Leroy Neiman

Painter

Birthday June 8, 1921

Birth Sign Gemini

Birthplace Saint Paul, MN

DEATH DATE Jun 20, 2012 (91)

#178,924 Most Popular

About

Expressionist painter known for his brightly colored screen prints of musicians and athletes. He worked for Playboy Magazine for five decades, creating the Femlin character on the Party Jokes page.

Before Fame

He served in the United States Army during World War II, where he frequently painted sets for Red Cross performances. He used the G.I. Bill to attend the School of The Art Institute of Chicago. He was hired by Playboy in 1954.

Trivia

He created numerous paintings based on the Super Bowl, the Olympics, the World Series, and other sporting events.

Family Life

He was born of Swedish ancestry; he rejected his original surname, Runquist, after his father abandoned the family. He adopted his stepfather's surname instead. He married Janet Byrne in 1957.

Associated With

He met Hugh Hefner when they both worked for the Carson Pirie Scott department store chain.