Just hours after his passing, some fans were leaving flowers for the man they saw as an American icon. Outside the front gate of the legendary mansion, his death was displayed as front-page news in the morning paper.
Overnight, Hefner's daughter, Christie, was seen leaving the mansion followed by other family members. Then, Hefner's body was removed from the estate.
RELATED: Celebrities, Playboy bunnies pay tribute to Hugh Hefner
It's reported he will be buried next to Marilyn Monroe, who appeared on the very first cover of Playboy magazine.
In the 50s, Hefner was the host of the television show "Playboy after Dark," as he built a sexual revolution.
Hugh Hefner through the years
Hugh Hefner and his girlfriend Barbara Benton, 19-year-old coed turned actress, are surrounded by Bunny Girls at the Playboy Club in London on Sept. 5, 1969.AP
Playing at having fun, Hugh Hefner rescues one of the swimmers in the indoor pool of his $400,000 apartment, June 20, 1961, Chicago.AP
Publisher Hugh Hefner looks over proof sheets for his magazine Playboy, in Chicago, on June 20, 1961.AP
In March 1970, Hugh Hefner and girlfriend Barbi Benton, center, are served by a Playboy Club bunny upon their arrival aboard the Big Bunny, Heffner's jet, in New York.AP
Hugh Hefner poses with current and former Playboy bunnies at the Playboy Club, June 25, 1986, in Los Angeles.AP
Hugh Hefner appears with Pamela Anderson and some of his girlfriends before the New York Friars Club Roast on Sept. 29, 2001.AP
Hugh Hefner poses with seven Playboy playmates at the 43rd annual Grammy Awards, Feb. 21, 2001, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.AP
Singer Lil' Kim and Hugh Hefner kiss for the cameras at the Warner Music Group's post Grammy party, Feb. 27, 2002, at Mondrian's Skybar in Hollywood.AP
Playboy founder and editor in chief Hugh Hefner died on September 27, 2017.none
Hugh Hefner's Playboy Mansion is about to acquire a new ownerKTRK
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By the 1970s, his magazines had more than 7 million readers, while feminists attacked the real-life playboy for exploiting women.
Wednesday night, as Hollywood tour buses passed the estate, fans painted a much different picture of the man who built a multimedia empire.
Fans pay tribute to Hugh Hefner at Playboy Mansion
"He was just not only a humanitarian, but he was really forth-front with women's rights -- a lot of people see the opposite, but with women's rights, gay rights, race rights, so he was really a legend and a hero," said fan Richard Gitterman.
Hugh Hefner talks about effort to restore Hollywood sign
Fans also gathered at Hefner's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, where bouquets and flower displays were placed by those mourning his loss.
Hefner leaves behind his third wife he married in 2012 -- and four children from his previous marriages.
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.