Playboy's legendary founder Hugh Hefner dies, aged 91
Hugh Hefner, the legendary founder of the adult Playboy magazine, has passed away, aged 91. Playboy Enterprises Inc said in a statement that Hefner passed away peacefully from natural causes at his home, the iconic Playboy Mansion in Hollywood. Hefner, who built Playboy into a multimillion-dollar empire, is credited with revolutionizing adult entertainment. His hedonistic lifestyle and outlook turned him into a cultural icon.
Hefner's son Cooper Hefner said he would be "greatly missed by many." He paid tribute to his father, saying he "lived an exceptional and impactful life as a media and cultural pioneer." He called Hefner an advocate for free speech, civil rights and sexual freedom.
Hefner had started publishing Playboy from his home in 1953, turning it into largest-selling men's magazines in the world. The magazine helped make nudity respectable in the mainstream and spawned a multi-million dollar business empire that includes casinos, nightclubs and apparel. Playboy's 'bunny logo' has become a recognizable cultural fixture the world over. At its peak, the magazine sold seven million copies a month.
The silk pyjama-clad Hefner, popularly referred to as 'Hef', lived the lifestyle portrayed by his magazine. He dated and married Playboy models and claimed he had slept with over 1,000 women. He threw lavish soirees at his luxurious mansions filled with celebrities and scantily-clad models. Hefner was often attacked by feminists but "styled himself as the godfather of the sexual revolution," the BBC reported.
