Anton LaVey 1930 – 1997

Biography

Anton LaVey was born on April 11, 1930, in Chicago, Illinois. Over the course of his life, he became a significant and controversial figure in American religious and cultural history. His work and ideas generated considerable public discussion and debate across multiple decades.

In 1966, LaVey founded the Church of Satan in San Francisco, establishing what would become one of the most recognizable alternative religious organizations in the United States. He authored the Satanic Bible, a foundational text that articulated the philosophy and principles of his movement. Through both his organizational work and his writing, LaVey created a lasting impact on how people understood religious practice and belief outside mainstream traditions.

LaVey spent much of his adult life in San Francisco, where he continued his work with the Church of Satan until his death. He passed away on October 29, 1997, in San Francisco at the age of 67, from pulmonary edema. His legacy remains influential in discussions of religion, philosophy, and American cultural history.