Len Steckler

Len Steckler (May 6, 1928 – August 11, 2016) was an American photographer, illustrator, and filmmaker. Steckler was known for the artistry behind many famous ad campaigns, including Pepsi Cola's "Refreshes Without Filling" illustrations in the 1950s, Noxzema's "Take it off — Take it all off" television commercials in the early 1970s, and an ad featuring Joe Namath in Hanes pantyhose. In 2010, he received widespread attention for the release of a previously unknown series of photographs, entitled Marilyn Monroe: The Visit, which offered a candid glimpse of a 1961 encounter between Monroe and famed poet Carl Sandburg.

Steckler began his artistic career with painting. The youngest member of New York's Society of Illustrators, he painted illustrations for short and serialized stories that appeared in leading magazines of the day. As photography gradually replaced illustration, however, Steckler segued to a full-time career as a photographer.

With major clients such as Pepsi Cola, Max Factor, Revlon, and Helena Rubinstein, Steckler's work was featured in magazines such as Ladies' Home Journal, McCall's, Playboy, and Look, Popular Photography (1961–68), and Camera (1968–71).

Celebrities Among Steckler's subjects were some of the most famous personalities in the world, including: Marilyn Monroe Carl Sandburg John Wayne Joe Namath Andrés Segovia Joanne Woodward Julie Newmar

Models Often working with hi-end models of the time, Steckler became known for his shots of beautiful women. A much abbreviated list: Suzy Parker Tippi Hedren Cheryl Tiegs Jennifer O'Neill the Silver Lion (Leone d'Argento) of the Venice Film Festival (1970) and from such institutions as the Art Directors Club, the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA), and The Chicago 4 Awards. A number of his commercials have been included in the collection of the Museum of Television and Radio. Some of his prominent clients have included: United Airlines AT&T “Rodeo Girl” (1980), “The Demon Murders” (1983), and “Mercy or Murder” (1987).

Steckler is a collected and exhibited artist and photographer.

In 2005, Steckler lost his left eye to cancer.

In late 2009, Steckler's son came upon a set of long-forgotten photographs that Len Steckler had taken of Marilyn Monroe meeting with Carl Sandburg eight months before her death. The series of photographs, entitled "The Visit" was made available to the public in limited quantities. As a result of this discovery, and of their subsequent release to the public, Len Steckler appeared on the “Today Show” (February, 2010) and was interviewed by Meredith Vieira about that day in December 1961.