22-03-2025
George Foreman Helped Tell His Life Story In A 2023 Faith-Based Biopic
George Foreman at the premiere of "Big George Foreman" held at Regal L.A. Live on April 26, 2023 in ... More Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Mark Von Holden/Variety via Getty Images)
Apart from being a champion boxer, successful businessman and preacher, George Foreman — who died Friday at age 76 — also helped bring his life story to the big screen in 2023.
Foreman's family announced the death of the former Olympic gold medalist and two-time world heavyweight boxing champion in an Instagram post on Friday.
'Our hearts are broken. With profound sorrow, we announce the passing of our beloved George Edward Foreman Sr. who peacefully departed on March 21, 2025 surrounded by loved ones,' the post reads. 'A devout preacher, a devoted husband, a loving father, and a proud grand and great grandfather, he lived a life marked by unwavering faith, humility, and purpose.'
Foreman was no stranger to Hollywood, having made appearances as himself through the decades in such classic series as Sanford and Son, Home Improvement and The Larry Sanders Show, and he even led the cast playing the title character in the ABC sitcom George from 1993-94.
In 2023, Foreman stepped behind the camera for the first time to become one of the executive producers of his faith-based biopic Big George Foreman.
Released by Sony Pictures Entertainment's faith-based subsidiary Affirm Films, Big George Foreman — which also goes by the alternate title Big George Foreman: The Miraculous Story of the Once a Future Heavyweight Champion of the World — premiered in theaters on April 28, 2023.
Directed by George Tilman Jr., the logline for Big George Foreman reads, 'Fueled by an impoverished childhood, George Foreman channeled his anger into becoming an Olympic Gold medalist and World Heavyweight Champion, followed by a near-death experience that took him from the boxing ring to the pulpit.'
Discussing his near-death experience in 1977 in an interview about Big George Foreman with USA Today in May of 2023, Foreman said, "The only reason I was interested in doing a movie, period, was to tell the story of what happened in a dressing room. I died for a split-second. I tasted death and had a second chance to live. You wake up and say, 'It's not that bad, I'm still alive.'"
UNDATED: George Foreman eyes his opponent during a boxing match circa the 1970's at the Hotel San ... More Juan. (Photo by Focus on Sport via Getty Images)
Rated PG-13, the film stars Khris Davis as George Foreman, Jasmine Matthews as Foreman's wife, Mary Joan, Sullivan Jones as boxing champ Muhammad Ali, Forrest Whitaker as Foreman's trainer Doc Broadus and Matthew Glave as legendary ABC Sports announcer Howard Cosell.
While Rotten Tomatoes critics gave Big George Foreman a 42% 'rotten' rating based on 52 reviews, audiences awarded Foreman's biopic a 96% 'fresh' score on RT's Popcornmeter based on 250 verified user ratings.
Big George Foreman is streaming on Hulu and available to rent on video on demand on a variety of digital platforms including Prime Video, AppleTV, Fandango at Home, Spectrum and the Microsoft Store.
