Mattel Co-Founder Dies at Century City Home

Elliot Handler, who founded Mattel Creations with his wife and friend in a Los Angeles garage in 1945, died Wednesday at his home in Century City, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Handler was 95. Handler and his wife, Ruth, started the toy company with Harold "Matt" Matson. The company's name is a combination of "Matt" and "Elliot." Mattel, based in El Segundo, is the world's largest toy company.

Some of Mattel's most successful products are Hot Wheels toy cars and the Barbie doll collection. Ruth Handler came up with the idea for the dolls in 1959 and Barbie and Ken were named after the two Handler children, Barbara and Kenneth.

A funeral is schedule for Tuesday at 11 a.m. at Hillside Memorial Park and Mortuary.

To read the complete obituary, click here.

Did you know Elliot Handler? Westwood-Century City Patch is collecting memories and stories from the community. If you would like to share, please email Sara Fay at saraf@patch.com.