Why we haven't seen Hugh Hefner lately

The reason Hugh Hefner has been out of the spotlight lately has been revealed.

The 90-year-old Playboy founder is rarely seen in public these days, but his son Cooper has dismissed reports of ill health.

He insisted his dad is "doing fine" and simply has no reason to leave his home, the infamous Playboy Mansion.

Cooper told E! News: "He's doing fine. My dad has always made the joke that if the mansion was your house, why would you want to leave?

"I think because he has stepped back from the day to day operations of the business, people have thought that his health was not very good.

"The reality is he has a really bad back - that happens when you're 90 - and he is enjoying life at the mansion."

But while he doesn't go out very often, the media mogul - who is married to 30-year-old Crystal Hefner and has three other children - still enjoys spending time with his friends and family.

Cooper said: "His friends still come over and watch movies. Everyone gets together for meals."

One thing that will soon be screened at the Mansion is the new Amazon Prime series American Playboy: The Hugh Hefner Story, which stars Kiwi actor Matt Whelan as the Playboy mogul.

Hefner can't wait to see it.

Cooper said of his dad: "He's excited. It's a 'warts and all' story."

Cooper's reassurance about his father's health comes after British glamour model Carla Howe previously claimed Hefner - who is also known as Hef - was too sick to take part in his famous hedonistic parties.

She said: "Hef is so frail, he goes everywhere with a group of nurses."

She added that he "never leaves home" and goes to bed at 7pm after watching old movies.

- Bang! Showbiz