Ron Popeil, the Ronco founder who all but created the late-night infomercial and pitched such durable — in memory if not quality — items as the Pocket Fisherman, the Veg-O-Matic, the Bedazzler and Mr.

Ron Popeil, known for starring in infomercials for dozens of his own inventions, died Wednesday in Los Angeles at the age of 86, the Associated Press reported. Popeil got his start as a salesman in a ...