PLAYBOY HEFNER DIES
TRIBUTES have been paid to Playboy founder Hugh Hefner following his death at the age of 91.
The tycoon, who brought sex and nudity into the mainstream, died “peacefully” and “surrounded by loved ones” at his famous Playboy Mansion.
Playboy posted on Twitter a black and white photo of its creator, who was known for his lavish parties, with his quote “Life is too short to be living somebody else’s dream”.
Reality TV star Kendra Wilkinson, who was 18 when she first moved into the Playboy Mansion with a then 78-year-old Hefner, paid tribute to her ex-boyfriend, calling him “an angel” in her life.
“Hef changed my life. He made me the person I am today. I couldn’t be more thankful for our friendship and our time together. I will miss him so much but he will be in my heart forever,” she said in a statement to People.com.
Singer and actress Nancy Sinatra, who posed for Playboy in her 50s, paid tribute to the publishing mogul as “one of the nicest men I’ve ever known”, adding: “Godspeed, Hugh Hefner.”
Kim Kardashian, who also stripped off for Playboy, wrote: “RIP to the legendary Hugh Hefner! I’m so honoured to have been a part of the Playboy team! You will be greatly missed! Love you Hef! Xoxo.”
And she added: “Paris (Hilton) and I are reminiscing about the Playboy parties at the mansion and how much we love Hef.”
Hefner’s son Cooper Hefner, the chief creative officer of Playboy Enterprises, said in a statement: “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 will be greatly missed by many, including his wife Crystal, my sister Christie and my brothers David and Marston and all of us at Playboy Enterprises.”
In 1953 he created Playboy magazine, starting the publication from his kitchen table.
It went on to become the biggest-selling men’s magazine in the world, and continues to be published in more than 20 countries to this day.
Hefner himself went on to become a political activist and philanthropist, advocating political and sexual freedom.
Hefner once said that he “invented” an “adolescent dream” of a “perfect” adult life for himself.