Hugh Hefner, the iconic fonder of Playboy, passed away Wednesday night. The 91-year old died at his home, the Playboy Mansion, of natural causes, and was surrounded by his loved ones.
From bunnies to impossibly beautiful mansions, Hef was a cultural icon who built a multi-million dollar empire, forever revolutionized publishing and left an indelible mark on many careers. With his passing goes one of the last traces of the sexual revolution, which he helped pioneer with the introduction of Playboy magazine.
“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,” Cooper Hefner, Playboy Enterprises’ chief creative officer and Hugh’s son, said in the statement.
I’ve long been a fan of Playboy, growing up sneaking peeks at my Dad’s Playboy collection, and continuing to “read the articles” later in life. But I had no idea how influential Playboy was in the late 60s and early 70s until I watched the Amazon docuseries American Playboy: The Hugh Hefner Story, which chronicles Hefner and his impact on global culture. It will have you looking at Hef in a whole new light.
It’s safe to say that Playboy had a profound effect on this world, and his legacy will not soon be forgotten.
Farewell to the man in the trademark velvet red robe who’s real life was our fantasy. RIP! ?
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