The toy designer who brought He-Man to life has passed away. Roger Sweet, the creative force behind the iconic Masters of the Universe toyline, died at age 91 after a long battle with dementia. His wife confirmed he passed peacefully at his care facility.
Sweet worked as a lead designer in Mattel’s preliminary design department during the 1970s and 1980s. The Masters of the Universe toyline emerged during a critical moment when the company desperately needed a hit after passing on the opportunity to produce Star Wars toys.
Sweet developed the original He-Man prototype from unlikely materials. He took a Big Jim action figure, glued it into a fighting stance, and added clay to build out its muscular physique. The concept landed on the CEO’s desk and received an immediate green light.
The first Masters of the Universe figures hit store shelves in 1982. Sales exploded from 38million in the first year to staggering 400 million by 1986, at one point even outselling Barbie. The animated series launched the following year and ran for 130 episodes, becoming one of the most popular kids’ shows of the decade.
Sweet’s health decline became public earlier this year after a frightening fall during a walk. He returned home disoriented with bruises and no memory of what happened. Doctors discovered two brain bleeds, and he was hospitalized in the ICU before moving to a memory care facility.
His wife launched a fundraising campaign after learning the facility would cost over 10,000 monthly. Fans responded with overwhelming generosity, raising nearly
A new live-action Masters of the Universe film from Amazon MGM Studios and Mattel is scheduled for release this summer, proving the franchise’s lasting power decades after its debut. Sweet’s creation continues to reach new audiences while reminding older fans why they first believed they had the power.
