Date of Birth: June 8, 1921
Zodiac Sign: Gemini
Date of Death: June 20, 2012
Biography
LeRoy Neiman was an American artist best known for his brilliantly colored, expressionist paintings and screen prints of athletes, musicians, and sporting events. Born LeRoy Runquist on June 8, 1921, in Saint Paul, Minnesota, he went on to serve in the U.S. Army during World War II. After the war, he attended the School of The Art Institute of Chicago under the G.I. Bill. Neiman’s work became widely recognized during the 1960s when he became the official artist for Playboy magazine, creating the “Femlin” character and contributing to the “Man at His Leisure” series. Over his career, Neiman captured the vibrancy and energy of various subjects, from the Olympics to jazz musicians. He held exhibitions worldwide and became a household name.
5 Interesting Facts about LeRoy Neiman
1. LeRoy Neiman was the official artist for Playboy magazine for five decades.
2. He created the iconic “Femlin” character, which appeared in Playboy’s Party Jokes.
3. Neiman was a frequent guest on TV shows such as “The Tonight Show” and “ABC’s Wide World of Sports.”
4. He donated over $20 million to educational causes over his lifetime.
5. His work has been displayed in prestigious venues such as the Smithsonian Institution and the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from LeRoy Neiman
1. “I’ve never known an artist who didn’t want to paint a tiger or a lion.”
2. “When you start a painting, it is somewhat outside you. At the conclusion, you seem to move inside the painting.”
3. “My work is very much like a diary. To understand it, you have to see my life.”
4. “The big payoff in the artist’s process is when he completes the work, and it lives on.”
5. “The more you draw, the better you feel.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
At the peak of his career, LeRoy Neiman’s net worth was estimated to be around $10 million.
Children
LeRoy Neiman did not have any children.
Relevant Links
1. [LeRoy Neiman Official Website](https://www.leroyneiman.com
2. [LeRoy Neiman Foundation](https://www.leroyneimanfoundation.org
3. [Wikipedia – LeRoy Neiman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LeRoy_Neiman