Axel Madsen was a Danish-American biographer and journalist known for his extensive work on celebrity and business leader biographies. He was born on April 27, 1930, in Copenhagen, Denmark, and later moved to the United States, where he carved out a niche for himself as a writer. Madsen authored over 20 books on a wide variety of subjects, ranging from Hollywood icons such as Barbara Stanwyck and Yves Saint Laurent to influential business figures like John Jacob Astor and the duo behind the Sony Corporation, Akio Morita and Masaru Ibuka. His writing style combined thorough research with engaging storytelling. Madsen passed away on April 23, 2007, leaving behind a legacy of detailed and insightful biographical works.