Kathy Keeton: Stripper Turned Businesswoman

Kathryn “Kathy” Keeton was a South-African born American magazine publisher. She was married to Bob Guccione. Together, they published the Penthouse magazine.

Kathy was born on February 17, 1939 in South Africa. She moved to London to train as a ballet dancer. She became a stripper at age 24 and was named as “one of Europe’s highest aid stripper” by the Associated Press. Kathy also founded other known magazines such as Viva in 1973, Omni in 1978, and Longevity in 1989. She had two published books – Woman of Tomorrow in 1986 and Longevity in 1992.

While working with her husband at Penthouse, Kathy held the position of President and Chief Operating Officer of General Media Communications. Penthouse had a legal battle with fellow magazine Hustler where she was the plaintiff.

Kathy was diagnosed with breast cancer. She resorted into self-medication after she read from Penthouse about hydrazine sulfate. She believed her tumors have shrunk after she survived several years following her physician’s prognosis that she had a few weeks left to live. She died on September 19, 1997 at 58 while undergoing surgery for an intestinal obstruction.