WHAT A MARVEL
When did Stan Lee die, what was the Marvel Comics chief’s cause of death and what characters did he create?
STAN Lee was an American comic book writer, editor, producer and film executive behind a number of blockbuster films, including Spider-Man and The Avengers.
The co-creator of Marvel Comics died on November 12, 2018, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre in California. Here's what we know about the genius author.
4
When did Stan Lee die?
Lee died in hospital after falling ill at his home in the Hollywood Hills, his devastated daughter confirmed.
He had suffered from ill health in recent months including pneumonia and heart problems.
His official death certificate said the main cause of death was heart and respiratory failure.
He also suffered from aspiratin pneumonia, a condition where the patient inhales stomach acid, saliva or food into their lungs.
Lee is survived by his daughter J.C Lee – while his wife of 69 years, Joan, died in 2017.
Speaking to , J.C said: ";My father loved all of his fans. He was the greatest, most decent man."
The comic book icon was 95 years old, having been born in 1922 in New York City to Romanian immigrants.
He was originally called Stan Lieber, but changed his surname to 'Lee' at the start of his career. He began working as an office assistant, then writer and interim editor in the late 1930s and early 1940s for Timely Comics, who eventually became known as Marvel Comics.
In the early 1960s his boss at the company asked him to come up with a series that could compete with rival DC Comics' hit title Justice League of America.
Lee decided to do away with some of the usual superhero conventions - after encouragement from his wife, who he married in 1947.
Working with artist Jack Kirby, Stan created the Fantastic Four in 1961, including Hulk, Spider-Man, Doctor Strange, Daredevil and the X-Men.
The characters proved very popular, and he was promoted to editorial director and publisher in 1972. At a later point he moved to the West Coast to head Marvel's expansion into TV and films.
4
Why was he in hospital earlier this year?
In February Stan was rushed to hospital due to shortness of breath and an irregular heartbeat.
A spokesperson said at the time: "He is doing well and feeling good, he is staying there for a few days for some check ups as a safety precaution."
In 2017 he cancelled two major convention appearances due to illness, but has never revealed why.
It appears the comic creator received regular visits from nurses to his Hollywood home - and in December 2017 he was accused in a lawsuit of sexual assault on his carers.
4
What's his most famous work?
Lee created the Fantastic Four, The Hulk, Spider Man, Doctor Strange, Daredevil, Black Panther, Ant-Man, Iron Man, Thor and the X-Men.
Stan led Marvel Comic's growth from a small publishing house to a multimedia corporation when he moved to California in 1981.
He was behind a number of film adaptions for the company, including X-Men in 2000, Spider-Man in 2002, The Avengers in 2012 and Thor: Ragnorak in 2017.
Between 1989 and 2017, the writer has made cameo appearances in all the Marvel films, playing the role of everything from a postman to a security guard and hot dog seller.
In 2008 he received the National Medal of Arts from George W. Bush.
4
More on Stan Lee
What was his net worth?
Stan worked for Marvel Comics for 65 years, going from office assistant to president and chairman.
As of May 2017 his net worth was estimated to be $50 million, according to the site Celebrity Net Worth.
Despite being behind some of the most popular film characters of all time, in 2012 Stan revealed that he doesn't see a share of the profits from the Marvel movies.
His daughter, actress and producer Joan Celia, 67, is likely to inherit his vast wealth after the death of her mother from a stroke last year.
She is Stan's only surviving child after another daughter, Jan, died three days after being born in 1953.
Stan Lee appears in Spider-man: Homecoming
Topics