Famous 20th Century Editors

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 1 
Christopher Tolkien
(Editor, Illustrator, Academic and the Son of Author J. R. R. Tolkien)
Christopher Tolkien
6
Birthdate: November 21, 1924
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Leeds, United Kingdom
Died: January 16, 2020

Christopher Tolkien was a French and English academic editor. The son of legendary author J. R. R. Tolkien, Christopher edited much of his father's work, which was published after his father's demise. Christopher Tolkien is also credited with drawing the original maps in, The Lord of the Rings, one of his father's highly acclaimed novels.

 2 
Anna Wintour
(Journalist)
Anna Wintour
10
Birthdate: November 3, 1949
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Hampstead, London, England

Anna Wintour is a British-American journalist. She has been working as Vogue's Editor-in-Chief since 1988. Known for having an eye for emerging fashion trends, Wintour is credited with reviving Vogue as it was viewed as a stagnating publication when she assumed control in 1988. Nicknamed Nuclear Wintour due to her demanding personality, Wintour inspired the story The Devil Wears Prada.

 3 
Douglas Kenney
(Screenwriter)
Douglas Kenney
5
Birthdate: December 10, 1946
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: West Palm Beach, Florida, USA
Died: August 27, 1980
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 4 
William F. Buckley, Jr.
(Editor)
William F. Buckley, Jr.
11
Birthdate: November 24, 1925
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: New York, New York, United States
Died: February 27, 2008
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
 5 
Ali Kemal
(Minister of the Interior of the Ottoman Empire in 1919)
Ali Kemal
4
Birthdate: September 7, 1867
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Fatih, Turkey
Died: November 6, 1922

Ali Kemal was a Turkish journalist, poet, newspaper editor, government official, and liberal-leaning politician. He is best remembered for his brief service as the Minister of the Interior of the Ottoman Empire in 1919. During the Turkish War of Independence, Ali Kemal was assassinated by paramilitary officers.

 6 
Ian Hislop
(British Journalist, Editor and Writer)
Ian Hislop
5
Birthdate: July 13, 1960
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Mumbles, Swansea, Wales

Ian Hislop is a satirist, journalist, broadcaster, writer, and editor of a magazine called Private Eye. A popular figure, Hislop has appeared in many television and radio shows over the years. Hislop is renowned for his work in the TV show Have I Got News for You where he has been a team captain since the show's inception in 1990.

 7 
Dave Eggers
(American Writer Known for His Best Selling Memoir 'A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius')
Dave Eggers
4
Birthdate: March 12, 1970
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Dave Eggers is an American writer, publisher, and editor. He is credited with founding a non-profit publishing house named McSweeney's Publishing and a San Francisco-based nonprofit organization called ScholarMatch. Eggers is also credited with co-founding other non-profit organizations like 826 Valencia and Voice of Witness. His novels A Hologram for the King and The Circle have been adapted into movies.

 8 
Ben Bradlee
(Newspaper Editor & Journalist)
Ben Bradlee
7
Birthdate: August 26, 1921
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Boston
Died: October 21, 2014

Ben Bradlee was one of the most important journalists in the United States of America in the post-World War II era. From 1965 to 1991, Bradlee was associated with The Washington Post, serving as managing editor and then as executive editor. In 1988, Ben Bradlee was honored by the American Academy of Achievement with the prestigious Golden Plate Award.

 9 
Andrew Sullivan
6
Birthdate: August 10, 1963
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Godstone

Andrew Sullivan is a British-American blogger, editor, and author. A political commentator, Sullivan has contributed immensely to several publications like The New Republic, where he was an editor. From 2016 to 2020, he also worked for New York magazine, where he was a writer-at-large. In 1996, Andrew Sullivan’s book Virtually Normal won the Mencken Award under Best Book category.

 10 
Joe Weider
(Functionary, Editor)
Joe Weider
4
Birthdate: November 29, 1920
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Montreal
Died: March 23, 2013

Joe Weider was a Canadian entrepreneur and bodybuilder. He is credited with co-founding the International Federation of BodyBuilding and Fitness which oversees several of the sport's international events, such as the Continental and World Championships. Weider is also credited with creating prominent bodybuilding contests like Mr. Olympia, Masters Olympia, and Ms. Olympia.

 11 
Anna Roosevelt Halsted
(Writer, Editor)
Anna Roosevelt Halsted
6
Birthdate: May 3, 1906
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: New York City
Died: December 1, 1975

Anna Roosevelt Halsted was an American writer and newspaper editor. The daughter of Eleanor Roosevelt and Franklin D. Roosevelt, Anna played an important role during World War II, serving as her father's key advisor. After her marriage, Anna moved into the White House and served as First Lady of the USA as per her parents' request.

 12 
Lucien Carr
(Journalist)
Lucien Carr
4
Birthdate: March 1, 1925
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: New York, New York, United States
Died: January 28, 2005

For many years a key member of the Beat Generation, Lucien Carr is probably better remembered for murdering a man who had been stalking him since his adolescence. Sentenced to one to twenty years in prison, he came out after two years and started his career first as a copy boy and eventually became an editor of the United Press International.

 13 
Diana Vreeland
(Magazine editor, fashion journalist and special consultant)
Diana Vreeland
4
Birthdate: July 29, 1906
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Paris, France
Died: August 22, 1989

Diana Vreeland was a French-American editor and columnist who worked for popular fashion magazines like Vogue and Harper's Bazaar. From 1963 to 1971, she served as the editor-in-chief of Vogue. In 1964, she was inducted into the International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame. Diana Vreeland’s life and career inspired the 2011 documentary Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel.

 14 
Jann Wenner
(Co-Founder and Publisher of the Popular Culture Magazine 'Rolling Stone')
Jann Wenner
4
Birthdate: January 7, 1947
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: New York City, United States

Jann Wenner is an American magazine mogul best known as the co-founder and publisher of Rolling Stone magazine. He is also credited with co-founding the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and other popular publications like Outside. During the 1970s and 1980s, Wenner played a key role in popularizing several writers like Greil Marcus, Hunter S. Thompson, and Cameron Crowe.

 15 
Willow Bay
(American Journalist, Editor and Author)
Willow Bay
4
Birthdate: December 28, 1963
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: New York City, New York, United States

Willow Bay is an American author, editor, television journalist, and former model. She has worked with popular TV networks like NBC, CNN, and ABC. She has also contributed to major sites like Huffington Post, where she served as a senior editor. She interviewed Bill Clinton and Warren Buffett as part of the site's Newsmaker series in collaboration with Yahoo! News.

 16 
Rob Liefeld
(American Comic Book Creator)
Rob Liefeld
5
Birthdate: October 3, 1967
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: United States

Rob Liefeld is a comic book creator best known for co-creating characters like Deadpool and Cable. In the 1990s, he achieved popularity for his work on Marvel Comics' X-Force and The New Mutants. Rob Liefeld is credited with co-creating Image Comics which went on to become the third-largest comic book publisher.

 17 
Mark Halperin
(Host and Commentator for 'Newsmax TV' and Former Co-Host of 'With All Due Respect')
Mark Halperin
4
Birthdate: January 11, 1965
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Bethesda, Maryland, United States

Mark Halperin is an American journalist who has worked for major broadcast networks like ABC News and MSNBC. His career was affected when he was accused of workplace sexual harassment during his tenure at ABC News. He was subsequently fired by NBC News and Showtime Networks and is currently appearing on Newsmax TV as a contributor.

 18 
Alison Tyler
(Author, Editor and Publisher of Contemporary Erotica)
Alison Tyler
4
Birthdate: 1969 AD
Birthplace: Los Angeles County, California, United States

Alison Tyler is the pen name of an American writer, editor, and publisher. The publisher of erotica, Tyler is credited with writing over 20 explicit novels. She has also edited over 60 erotic anthologies and is credited with founding her own publishing company called Pretty Things Press. Her work, which focuses on erotic themes, has been translated into many languages.

 19 
Charles Van Doren
(American Writer and Editor Who Was Involved in a Television Quiz Show Scandal in the 1950s)
Charles Van Doren
4
Birthdate: February 12, 1926
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: New York City, New York, United States
Died: April 9, 2019

Charles Van Doren was an American editor and writer. Van Doren played a major role in exposing the quiz show scandal of the 1950s when he confirmed that the producers of the quiz show Twenty-One had given him the correct answers. The quiz show scandal and Charles Van Doren's participation in it inspired the 1994 detective docudrama Quiz Show.

 20 
Alan Coren
(Writer)
Alan Coren
5
Birthdate: June 27, 1938
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Paddington
Died: October 18, 2007

Alan Coren was an English satirist, writer, and humorist best remembered for his association with the popular quiz show The News Quiz, which was aired on the BBC radio. A multi-talented personality, Coren also worked as a journalist and served as the editor of Punch magazine for almost a decade.

 21 
Rebekah Brooks
(British Journalist and CEO of 'News UK')
Rebekah Brooks
6
Birthdate: May 27, 1968
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Warrington, Lancashire, England

Rebekah Brooks is a British former newspaper editor and journalist. She currently works as a media executive and has been serving as News UK's CEO since 2015. In 2003, she started working as the editor of The Sun, becoming the first female editor of the tabloid. From 2009 to 2011, she served as the chief executive officer of News International.

 22 
Tina Brown
(English Journalist, Magazine Editor, Columnist and Broadcaster)
Tina Brown
3
Birthdate: November 21, 1953
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Maidenhead, Berkshire, England
 23 
E. L. Doctorow
(Novelist)
E. L. Doctorow
3
Birthdate: January 6, 1931
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: The Bronx, New York (state) New York, United States U.S.
Died: July 21, 2015
 24 
Khushwant Singh
(Novelist, Lawyer, Journalist & Politician)
Khushwant Singh
4
Birthdate: February 2, 1915
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Hadali, British India (now in Khushab District, Punjab, Pakistan)
Died: March 20, 1999

Known for his bestselling book Train to Pakistan, Khushwant Singh was a reputed lawyer, politician, and journalist. He was also known for his widely popular column With Malice towards One and All, which was featured in many Indian newspapers. His post-colonial writings mirrored his wit and sarcasm.

 25 
Roy William Thomas Jr.
(Comic Book Writer)
Roy William Thomas Jr.
3
Birthdate: November 22, 1940
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Jackson, Missouri, United States
 26 
Michael O'Donoghue
(Writer)
Michael O'Donoghue
3
Birthdate: January 5, 1940
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Paris, New York Sauquoit, New York (state) New York, United States
Died: November 8, 1994
 27 
Phil Bronstein
(American Journalist and Editor Known for His Work as Investigative Journalist and War Correspondent)
Phil Bronstein
4
Birthdate: October 4, 1950
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Atlanta, Georgia, United States

Currently serving as the Executive Chair, Center for Investigative Reporting, Phil Bronstein is perhaps best known for his work as a war correspondent in the revolution-era Philippines and El Salvador, holding important positions in numerous organizations throughout his career.  On personal level, he is equally known for his marriage to his first wife, actress Sharon Stone.

 28 
Rachel Johnson
(Editor, Journalist)
Rachel Johnson
5
Birthdate: September 3, 1965
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: London, England

Rachel Johnson is a British television presenter, journalist, and author. She is known for appearing in panel discussion programs and debate programs, such as The Pledge and Question Time. A well-known novelist, Johnson served as a judge of the 2013 Women's Prize for Fiction, one of the most prestigious literary prizes in the UK.

 29 
Grace Coddington
(Model, Wardrobe stylist, Fashion editor, Journalist)
Grace Coddington
3
Birthdate: April 20, 1941
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Anglesey

Born to a hotelier couple in Wales, Grace Coddington grew up reading Vogue, which she later headed as its creative director. She had, at age 18, interestingly begun her modeling career with Vogue, too. However, a car accident at age 26, which disfigured her face, cut her modeling career short.

 30 
Bari Weiss
(Journalist)
Bari Weiss
4
Birthdate: March 25, 1984
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

Bari Weiss is an American editor and opinion writer. Weiss has worked for publications like The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. In 2019, she was honored with the prestigious National Jewish Book Award for her book How to Fight Anti-Semitism. Weiss is also the recipient of the Bastiat Prize, a journalism award presented by the Reason Foundation.

 31 
Conor Cruise O'Brien
(Politician)
Conor Cruise O'Brien
3
Birthdate: November 3, 1917
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Sandymount, Dublin, Ireland
Died: December 18, 2008
 32 
Filippo Tommaso Marinetti
(Italian Poet, Founder of the 'Futurist Movement' and Author of the First 'Futurist Manifesto')
Filippo Tommaso Marinetti
3
Birthdate: December 22, 1876
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Alexandria, Egypt
Died: December 2, 1944

Filippo Tommaso Marinetti was an Italian poet, art theorist, and editor. He is credited with founding the Futurist movement and is remembered for his work Manifesto of Futurism. In 1918, he founded a political party called Futurist Political Party as an extension of the social and futurist artistic movement. The party merged with the Italian Fasces of Combat in 1919.

 33 
George DiCaprio
(American Writer, Editor, Publisher and Father of Actor Leonardo DiCaprio)
George DiCaprio
4
Birthdate: October 2, 1943
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: United States

Writer, editor, and publisher, George DiCaprio, is known for his work in the underground comix world. He was a popular figure in the 1970s and published comics like Greaser Comics and Forbidden Knowledge. His son, Leonardo DiCaprio, is a famous actor. George played a significant role in his son’s early career and used to screen scripts for him.

 34 
Joe Simon
(Writer)
Joe Simon
3
Birthdate: October 11, 1913
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Rochester, New York, United States
Died: December 14, 2011
 35 
Pete Hamill
(Journalist)
Pete Hamill
3
Birthdate: June 24, 1935
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, United States
Died: August 5, 2020
 36 
Nigel Lawson
(Journalist, Politician, Editor)
Nigel Lawson
4
Birthdate: March 11, 1932
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Hampstead

Nigel Lawson is a British journalist and Conservative politician. From 1981 to 1989, he served in the cabinet of the then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. An influential politician, Lawson has also served in many other important positions, such as the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Secretary of State for Energy, and Chancellor of the Exchequer.

 37 
Hugo Gernsback
(Inventor)
Hugo Gernsback
3
Birthdate: August 16, 1884
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
Died: August 19, 1967
 38 
René Goscinny
(French Writer and Comic Editor)
René Goscinny
3
Birthdate: August 14, 1926
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Paris, French Third Republic France
Died: November 5, 1977
 39 
Stephen F. Cohen
(Historian, Editor)
Stephen F. Cohen
3
Birthdate: November 25, 1938
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
Died: September 18, 2020
 40 
Jean Jaurès
(French Socialist Leader )
Jean Jaurès
3
Birthdate: September 3, 1859
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Castres, France
Died: July 31, 1914
 41 
André Leon Talley
(Fashion journalist, stylist and the former creative director and American editor-at-large of Vogue magazine)
André Leon Talley
4
Birthdate: October 16, 1949
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Washington, D.C., United States
Died: January 18, 2022

With Master’s degree in French literature, fashion designer André Leon Talley’s initial aspiration was to become a teacher. Instead he was drawn to fashion and beginning his career as unpaid apprentice for Diana Vreeland, he went to become fashion news director for Vogue magazine and then its creative director. Also an author, he has written three books, including two memoirs.

 42 
Traudl Junge
(German Sub-Editor and Science Reporter)
Traudl Junge
4
Birthdate: March 16, 1920
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Munich, Germany
Died: February 10, 2002

After being rejected by a dance school, Traudl Junge ditched her plan of becoming a ballerina and mastered typing instead. She later served as Adolf Hitler’s typist and was the youngest of his secretaries. After staying silent for years, she eventually revealed her experience to Austrian filmmaker Andre Heller.

 43 
Roger Scruton
( English Philosopher and Writer Who Specialised in Aesthetics and Political Philosophy)
Roger Scruton
4
Birthdate: February 27, 1944
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Buslingthorpe, Lincolnshire, England
Died: January 12, 2020

Philosopher and author Roger Scruton is best remembered for his work as an editor of The Salisbury Review and for his countless books on topics such as art, sexuality, and political philosophy. He also taught at Boston University and other institutes, and was a skilled pianist and composer, too.

 44 
Isabella Blow
(English Magazine Editor)
Isabella Blow
4
Birthdate: November 19, 1958
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: London, England, United Kingdom
Died: May 7, 2007

Isabella Blow was an English editor who edited magazines like Vogue. As the muse of Philip Treacy, Blow is credited with discovering models like Sophie Dahl and Stella Tennant. Isabella Blow is also credited with supporting and enriching the career of English fashion designer and couturier Alexander McQueen. Isabella Blow committed suicide at the age of 48.

 45 
John W. Campbell
(Science Fiction Writer)
John W. Campbell
3
Birthdate: June 8, 1910
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Newark, New Jersey, USA
Died: July 11, 1971
 46 
Jared Taylor
(American White Supremacist and Editor of 'American Renaissance')
Jared Taylor
4
Birthdate: September 15, 1951
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Kobe, Japan

Jared Taylor is a white supremacist who is credited with founding an online magazine named American Renaissance for which he serves as the editor. He also serves as the president of New Century Foundation, the magazine's parent organization, through which he has published many of his books. Over the years Jared Taylor has been accused of propagating racist ideologies.

 47 
Art Spiegelman
(American Cartoonist, Editor and Comics Advocate)
Art Spiegelman
4
Birthdate: February 15, 1948
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Stockholm

Art Spiegelman is an American cartoonist, comics advocate, and editor. His graphic novel Maus earned a special Pulitzer Prize for popularizing the comics medium among scholars. Over the years Spiegelman has helped promote a better understanding of comics. In 2005, he was named in Time's Top 100 Most Influential People list. He has also won many awards like Inkpot Award.

 48 
Gary Whitta
(Journalist, Editor, Screenwriter)
Gary Whitta
4
Birthdate: July 21, 1972
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Poplar

Best known for his screenplays for The Book of Eli and After Earth, Gary Whitta has also written for games such as Prey and Gears of War. Also known as The Gaz, he was one of the men behind the magazine PC Gamer and once also wrote for the video-game magazine ACE.

 49 
Stan Lee
(Primary Creative Leader of Marvel Comics and Characters such as 'Spider-Man', 'X-Men' and 'Iron Man')
Stan Lee
0
Birthdate: December 28, 1922
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Manhattan, New York, United States
Died: November 12, 2018

Stan Lee was one of the most popular comic book writers, thanks to his appearances in several Marvel movies. He is well-known as the co-creator of many famous superheroes, including Iron Man, Spider-Man, and the Hulk. He pioneered a naturalistic method to writing superhero comics and challenged the Comics Code Authority, which ultimately led to changes in its policies.

 50 
Hanya Yanagihara
4
Birthdate: September 20, 1974
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States