Ruth Handler Husband: Who was Elliot Handler?

Ruth Handler was an American businesswoman and inventor. Ruth Handler’s husband was Elliot Handler.

The couple met at a B’nai B’rith dance for youths in 1929. They later married and had two children: a daughter, Barbara, who was the inspiration for Barbie dolls, and a boy, Kenneth who died of a brain tumour in 1994.

Elliot Handler was one of the co-founders of Mattel, Inc., along with Ruth Handler and their friend Harold “Matt” Matson. Elliot and Ruth worked together to build Mattel into a successful toy company, with Ruth handling much of the creative and marketing aspects, while Elliot focused on the business and operational side of the company.

Together, they played pivotal roles in the creation and success of iconic toys like Barbie and Hot Wheels, which became some of the most popular and enduring toys in history.

On July 21, 2011, Handler died of heart failure at home in Century City, a Los Angeles neighbourhood, at the age of 95. Elliot’s wife, Ruth Handler, died in 2002.