Barbie creator & Mattel founder Ruth Handler, dies

Not only did she create "Barbie" but she also founded the toy company, Mattel. Ruth Handler was 85.


from CNN -


Barbie creator, Mattel founder Handler dies


LOS ANGELES, California (AP) --
Ruth Handler, who created Barbie, the world's most popular doll, died Saturday. She was 85.

Handler, who also co-founded the Mattel toy company, died at Century City Hospital, a hospital spokesperson said without releasing details. Her husband, Elliott, told the Los Angeles Times that his wife died of complications from colon surgery she underwent about three months ago.

Since Handler's creation, named for her daughter Barbara, was introduced in 1959, it has become an American icon and a touchstone of cultural politics.

The impossibly well-endowed doll -- her original figure would be about 39-18-33 if she were human -- has infuriated feminists, inspired artists and intrigued academics around the world. Barbie even was placed in the official "America's Time Capsule" buried in 1976.

The original blue-eyed, blond fashion model has morphed over the decades into a variety of ethnic looks and has had many careers, from astronaut to veterinarian.

More than 1 billion have been sold in 150 countries.

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