Ken (doll)


One of early 1960s Ken dolls wearing a swimsuit,
with a box package and other accessories

First appearance; March 11, 1961; 63 years ago
Created by: Elliot Handler

In-universe information
Full name: Kenneth Sean Carson
Nickname: Ken
Occupation: At least 40 occupations

Family:
Edna Carson (mother)
Kenneth Carson (father)
Izzy Carson (sister)
Tommy Carson (brother)
Barbie (girlfriend)

Kenneth Sean "Ken" Carson Jr. is a fashion doll introduced by American toy company Mattel in 1961 as the counterpart of Barbie, who had been introduced two years earlier.

Similar to Barbie, Ken is from Willows, Wisconsin, and has a fashionable line of clothing and accessories (although he made his debut wearing only a swimsuit). In the Barbie mythos, Ken met Barbie on the set of a TV commercial and is her boyfriend, per promotional box inscriptions from his debut until 2018. As of September 2022, he is perceived as one of Barbie's main friends. Since his debut, Ken has held over 40 occupations, the latest being "beach" (standing in the sand and surveying the waves), as depicted in the 2023 Barbie film.

History

Ken was introduced as a male counterpart of Barbie by American toy company Mattel in 1961. He was named after Kenneth Handler, son of Barbie creator/inventor Ruth Handler, just as Barbie was named after her daughter. Ken Handler died in 1994 of a brain tumor.

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In February 2004, Mattel announced a split for Ken and Barbie, with Russell Arons, vice president of marketing at Mattel, saying that Barbie and Ken "feel it's time to spend some quality time – apart...Like other celebrity couples, their Hollywood romance has come to an end", though Arons indicated that the duo would "remain friends".

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#ddsquad
What Makes The Best Ken Doll? Realistic Clothes & Accessories| Hair| Face| Articulation
22,066 views Mar 5, 2022

DelightfulDolls
286K subscribers

Today I’m going to be telling you what I think makes the best Ken doll and what to look for and what to avoid when shopping for one and also where to find some awesome and realistic stuff for them! I hope you find this video helpful and interesting! I really enjoyed putting it all together for you

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