The publishing world lost a legend when Leonard P. Leone Sr. passed away on July 1, 2013. He was 89.
Len was the Art Director at Bantam Books for 30 years from 1955 to 1984. His innovations and the use of top illustrators helped to propel Bantam to become a giant in the paperback book world.
Len’s use of a Who’s Who list of artists included James Bama, Bob Larkin, Fred Pfeiffer, Boris Vallejo, Lou Feck, Tom Lovell, Robert Maguire, Bob Peak, Barye Phillips, Robert Abbett, Dean Cornwall, Sandy Kossin, John Berkely, Vincent DiFate, Roger Kastel, James Avati, Ron Lesser, Bernie Fuchs, Mitchell Hooks, and many, many more.
The world will never see another Len Leone. Thanks for all the incredible eye candy, Len, RIP.
— Courtney Rogers
Glendale, Ariz.
Update: Information regarding Mr. Leone’s funeral can be found at the Nolan & Taylor-Howe Funeral Home website. I also updated his age, based on information in the funeral home obituary.
[…] Anthony Tollin passed along the news that pulp art directing legend Leonard P. Leone Sr has passed away at age 92. He was the originator of thelook of Doc Savage among other […]
God Bless Len Leone, many blessings to his family. He certainly helped change the world of a 7th grade teenager back in mid-60’s when I first read Doc Savage #10 “Phantom City”–my world changed forever as I abandoned my comic book collection to become enthralled with the Doc Savage series, a love that still continues today. Between Mr. Leone’s Bantam book logo and James Bama’s cover artwork, I was hooked as an eager fan, 50 years later that attraction has not dimmed. Certainly Bantam Books as well as Doc Savage fans salute Mr. Leone’s work.