Donald Levine, the man who is credited with creating the world’s first action figure in G.I. Joes, has died. He was 86.
A war veteran looking for a way to honor his fellow soldiers, Levine launched the G.I. Joe product line for Hasbro in 1964 and created a phenomenon still going strong today. The Joes themselves have become staples of popular culture, not just with the toys but also the ubiquitous cartoons and later the two movies (and counting).
While occasionally a little racist and sexist, the Joes have endured for 50 years as a staple of (mostly boys’) youth. After the last film G.I. Joe: Retaliation made a staggering $375 million at the box office, another sequel was green-lit and may begin shooting as early as January.
RIP Donald Levine.
[via EW]
