Hugh Hefner, an American icon who founded the legendary Playboy magazine died of natural causes Wednesday at the publication’s World famous mansion. He was 91-years-old.
Hefner’s son Cooper Hefner who serves as Playboy Enterprises’ Chief Creative Officer released a statement about his father and his death.
“My father lived an exceptional and impactful life as a media and cultural pioneer and a leading voice behind some of the most significant social and cultural movements of our time in advocating free speech, civil rights and sexual freedom.”
Taking out a $600 bank loan while borrowing $8,000 from his mother, Hefner started Playboy in 1953 and grew the business into one of the most recognizable brands in American history. Likewise, Playboy eventually became the World’s largest-selling and certainly the most influential men’s magazine in the World which in turn gave way to numerous Playboy related ventures. This included the TV show Playboy’s Penthouse in the 1950’s and 60’s as well as numerous Playboy related videos produced by Hefner himself.
RIP to the legendary Hugh Hefner! I’m so honored to have been a part of the Playboy team! You will be greatly missed! Love you Hef! Xoxo
— Kim Kardashian (@KimKardashian) September 28, 2017
RIP #Hef Thank you for being a revolutionary and changing so many people's lives, especially mine. I hope I made you proud. 😓#PMOY 94 ❤️ pic.twitter.com/sF9ARYgEpw
— Jenny McC-Wahlberg (@JennyMcCarthy) September 28, 2017
A staunch supporter of free speech, free press, civil rights and sexual freedom, Hefner’s death comes at a very telling time in America when those freedoms especially as outlined in the first amendment have been under attack or very much questioned.
Via NPR:
In 1955, Playboy published Charles Beaumont’s “The Crooked Man,” a short story set a future where the majority of the population is gay and heterosexual men are persecuted. It was originally rejected by Esquire. “He always paid top dollar for fiction, published a lot of authors who never would’ve found an audience,” Hainey says. ” … He fought a lot of battles in terms of the First Amendment and free speech.”
Hefner is survived by his wife Crystal, his four adult children, Christie – who served as Playboy’s CEO for more than 20 years, David, Marston and Cooper the company’s current CCO as well as a huge footprint in the American pop culture landscape.
