Playboy has turned its website into a tribute to the magazine’s founder Hugh Hefner, who has died at the age of 91.

Underneath a photo of Hefner in a suit and smoking a pipe, a quote reads: "Life is too short to be living somebody else’s dream."

Hefner founded Playboy magazine more than 60 years ago as a supposedly upscale men’s publication which combined images of nude women with in-depth features, interviews and literature.

Playboy Enterprises confirmed Mr Hefner had passed away in a statement.

"Hugh M Hefner, the American icon who in 1953 introduced the world to Playboy magazine and built the company into one of the most recognisable American global brands in history, peacefully passed away today from natural causes at his home, The Playboy Mansion, surrounded by loved ones," it read.

Hefner began publishing the magazine in his kitchen in 1953, a humble beginning for a publication that would grow to become the largest-selling men’s magazine in the world.

The Playboy media and lifestyle brand is one of the most widely recognised globally, featuring the magazine and products, as well as casinos.

His son, Cooper Hefner, paid tribute to his father on behalf of the family.

Hugh Hefner: Bunny Guy Show all 17 1 /17 Hugh Hefner: Bunny Guy Hugh Hefner: Bunny Guy Hanging out with Mr Hefner: Attended to by six bunnies who featured as Playmate of the Month in the Playboy Club, Chicago, 1960 PlayboyEnterprises/Taschen Hugh Hefner: Bunny Guy Male liberation: Hefner at home in Brentwood, California, with yet another bunny Rex Hugh Hefner: Bunny Guy Plugging a landmark interview with President Jimmy Carter in 1976 Hugh Hefner: Bunny Guy Hefner, the hands-on boss Hugh Hefner: Bunny Guy Hugh Hefner with his friend Babara Benson and some of his bunny girls in 1969 Getty Images Hugh Hefner: Bunny Guy Hugh Hefner with a bevy of bunny girls at one of his Playboy clubs in 1962 Getty Images Hugh Hefner: Bunny Guy Bunny girls on the roof of a Playboy club, 1976 Getty Images Hugh Hefner: Bunny Guy 1978 cover of Playboy with Farrah Fawcett Getty Images Hugh Hefner: Bunny Guy 1985 cover of Playboy featuring Madonna Getty Images Hugh Hefner: Bunny Guy Drew Barrymore was the Playboy cover girl in 1995 Getty Images Hugh Hefner: Bunny Guy Hugh Hefner with some Playmates in 1999 Getty Images Hugh Hefner: Bunny Guy Hugh Hefner received a worst supporting actor nomination for Miss March Getty Images Hugh Hefner: Bunny Guy The 50th anniversary cover of Playboy magazine Getty Images Hugh Hefner: Bunny Guy Hefner with some of the girls hoping to be crowned 'Playmate of the Year' in 2003 Getty Images Hugh Hefner: Bunny Guy Hefner posing with some of his Playmates at the Playboy Mansion last year Getty Images Hugh Hefner: Bunny Guy Hefner poses with the stars of TV show 'The Girls of the Playboy Mansion', at his 80th birthday party Getty Images Hugh Hefner: Bunny Guy Cartoon character Marge Simpson controversially posed on the cover of Playboy this year to celebrate the 20th anniversary of The Simpsons AFP/ Playboy Enterprises Inc.

"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," he said.