Boxing fans had known George Foreman for decades by the time the grill bearing his name was introduced, but it would bring his fame to a new level.

The former boxer transformed American cooking, and himself, with an appliance that remains a cultural touchstone.

When George Foreman came back to prominence as a boxer in the 1990s, his ever-smiling image and congenial manner made him one of the most impactful celebrity spokespeople of all time.