Ruth Handler

A visionary businesswoman defies 1950s gender norms by inventing the iconic Barbie doll, revolutionizing the toy industry and sparking a cultural phenomenon.

Born

1916

Died

2002

Also:
Writer
Producer

Credits on file

Decades active

In short · Wrote for four decades — 12 credits.

Remembered for

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Biography

Ruth Marianna Handler was an American business magnate and inventor, best known for creating the Barbie doll in 1959. She co-founded the toy manufacturer Mattel with her husband, Elliot Handler. Ruth served as the company's first president from 1945 to 1975, playing a pivotal role in its growth and innovation in the toy industry.

Filmography · 10 of 10

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