Jack Ryan | |
---|---|
Born | November 12, 1926 |
Died | August 13, 1991
Bel-Air, Los Angeles, California, U.S. | (aged 64)
Occupation | Designer |
Spouses | Barbara Harris
(
m. 1950;
div. 1971)Linda Henson
(
m. 1979; died 1981)Gari Hardy Lansing
(
m. 1981;
div. 1985)Magda Orzechowski (
m. 1985) |
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]
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.[ citation needed]
Ryan's relationship with Mattel soured, and in 1980 he sued Mattel for royalties; the company settled out of court. [4]
Ryan suffered a debilitating stroke in 1989; he died by gun suicide on August 13, 1991. [7] [8] [1] [4]