Anton LaVey

Founder of the Church of Satan, author of the Satanic Bible (1930-1997)

Fame61.8
Momentum4.7
United States rank#72

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Fame61.8
Momentum4.7
United States rank#72
Writers rank#246
Wikipedia70.3K

Lived 1930–1997, aged 67United States

United States WritersWriter / Author

Wikipedia
50 languages
Cross-language footprint
Rank in United States
#72
Writers
Era
1930–1997
Aged 67
Known for
Hail Satan?
2019

Summary

Updated 2026-06-08

He founded the Church of Satan in 1966, wrote The Satanic Bible, and spent three decades as American culture's self-appointed Black Pope — a showman who turned devil worship into theater and individualist philosophy into brand.

Biography

About

Born Howard Stanton Levey on April 11, 1930, he adopted the name Anton Szandor LaVey and built a public life around provocation. He established the Church of Satan and codified LaVeyan Satanism — a secular, atheistic creed wrapped in occult pageantry. His books, including The Satanic Bible, The Satanic Witch, and The Satanic Rituals, laid out a philosophy of self-interest and ritual as psychodrama. He released three albums, played a minor role in the 1975 film The Devil's Rain, and narrated Nick Bougas' 1989 mondo film Death Scenes. Scholars called him "the most iconic figure in the Satanic mi…

Voice

In their own words

Sourced, dated quotes from Anton LaVey

Anton LaVey

said1969

IT is a popular misconception that the Satanist does not believe in God.

— WANTED! God dead or alive

Anton LaVey

said1969

In this arid wilderness of steel and stone I raise up my voice that you may hear. To the East and to the West I beckon.

— Book I, Section I

Anton LaVey

said1969

The Satanist realizes that man, and the action and reaction of the universe, is responsible for everything, and doesn't mislead himself into thinking that someone cares.

— The Satanic Bible (1969)

Anton LaVey

said1969