Playboy magazine founder Hugh Hefner dead at 91

Hugh Hefner, the founder of the iconic Playboy magazine has died, Playboy Enterprises announced. He was 91.

A statement from the company read that Hefner died from natural causes surrounded by kith and kin at his home, The Playboy Mansion, reported ABC News.

“Hugh M Hefner, the American icon who in 1953 introduced the world to Playboy magazine and built the company into one of the most recognisable American global brands in history, peacefully passed away today from natural causes at his home, The Playboy Mansion, surrounded by loved ones. He was 91 years old,” the statement read.

Hefner’s son Cooper also issued a statement in which he traced back his father’s journey into spearheading a sexual revolution, along with freedom of expression in the US.

“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.”

“He defined a lifestyle and ethos that lie at the heart of the Playboy brand, one of the most recognisable and enduring in history. He will be greatly missed by many...” Cooper, 26, said of his father.

Hailing from Chicago, Hefner was born to Glenn and Grace Hefner on April 9, 1926.

Hefner founded Playboy with the aim to create a niche and upscale magazine for men - which offered a spread of images of nude women, along with detailed writeups, interviews and fiction by many a wellknown writer.