Jack Ryan (designer)

John W. Ryan (November 12, 1926 – August 13, 1991) was an American designer. Ryan worked at toy company Mattel for 20 years, becoming the company's vice president of research and development, and subsequently working as a consultant. He was responsible for the Barbie doll, Hot Wheels, and Chatty Cathy. He was the sixth husband of actress Zsa Zsa Gabor.[1]

This article is about the designer. For other uses, see Jack Ryan.
Jack Ryan
Born
John W. Ryan

(1926-11-12)November 12, 1926
DiedAugust 13, 1991(1991-08-13) (aged 64)
Bel-Air, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
OccupationDesigner
Spouses
Barbara Harris
​
​
(m. 1950; div. 1971)​
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1975; div. 1976)​
      Linda Henson
      ​
      ​
      (m. 1979; died 1981)​
        Gari Hardy Lansing
        ​
        ​
        (m. 1981; div. 1985)​
          Magda Orzechowski
          ​
          (m. 1985)​

          Career

          Ryan graduated from Yale University, after which he worked at aerospace company Raytheon as an engineer, working on the AIM-7 Sparrow and MIM-23 Hawk missiles.[1][2]

          Mattel hired him for his "space-aged savvy" and knowledge of materials.[3]

          In 1956, Mattel co-owner Ruth Handler returned from a European vacation with a German-designed Bild Lilli doll. She and Ryan worked on producing a similar fashion doll for the American market (the two later disputed which of them was chiefly responsible for the doll's design).[4]

          Ryan went on to lead Mattel's research and development department, with a research and development budget in 1962 of $1.5 million US dollars.[5] He developed Chatty Cathy, Ken, Hot Wheels, and Larry the Lion, and was involved in creating the voice systems for Chatty Cathy, Barbie, and Larry the Lion.[6]

          Ryan worked on the V-rroom! X-15 velocipede which was named after the North American X-15 rocket-powered aircraft, and patented the V-RROOM! toy engines that simulated motorcycle engine sounds.

          Ryan's relationship with Mattel soured, and in 1980 he sued Mattel for royalties; the company settled out of court.[4]

          Death

          Ryan suffered a debilitating stroke in 1989; he died by gun suicide on August 13, 1991.[7][8][1][4]

          References
          1. "Jack Ryan Dies at 65; Designer of Barbie Doll". The New York Times. The Associated Press. 21 August 1991. Archived from the original on 2010-08-15.
          2. Richard Warren Lewis (14 July 1975). "Jack Ryan and Zsa Zsa: A Millionaire Inventor and His Hungarian Barbie Doll". People.
          3. Lori Leibovich; Suzette Lalime (26 November 1997). "The Skinny on Barbie - Essential facts about her checkered past". Salon.
          4. Jill Lepore (22 January 2018). "When Barbie Went to War with Bratz". The New Yorker.
          5. Eiss, Harry Edwin, ed. (1994). Images of the child. Bowling Green, OH: Bowling Green State University Popular Press. p. 195. ISBN 0879726547.
          6. Oppenheimer, Jerry (2009). Toy monster : the big, bad world of Mattel. Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley. pp. 4, 14. ISBN 978-0470371268.
          7. The Toys that Made Us - Season 1 - Episode 2
          8. Myrna Oliver (19 August 1991). "Jack Ryan, 65; Toy Inventor, Missile Designer". Los Angeles Times.
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