In a sport loaded with colorful characters, Caplan was one-of-a-kind as an old-school public relations expert and quick-witted master storyteller.

Caplan was born on September 8, 1935, in Des Moines, Iowa, and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2022 following a decorated 60-year career spotlighting the sweet science.

Caplan’s career in boxing kicked off in 1962 handling PR for promoter Leo Minskoff and heavyweight Joe Louis, and by 1974, he was the first publicist hired by Don King for Don King Productions. Caplan handled the two-month promotion in Africa for the “Rumble in the Jungle” featuring Foreman and Muhammad Ali in what he later said was the adventure of a lifetime.

Throughout the years, Caplan’s PR services were retained by promoters Aileen Eaton, George Parnassus, Dan Goossen, Don and Lorraine Chargin, and many others.

But it was his special relationship with Foreman that Caplan cherished the most, as he served as his only publicist beginning from the heavyweight icon’s eighth amateur fight all the way to his storybook comeback and life in retirement.

When Caplan learned of Foreman’s death last year, with tears in his eyes, he said: “He was one of a kind in so many ways. I’ll miss him forever. Hopefully, there is a place called heaven, and I'll be able to see him again there.”

Foreman, also an ordained minister, officiated the wedding of Caplan’s daughter Liz, as well as his granddaughter, and even remarried Caplan’s parents. Foreman even credited him for keeping his career going following his first loss as an amateur on the night they first met in Oakland after Caplan, who was serving as ring announcer that night, praised him and reaffirmed he was a special talent.

Caplan’s skills weren’t just limited to PR. He also wore hats as a promoter and matchmaker.

Caplan was still a staple at major events well into his mid-80s, working closely with the WBC and making four-plus hour drives from his home in Northridge, California, where he had lived since 1957, to Las Vegas.

"Bill Caplan was a wonderful publicist and a throwback during the newspaper era – he was like the drummer for all of our events, attracting coverage," said Bob Arum, who last worked with Caplan in 2010. "He was an irrepressible professional and always found engaging angles to publicize the fights."

Caplan’s second favorite fighter to publicize was Oscar De La Hoya, who signed with Arum out of the 1992 Olympics and landed perfectly into his lap to tell his “Golden Boy” story.

Caplan also took great pride in fostering deep relationships with the press, organizing lavish dinners and bringing boxing figures together during big fight weeks. Always self-deprecating, Caplan loved to eat and commanded the room as a larger-than-life personality, as guests would devour the stories “Uncle Bill” served as he sat with a large napkin cloth on his chest and ice cream nearby for dessert.

Foreman once quipped that Caplan’s nickname was “Buffet Bill” while veteran Southern California sportswriter and radio talk show host Doug Krikorian, another great friend, billed him as “Bozo.”

“We knew Uncle Bill was not in good health over the last few months, but there is never the right age to go. I can’t believe it,” said WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman. “Uncle Bill was my dearest friend who was always looking at the bright side, even in the darkest moments. He took my brother and me to Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm and even summer camp when we were kids, while my dad was busy, and I had a very close relationship with him ever since. He was always supportive, always positive, always loyal. We will love him forever and miss him dearly.”

Caplan was a unique orator who loved telling stories, including how King, then a rookie promoter, sought attention around his events, got his famous standing hair by initially styling himself inside Caplan’s hotel bathroom and getting the stamp of approval shortly before Ali knocked out Foreman.

Another story that illustrated his personality and commitment to his career was lying down in a driveway to prevent then-bantamweight champion Lupe Pintor from leaving a press conference after the fighter was upset about his opponent being tardy. Thanks to Caplan's melodramatic solution, Pintor ended up staying for the presser, the event was saved and Caplan added to his legend.

"I'm incredibly saddened by the passing of Bill Caplan – a Hall of Fame publicist and, more importantly, a real friend," said promoter Dmitriy Salita, a fixture at many of the dinners Caplan organized following the fighting career he supported. "A truly warm and generous person, he showed me great care from my pro debut through his final days. He will be greatly missed. He lived a remarkable life.”

Caplan was admired and respected by his peers and honored with additional recognition in the West Coast Boxing Hall of Fame and by the Boxing Writers Associations of America, first in 2010 with the Marvin Kohn Good Guy Award and again with the Barney Nagler Award for Long and Meritorious Service to Boxing in 2016.

“I know that there are people on the freeways for four hours a day. They just hate their job with a passion, or they have to do it because they’ve got to make a buck for themselves and their family,” Caplan said in a story that appeared on the front page of the Los Angeles Times sports section in 2022 before his HOF induction weekend alongside Miguel Cotto, Roy Jones Jr. and James Toney.

“I’m so lucky that I’m doing something that I love to do.”

Caplan later said it was an honor to be featured in a publication he fought so hard to get press in for the fighters he represented.

Liz Caplan, one of Caplan's five children, said her father was the ultimate family man and a devoted patriarch.

“We had an immensely interesting upbringing," she said. "My father loved his family, boxing, and the Los Angeles Dodgers. He fought until the very end. He was a catalyst for so many stories and was a straw that stirred the drinks. He always made sure the writers got the stories they needed and showed them a good time along the way. He was a hero to many, and he is our family’s hero. We're going to miss him so much."

Caplan is survived by his wife Sandy, his children Scott, Debbie and her husband Chris, as well as Liz and her husband Johnny. Caplan’s sons Harold and Charlie are deceased. Caplan is also survived by nine grandchildren, Gary, Kelly, Jessica, Taylor, CJ, Cody, Vienna, Sammy and Ashley, and one great-grandchild, Logan.

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