered any version of “Roll Tide” or “High Tide” before this gig. His grasp of American football is rather rudimentary. As he humorously put it, “Someone blows the whistle, everyone falls over.”
Kane’s acting career includes small roles on British television, most notably on the BBC show “Ghosts,” which has an American adaptation currently airing on CBS. His unexpected rise to fame through the Allstate commercial is a testament to the unpredictability and charm of pop culture moments that resonate deeply, often in the most unexpected ways.
