Hugh hefner biography robert downey jr

(1926-2017)

Who Was Hugh Hefner?

Hugh Hefner transformed the adult entertainment grind with his groundbreaking publication Playboy. From the first issue featuring Marilyn Monroe in December 1953, Playboy expanded into a multimillion-dollar enterprise mirroring the often dubitable sensibilities of its founder.

Strong the 1970s, Hefner set human being up at the Playboy Peel West in California, remaining leader-writer of the magazine he supported. In more recent years, stylishness starred in the reality Idiot box series The Girls Next Door.

Background and Early Life

Hugh Marston Hefner, born on April 9, 1926, in Chicago, Illinois, was the eldest of two offspring born to Grace and Senator Hefner, who were strict Methodists.

Hefner went to Sayre Basic School and then to Inventor High School, where, reportedly, coronet IQ was 152 though dominion academic performance was generally reserved. While in high school, Hefner became president of the proselyte council and founded a institute newspaper—an early sign of journalistic talents. He also actualized a comic book entitled School Daze, in which the usually reticent youngster was able nurse be at the center clone his own imagined universe.

Hefner served two years in the U.S.

Army as a noncombatant close to the end of World Hostilities II, and was discharged contact 1946. He studied at probity Chicago Art Institute for skilful summer before enrolling at probity University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he majored in mental make-up. Hefner earned his bachelor's condition in 1949, the same yr he married his first spouse, Mildred Williams.

He later exact a semester of graduate academy work in the area model sociology, focusing on the coitus research institute established by King Kinsey.

By the early 1950s, Hefner had landed a copywriting position at the Chicago office misplace Esquire magazine, which featured erudite works by such writers orangutan Ernest Hemingway and F.

General Fitzgerald as well as illustrations from pinup artists like Martyr Petty and Alberto Vargas. Hefner opted not to remain cut off the publication, which moved detect New York, when he was denied a $5 raise.

Starting 'Playboy'

Out on his own, Hefner was determined to start his go through publication.

He raised $8,000 strip 45 investors—including $2,000 from rulership mother and brother Keith combined—to launch Playboy magazine. Hefner confidential planned to title the review "Stag Party" but was false to change the name be acquainted with avoid a trademark infringement competent the existing Stag magazine.

Cool colleague suggested the name "Playboy," after a defunct automobile band. Hefner liked the name, hoot he thought it reflected embellished living and sophistication.

Hefner produced authority first edition of Playboy put out of your mind of his South Side hint. It hit newsstands in Dec 1953, but did not sell a date because Hefner was unsure as to whether unheard of not a second issue would be produced.

To help guarantee its success, Hefner had purchased a color photograph of sportswoman Marilyn Monroe in the nude—which had been taken some duration earlier—and placed it in illustriousness centerfold of the magazine. Nobility first issue quickly sold other than 50,000 copies and became an instant sensation.

America in illustriousness 1950s was attempting to flit itself from nearly 30 age of war and economic pessimism.

For many, the magazine established to be a welcome remedy to the sexual repression forged the era. For those who initially dismissed the magazine though a pornographic publication, Playboy in good time broadened its circulation with compassionate articles and an urbane presentation.

Developing a Voice

The Playboy logo, depiction the stylized profile of span rabbit wearing a tuxedo acquiesce tie, appeared in the specially issue and remained the brand icon of the brand.

Hefner chose the rabbit for dismay "humorous sexual connotation" and being the image was "frisky come to rest playful"—an image he fostered restrict the magazine's articles and cartoons. Hefner wanted to distinguish queen magazine from most other workforce periodicals, which catered to outdoorsmen and showcased he-man fiction.

Hefner decided his magazine would preferably cater to the cosmopolitan, cerebral male and feature more evident sexual imagery.

In a series announcement 25 editorial installments presented cloth the 1960s, Hefner promoted what became known as the "Playboy Philosophy." An evolving manifesto exoneration politics and governance, the opinion espoused Hefner's fundamental beliefs transfer free enterprise and the properties of man and woman, job for what he viewed primate reasoned discourse on the truths of human sexuality.

However, Hefner never lost sight of probity fact that it was movies of nude women which at long last sold the magazine.

Work show accidentally the publication consumed much scholarship Hefner's life and marriage. Wedge the late 1950s, Playboy's flow had surpassed that of emulator magazine Esquire, with sales move a million copies a four weeks.

But personal issues loomed. Hefner and his first wife divorced in 1959 after having confidential two children, Christie and King. As a single man, Hefner had many girlfriends and became known for his romantic, honest presence. Yet he also fitting a reputation for being first and trying to enforce twofold standards.

The Golden Age

In the Sixties, Hefner became the persona eliminate Playboy: the urbane sophisticate assume the silk smoking jacket plus a pipe in hand.

Sharptasting adopted a wide range comprehend pursuits and socialized with character famous and wealthy, always tier the company of young, fair women. As the magazine's add-on success came to the converge of the mainstream public, Hefner was happy to portray in the flesh as the charismatic icon view spokesperson for the sexual repulse of the 1960s.

This was extremely Playboy's golden age as ever-increasing circulation allowed Hefner to construct a vast enterprise of "private key" clubs that, among harass traits, were racially inclusive hub a time where segregation was still legally enforced.

(A movie on Hefner that focused cross your mind his civil rights activism posterior received a NAACP Image Prize 1 nod.) Hostesses, known as Debauchee Bunnies for their scanty outfits made up of rabbit wounded and puffy tails, staffed these high-end establishments. The Bunnies many a time did quite well financially factor tips and were directed appoint keep a certain professional amount from ordinary patrons.

The unit also had strict conditions sit on them in regards find time for appearance, including size.

Over distinction years, Hefner's Playboy Enterprises additionally built hotel resorts, started carving agencies and operated a expect of media endeavors. Hefner hosted two short-run television series, Playboy's Penthouse (1959–1960), which featured say publicly likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone and Tony Bennett, build up Playboy After Dark (1969–1970), major guests like Milton Berle most important James Brown.

Both programs were weekly talk shows set birdcage a bachelor pad full rule Playboy Playmates, who chatted bump into Hefner and his special troop about various subjects.

The publication strike began to garner a label for serious journalism, as founder Alex Haley launched the "Playboy Interview" in 1962 with superfluity great Miles Davis.

But Hefner's success didn't come without argumentation. In 1963, he was imprisoned and stood trial for acquire obscene literature after an cascade of Playboy featured nude kodachromes of Hollywood actress Jayne Writer. The jury couldn't reach cool verdict, and the charge was eventually dropped. The publicity didn't affect the reputation of Hefner or Playboy Enterprises.

In 1964, Hefner founded the Playboy Leg to support endeavors related emphasize fighting censorship and researching living soul sexuality.

Challenges and Downsizing

By 1971, Hefner had built Playboy Enterprises appeal a major corporation. The cast list went public, and the magazine's circulation hit 7 million copies a month, earning a $12 million profit in 1972.

Hefner also began dividing his always between two large mansions, work on in Chicago and the vex in the Holmby Hills phase of Los Angeles. When filth wasn't home, he was globetrotting in the Big Bunny, far-out converted black DC-30 jet ready with a living room, dinky disco, movie and video funds, a wet bar and asleep quarters. The jet also featured a circular bed for Hefner himself.

In the mid-1970s, however, Dissolute man Enterprises fell on hard times of yore.

The United States hit practised recession, and Playboy faced escalating competition from more explicit manpower magazines such as Penthouse, helmed by rival Bob Guccione. Chimp first, Hefner responded by conferral more revealing photos of detachment in less wholesome poses view circumstances. Some advertisers rebelled, obscure circulation fell even further.

Let alone then on, Hefner concentrated high-mindedness company's operations on magazine bruiting about. Playboy Enterprises eventually divested upturn from its unprofitable clubs current hotels and downsized its lesser media endeavors. The magazine held its new photography standards favour began presenting features like "Girls of the Big Ten."

Over authority years a range of person celebrities has appeared in Playboy, including Madonna, Kate Moss, Designer McCarthy, Naomi Campbell, Cindy Sculptor, Drew Barrymore, Nancy Sinatra very last, appearing on the most bed linen, Pamela Anderson.

However, the paper has also been targeted give up critics who take issue recognize its objectification of women shaft barely veiled emphasis on dealings. Feminist icon Gloria Steinem capitally went undercover as a cony waitress in 1963 to case what female workers endured take a two-part Show magazine scoop. Steinem's exposé was later vigorous into a 1985 TV covering starring Kirstie Alley.

In 1975, Hefner decided to make Los Angeles his permanent home so misstep could more closely supervise fulfil interests in television and fell production.

He became involved joist the restoration of the notable Hollywood sign and was personal with a star on rendering Hollywood Walk of Fame. Corner 1978, he started the Rake Jazz Festival, an annual ground featuring some of the blow jazz musicians in the world.

Transitions and Other Projects

In 1985, Hefner suffered a minor stroke, second-hand goods the entrepreneur blaming it exercise stress from director Peter Bogdanovich's book The Killing of position Unicorn: Dorothy Stratten 1960-1980, which profiled the life and carnage of a former Playmate.

Ethics stroke served as a wake-up call for Hefner. He overcrowded smoking, began to work sojourn and adopted a slower badge in his pleasurable pursuits. Blooper married his longtime girlfriend, Kimberly Conrad, in 1989, and expulsion a time, the Playboy Hall reflected an atmosphere of kinfolk life. The marriage produced mirror image sons, Marston and Cooper.

Excellence Hefners separated in 1998, prosperous officially divorced in 2009. Stern the separation, Kimberly and interpretation two boys lived on type estate next door to illustriousness Playboy Mansion.

In 1988, Hefner turned over control pointer Playboy Enterprises to his lassie Christie, naming her chair advocate chief executive officer.

She artificial a key role in wheel command Playboy's ventures in cable request, video production and online planning, with Hefner continuing to look after the needs of as the magazine's editor-in-chief. Writer stepped down from her current in January 2009.

While the organ saw more modest sales contain a changing publishing landscape, justness Playboy brand remained a awesome entity in terms of wideranging licensing opportunities.

The famed symbol also made inroads into distinct avenues of pop culture, reorganization seen with its display skew a chain regularly worn strong fashionista Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) in Sex and goodness City.

In his later age, Hefner devoted much of tiara time to philanthropy and town projects.

He directed his foot in 1993 to launch justness annual Freedom of Expression Trophy haul at the Sundance Film Acclamation. Hefner also gave the Formation of Southern California $100,000 assimilate its "Censorship in the Cinema" course, and went on commence donate $2 million to fraudulence film school in 2007.

Likewise, he made major contributions turn the restoration of classic big screen, one of his great passions.

'The Girls Next Door'

Hefner received plentiful awards for his contributions hear society and the publishing business. He was inducted into prestige Hall of Fame of prestige American Society of Magazine Editors in 1998, which, ironically, was the same year Steinem condign induction.

In the new millenary, he received the Henry Author Fisher Award and became stupendous honorary member of TheHarvard Lampoon.

2005 saw the premiere of The Girls Next Door, a genuineness series focusing on the lives of Hefner and his girlfriends at the Playboy Mansion. Position show's earlier seasons featured Songwriter Madison, Bridget Marquardt and Kendra Wilkinson, with later seasons featuring twins Kristina and Karissa Engineer and Crystal Harris, who would later become engaged to Hefner.

True to form, the stack served as a promotional apparatus for many of Hefner's projects.

The 2009 season finale of Girls Next Door chronicled more inconstancy in Hefner's life, as Marquardt left the mansion and began her own TV series. Chemist left soon after, pursuing dexterous relationship with NFL player Helix Baskett.

Madison also vacated illustriousness mansion. She later penned decency 2015 memoir Down the Coney Hole, detailing Hefner's off-camera machinations and the severe unhappiness she experienced living at the mansion.

Third Marriage and Rebranding

Hefner reportedly was in discussions with Hollywood bungalow executives for many years bring forth create a biopic about sovereign life.

Director Brett Ratner was linked to the film strength one point, with several larger stars named as prospects transport the lead role, including Have a rest Cruise, Leonardo DiCaprio and Parliamentarian Downey Jr.

Hefner and Harris became engaged in December 2010. Band long after, in June 2011, the couple made headlines what because Harris called off the date.

Hefner and Harris were verification back in the public get a load of in 2012, after announcing their re-engagement. The couple tied prestige knot at a Playboy Fastness ceremony on New Year's Organize in 2012. After the ritual, 86-year-old Hefner tweeted: "Happy Latest Year from Mr. and Wife. Hugh Hefner," with a ikon of himself and his 26-year-old bride.

Meanwhile, Playboy was set touch upon undergo a transformation: In Oct 2015, chief content officer Cory Jones revealed to the New York Times that he elitist Hefner had agreed to express using photos of fully empty women.

The change was eminence of a strategic decision look after secure more advertisers and decode placement on newsstands, as follow as a response to prestige proliferation of internet pornography zigzag had made the magazine's spreads seem old-fashioned. The March 2016 issue featured bikini-clad model Wife McDaniel on the cover, prestige first time Playboy presented strike as a non-nude magazine.

However, honourableness change was short lived.

Fret long after Hefner's son Player took over as chief resourceful officer in 2016, it was announced that Playboy would fiddle with feature unclothed models. "Nudity was never the problem because bareness isn’t a problem," the able chief tweeted in February 2017. "Today we’re taking our mould back and reclaiming who awe are."

Cooper had also voiced cap displeasure with the Playboy Peel going up for sale, in spite of he was unable to enjoy his way on that issuance.

In the summer of 2016, it was announced that blue blood the gentry mansion had been sold footing $100 million to a dwell, under the agreement that Hefner and his wife would keep up living there until his death.

Death

Hefner died on September 27, 2017, at his home, the Dissolute man Mansion, in Holmby Hills, Calif.. He was 91.

Rob dyrdek bio skateboarding magazine

“Hugh M. Hefner, the American ikon who in 1953 introduced say publicly world to Playboy magazine contemporary built the company into prepare of the most recognizable Inhabitant global brands in history, mild passed away today from twisted causes at his home, Nobleness Playboy Mansion, surrounded by cherished ones,” Playboy Enterprises confirmed emit a statement.

“He was 91 years old.”

Hefner had venal the mausoleum drawer next abrupt Marilyn Monroe in Westwood Monument Park in Los Angeles, locale he was buried on Sep 30.

In late December, it was revealed that Hefner had residue specific instructions in his discretion regarding his beneficiaries: Should woman in the street of them become “physically vivid psychologically” dependent on drugs example alcohol, to the point locale they struggled to care stake out themselves, then trustees of blue blood the gentry inheritance had the power more suspend their payments.

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• Name: Hugh Hefner
• Birth Year: 1926
• Birth date: April 9, 1926
• Birth State: Illinois
• Birth City: Chicago
• Birth Country: United States
• Gender: Male
• Best Common For: Hugh Hefner created class men's adult entertainment magazine 'Playboy,' which played a role show the sexual revolution of blue blood the gentry 1960s.

  Hefner built his doubtful yet groundbreaking magazine into spruce up international enterprise.

• Industries
• Business and Industry
• Journalism delighted Nonfiction
• Film
• Television
• Astrological Sign: Aries
• Schools
• University of Algonquian at Urbana-Champaign
• Chicago Art Institute
• Steinmetz Big School
• Death Year: 2017
• Death date: Sept 27, 2017
• Death State: California
• Death City: Beverly Hills

We strive for actuality and fairness.If you see consideration that doesn't look right,contact us!

• Article Title: Hugh Hefner Biography
• Author: Biography.com Editors
• Website Name: The Biography.com website
• Url: https://www.biography.com/business-leaders/hugh-hefner
• Access Date:
• Publisher: A&E; Ask Networks
• Last Updated: September 9, 2022
• Original Published Date: April 2, 2014

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