Robin Morgan, a prominent poet, essayist, editor, and second-wave feminist who began her public life as a child star in the 1940s and 1950s, has died at the age of 85. She passed away on September 5 in New York following a series of recent health issues, according to her son, Blake Morgan. Her death occurred just days after that of her close friend and fellow activist Gloria Steinem.

Morgan’s early career in the entertainment industry was marked by widespread popularity. Born in 1941 in Lake Worth, Florida, and raised in New York, she began modeling at age three and hosted her own radio show, “Little Robin Morgan,” by age five. She also appeared on early television programs, including the popular series “Mama” from 1949 to 1957. Despite being seen as the quintessential “ideal girl-next-door” during her youth, Morgan was known for challenging societal norms from an early age, famously opposing corporal punishment on a children’s panel show and enduring censorship efforts.

Transitioning from child star to activist and writer, Morgan became a central figure in the feminist movement of the 1960s and 1970s. She was a founding member of influential feminist organizations such as New York Radical Women and Women’s International Terrorist Conspiracy from Hell (W.I.T.C.H.) and was actively engaged in protests, including the 1968 demonstration against the Miss America pageant, where participants discarded items including bras into a “Freedom Trash Can.” Her 1970 anthology, “Sisterhood Is Powerful,” is regarded as a landmark publication in feminist literature.

Throughout her career, Morgan emphasized her identity primarily as a poet and artist, with her creative work deeply intertwined with her activism. She is credited with popularizing the term “herstory,” a feminist redefinition of “history,” and helped introduce the clenched fist/female symbol as an icon of the liberation movement. Her poetry often articulated the emotional and political currents of the feminist cause, with works such as “Monster” and “Arraignment” resonating broadly within activist circles. The latter notably addressed the controversy surrounding poet Sylvia Plath’s suicide and her husband Ted Hughes, whom Morgan and others criticized.

Morgan was also known for her critiques of both mainstream and leftist establishments. In 1970, she and other protesters were arrested after occupying the offices of Grove Press during a labor dispute. Her essay “Goodbye to All That” critiqued prominent figures and movements within the counterculture, expressing disillusionment with male-dominated activism and cultural icons such as Abbie Hoffman, Hugh Hefner, and various artists.

Her personal life reflected a resistance to conventional labels. She had relationships with both men and women and was married for over two decades to the gay poet Kenneth Pitchford, with whom she had her son. Morgan described their marriage as a “two member commune” and often challenged assumptions about her sexuality.

In addition to “Sisterhood Is Powerful,” Morgan authored more than 20 books, including poetry collections like “Dark Matter” and memoirs such as “Saturday’s Child.” She also served as editor-in-chief of Ms. Magazine for several years and was involved in founding the Sisterhood Is Global Institute in 1984 and the Women’s Media Center in 2005 alongside Steinem and Jane Fonda. Despite a Parkinson’s disease diagnosis some 16 years before her death, Morgan remained active, hosting a syndicated radio show and delivering a TEDWomen talk in 2015.

Morgan’s life and work spanned a broad cultural and political spectrum, from Hollywood studios to protest marches, marking her as a significant and complex figure in American feminism and cultural history.