Ruth Handler

Entrepreneur

Birthday November 4, 1916

Birth Sign Scorpio

Birthplace Denver, CO

DEATH DATE Apr 27, 2002 (85)

#7731 Most Popular

About

President of Mattel Inc. She was best remembered for her part in the creation of the Barbie brand. She gained attention after her death when the 2023 Barbie movie was released. 

Before Fame

She started Mattel with her husband, using manufacturing scraps to produce dollhouses. Her first bestseller was the Uke-a-doodle toy ukelele.

Trivia

She was dissatisfied with the breast prosthesis she received after undergoing a radical mastectomy, so she founded Ruthton Corp. to manufacture more realistic women's breasts called Nearly Me.

Family Life

She was married to Elliot Handler from 1938 until her death in 2002, and her kids were named Kenneth and Barbara Handler. She was inspired to name Barbie after her daughter Barbara.

Associated With

Her famous creation Barbie was voiced by Jodi Benson in Toy Story 2 in 1999.