Hugh Hefner

Hugh M. Hefner (1926–2017) was an American magazine publisher best known as the founder of *Playboy*. Born in Chicago, Illinois, he studied at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign and later worked in magazine publishing. In 1953 he launched *Playboy*, serving as its editor-in-chief and shaping it into a widely read publication that combined interviews, fiction, and lifestyle journalism. Hefner became a prominent and controversial public figure, associated with debates over sexual expression, censorship, and media culture in the United States. He remained closely identified with the brand for decades and died in Los Angeles, California, in 2017.