Elliot Handler, the co-founder of US toy giant Mattel who gave the world the Barbie doll, has died aged 95, the company said Friday.
Handler, who with his wife Ruth named the doll after their daughter Barbara in 1959 — and two years later created Ken, after their son — died on Thursday from heart failure, according to the TMZ celebrity news website. “We were very saddened to learn about the passing of Elliot Handler, the Mattel founder who created some of the world’s most beloved toys,” Mattel said in a statement. “He not only inspired and delighted the employees of Mattel but generations of children around the world. The 30,000 employees of Mattel are proud to continue his love of play for generations to come.”
Mattel was founded in 1945 by Handler and his business partner Harold “Matt” Matson, who combined their names to create the world-beating brand.
—AFP