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American sports painter LeRoy Neiman dies at 91

22 June 2012 01:19 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. American sports painter LeRoy Neiman, known for his brilliantly colored, expressionist screen prints of athletes has died at the age of 91, APA reports quoting Press TV.

Known for his handlebar mustache, the artist died of natural causes at Manhattanâ€™s Presbyterian Hospital, Reuters reported.

According to his publicist Gail Parenteau, Neiman had been hospitalized for vascular problems in 2010 when his right leg was removed above the knee.

Neiman became one of the world’s most commercially successful contemporary artists by painting live on television during major events such as the Olympics and the Super Bowl.

Boxer Muhammad Ali, former New York Jets football star Joe Namath and baseball greats Mickey Mantle and Joe DiMaggio are among his many painting subjects.

Neimanâ€™s memoirs All Told was publihed days before his 91st birthday on June 8.

Neiman was named official artist of the Olympic Winter Games in Lake Placid and Sarajevo in 1980 and 1984 and the 1984 Summer Games in Los Angeles.

He also painted US presidents and musicians as well as writing 15 books.