Anton Szandor LaVey (born Howard Stanton Levey) was an American author, musician, and LaVeyan Satanist. He was the founder of the Church of Satan and the philosophy of LaVeyan Satanism. LaVey authored several influential books, including The Satanic Bible, The Satanic Rituals, The Satanic Witch, The Devil's Notebook, and Satan Speaks! He also released three albums: The Satanic Mass, Satan Takes a Holiday, and Strange Music.

In addition to his literary and musical contributions, LaVey played a minor on-screen role and served as a technical advisor for the 1975 film The Devil's Rain and was the host and narrator for Nick Bougas' 1989 mondo film Death Scenes.

Historians of Satanism like Gareth J. Medway have described LaVey as a "born showman", while anthropologist Jean La Fontaine called him a "colourful figure of considerable personal magnetism". Academic scholars of Satanism Per Faxneld and Jesper Aagaard Petersen regard LaVey as "the most iconic figure in the Satanic milieu". He was often labeled by journalists, religious detractors, and Satanists as "The Father of Satanism", the "St. Paul of Satanism", "The Black Pope", and "the evilest man in the world".