Playboy magazine announced Wednesday evening that the founder of Playboy Magazine Hugh M. Hefner has passed away of natural causes at the Playboy Mansion in Los Angeles.
Hefner was 91.
Hefner founded Playboy Magazine in 1953, publishing the first issue from his kitchen table and grew it into a global brand that spanned more than 20 nations.
"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,'' said Hefner's son Cooper, the chief creative officer of Playboy Enterprises said in a statement.
Hefner was a political advocate through his life and supported several philanthropic causes and public issues. He is survived by his wife Crystal Harris and his four children.