Stan Lee was one of the creators of modern Americana. He created hundreds of comic book characters throughout his career at Marvel and appeared in numerous films. By the time he died in 2018, his name was as ubiquitous as Spider-Man, X-Men, and many of his other characters. Keep reading to learn more about the man behind the legend.
30. Stan Lee Was Born in 1922 in New York City
His parents, Celia and Jack Lieber, were Jewish immigrants from Romania. They named him Stanley Martin Lieber; he later shortened his name to Stan Lee when he began working in the comic-book universe. Growing up during the Great Depression, he and his brother watched his parents struggle to make ends meet. Watching their struggles helped inspire him to create comics that revolved around issues of social justice, including inner-city crime.
