Andrew Warhola (Pittsburgh, August 6, 1928 - New York, February 22, 1987), commonly known as Andy Warhol, was an American plastic artist and filmmaker who played a crucial role in the birth and development of pop art. After a successful career as a professional illustrator, Warhol acquired worldwide fame for his work in painting, avant-garde cinema and literature, notoriety that was backed by a skillful relationship with the media and his role as a guru of modernity. Warhol acted as a liaison between artists and intellectuals, but also among aristocrats, homosexuals, Hollywood celebrities, drug addicts, models, bohemians and picturesque urban characters.