Ron Popeil

Ronald Martin Popeil (May 3, 1935 – July 28, 2021) was an American inventor and marketing personality, best known as the founder of direct response marketing company Ronco. He gained fame through his appearances in infomercials for the Showtime Rotisserie, popularizing phrases like 'Set it, and forget it!' and 'But wait, there's more!'. Born in Manhattan in 1935, Popeil grew up in Florida after his parents' divorce. At age 17, he started working at his father's manufacturing facility in Chicago. Although he briefly attended the University of Illinois, he dropped out after six months. Popeil's innovative products and charismatic salesmanship made him a prominent figure in the world of infomercials and direct response marketing.