Not ‘Just Ken’: Mattel shares Barbie’s longtime boyfriend’s full name

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Okay, let me tell you about a standout moment from the Oscars. Ryan Gosling, back as Ken from the ‘Barbie’ movie, absolutely killed it on stage. He wore a seriously sparkly pink suit and performed “I’m Just Ken,” and honestly, it was a total showstopper. The whole performance was just pure fun and a highlight of the night.

The actor sang, “I’m just Ken, and I’d be considered a perfect 10 anywhere else.” He then questioned if he was fated to live his life as a delicate, blonde figure.

It seems Barbie’s male companion isn’t simply known as ‘Ken.’ Mattel has revealed his full name is Kenneth Sean Carson, and the doll has become more popular since the successful movie came out.

As Ken approaches his 65th birthday, Mattel, the toy company based in El Segundo, revealed some fun facts about the doll. They shared his official birthday – March 11, 1961, which makes him a Pisces – and details about his history with Barbie.

The company said in a statement Monday that Ken has “experienced a resurgence in recent years.”

Mattel explained that the “Barbie” movie boosted interest in Ken by presenting a new, more complex side to the character. Following the film’s success, Mattel released Ken dolls based on Ryan Gosling’s performance in the movie later that year.

A company spokesperson said last year’s “Kenbassador” line performed very well. The first item in the series, a $75 doll based on basketball star LeBron James, came out in April.

Mattel doesn’t share specific sales figures for Ken dolls. However, when they introduced Ken dolls with more diverse body types in 2017—including one often described as having a ‘dad bod’—they told the Wall Street Journal that girls typically own one Ken doll for every seven Barbie dolls.

Ruth Handler created the Barbie doll and named it after her daughter, Barbara. Unlike most toys at the time, Barbie wasn’t a baby – she was a fashion-forward adult – and quickly became popular when first shown at the New York Toy Fair in 1959. Over the years, Barbie has changed a lot, and now includes dolls representing a wider range of people, such as those with Type 1 diabetes and autism.

Ken doll, first introduced in 1961, was named after Ruth Handler’s son, Kenneth. He originally had sculpted hair, red swim trunks, and a yellow towel.

In a 1989 interview with The Times, Kenneth Handler noted he didn’t have much in common with the doll that shared his name. He passed away in 1994.

According to the speaker, Ken embodies the quintessential Malibu lifestyle. He’s pictured enjoying the beach, surfing, and representing idealized American culture.

When Kenneth Handler was in high school, he enjoyed playing the piano and watching subtitled films. He described himself as a dedicated ‘nerd’ and admitted that many girls at the time didn’t like him.

I’ve always loved that Ken wasn’t just one thing! Just like Barbie, he’s tried out so many different jobs over the years. He’s been everything from a doctor and pilot to a tennis player, firefighter, and even a barista. There was even an Olympic skier Ken! It was fun seeing him evolve, and I remember when he got a big makeover in 2006 with the help of a famous stylist, Phillip Bloch. It really showed he was keeping up with the times!

The company says Ken and Barbie first “met” while filming a TV commercial together in 1961 and quickly became a couple. They dated for over 40 years before briefly splitting up in 2004, but got back together in 2011.

Mattel began in 1945 as a small operation in a Los Angeles garage, founded by Ruth Handler, her husband Elliot, and Harold Matson. The company grew and became publicly owned in 1960.

Mattel, the company behind popular brands like Fisher-Price and Hot Wheels, reported a 6% decrease in net sales for the third quarter. In a recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, they explained this was due to changes in how retailers are placing orders across the entire industry.

Mattel’s Barbie product sales, measured by the total value of shipments to stores, decreased by 12% in 2024 compared to 2023. The 2023 numbers were unusually high due to the popularity of the Barbie movie, according to the company’s latest financial report.

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2026-01-28 22:01