LOS ANGELES — Hugh Hefner, the creator of Playboy, has passed away. He was 91.
Playboy confirmed the news on Twitter Wednesday night. Hefner died of natural causes at his mansion in Holmby Hills, Calif.
Hefner was the founder of Playboy magazine and related enterprises who revolutionized publishing and helped move the sexual revolution of the postwar generation.
Hefner’s started his business in the living room on the south side of Chicago, where in 1953 he laid out the pages for the first issue of Playboy.
The magazine took a sharp turn in the wrong direction several years ago when it announced it would no longer publish images of fully nude women. Sales plummeted, and early this year Playboy started publishing nude photographs again.
Born Hugh Marston Hefner on April 9, 1926, in Chicago, he took it upon himself to be the marketing tool for Playboy — complete with silk pajamas and a smoking jacket, along with his trademark pipe.
After a string of marriages, in 1989, at age 63, he married that year’s 26-year-old Playmate of the Year, Kimberly Conrad.
They divorced in 2010. A number of years later, at 86, he married Playmate Crystal Harris.
Hefner remained as editor in chief of the magazine until his death.
His youngest son, Cooper, assumed the role of chief creative officer.
Hefner is survived by Harris and four children — daughter Christie and son David from his first wife Mildred Williams and sons Marston and Cooper from his second wife.
An outpouring of sympathy within the adult biz was broadcasted over social media circles and told to XBIZ.
Among those offering condolences was the iconic Ron Jeremy, who said via Twitter: "Today the world lost a legend. Hugh Hefner started my career. For 22 years I got to wish him happy new year at his mansion. I’ll miss him."
Kelly Holland told XBIZ that Penthouse's name was inspired by an early Playboy TV show called "Playboy’s Penthouse."
"Our early logo, a macho little turtle, was based on the parable of the 'Tortoise & the Hare.'" said Holland, who owns rival Penthouse. "We have always been the delinquent younger brother of the bunny and we are defined as much by our competitors as our own vision. RIP Mr. Hefner."
Steven Hirsch, founder/co-chairman of Vivid Entertainment, told XBIZ: “Hugh Hefner was a legend. Our dealings with Playboy helped propel us in the formative years of our company. He will be forever remembered as an iconic pioneer and the industry wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for him. RIP.”
The competing Hustler enterprise said via Twitter, "Our thoughts and prayers to the Hugh Hefner family and all our friends at Playboy. We send much love! End of an era!"
Alec Helmy, publisher and founder of XBIZ, said: "A legend in every sense of the word, Hugh Hefner was an extraordinary visionary force who did for our industry what no one else has done. And for that we owe him infinite gratitude. #RIP."
Peter Acworth, founder of Kink.com, told XBIZ, "The Playboy bunny will live forever, and Hef will not be forgotten. I admired him greatly and regret never having met him in the flesh. RIP Hugh Hefner."
Bob Christian, Adam & Eve's general manager, told XBIZ: "Hef's influence was profound in the industry and in the world. He was quirky, but he made a contribution. His passing marks an end to an era, and he will be missed."
"In business school, we did a case study of Hugh Hefner and Playboy," Christian said. "It was fascinating the he built an empire and altered sexual expression in the world simply by believing that his opinion of beauty and sexuality represented the opinions of all men, and he stuck to that belief and was successful by many measures. I found it an inspiring story of the power of having a vision you believe in and relentlessly pursuing it."
Allan Gelbard, an industry attorney, said: "Rest in peace Hugh Hefner. You were a champion for the First Amendment and for sexual freedom."
TV commentator Larry King tweeted, "Hugh Hefner was a giant in publishing, journalism, free speech and civil rights."
"He was a true original, and he was my friend. Rest well Hef," King said.
Hefner will be laid to rest in a crypt beside Marilyn Monroe at Pierce Brothers mortuary and cemetery in West Los Angeles.
