My childhood hero Stan Lee turns 91 today.

Born Stanley Martin Lieber, he is best known as an American comic book writer, editor, actor, producer, publisher, television personality, former president/chairman of Marvel Comics and fan favorite at comic conventions.

Lee created such memorable comic book characters as The Fantastic Four, Hulk, Iron Man, Spider-Man, Thor, X-Men, Guardians of The Galaxy and Daredevil.

Stan “The Man” Lee was inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 1994 and the Jack Kirby Hall Of Fame in 1995. He received a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2011.

The majority of Stan Lee’s Marvel creations have been turned into television shows, movies and video games and Lee is famous for making cameos in these projects.

On December 5, 1947, Lee married Joan Clayton. Joan Lee gave birth to Stan’s two daughters: Joan Celia ‘J.C.’ Lee in 1950 and Jan Lee, who died three days after delivery in 1953.

At the end of September 2012, Lee underwent a surgical operation to have a pacemaker installed, telling the media he did this “to insure that he would live for 90 more years.”

Be sure to send your warm birthday wishes to @therealstanlee.