Handler, Ruth (1916–2002)

views updated

Handler, Ruth (1916–2002)

American businesswoman. Born Ruth Moskowicz (shortened to Mosko), Nov 4, 1916, in Denver, Colorado; died April 27, 2002, in Los Angeles, CA; dau. of Polish immigrants; m. (Issadore) Elliott Handler, c. 1940; children: Barbara Handler and Ken Handler.

With husband, founded Mattel Toys; created the Barbie doll (1959); helped run Mattel for 30 years; became an advocate for breast cancer awareness.

See also autobiography Dream Doll: The Ruth Handler Story (Longmeadow, 1997); and Women in World History.

About this article

Handler, Ruth (1916–2002)

Updated About encyclopedia.com content Print Article