He-Man Creator Roger Sweet Dies Ahead of Masters of the Universe Release

Roger Sweet, the designer behind He-Man, passed away peacefully at 91 after battling dementia. His wife, Marlene, confirmed his death to TMZ. Sweet served as the lead designer for Mattel’s Preliminary Design Department in the 1970s and 1980s. He created He-Man by modifying a Big Jim action figure, pitching the concept to Mattel CEO Ray Wagner, who initially rejected a Star Wars toy deal. He-Man launched in 1982, followed by the 1983 cartoon series. Sweet’s health declined after a fall leading to brain bleeds; he spent time in the ICU and required memory care costing over $10,000 monthly. A GoFundMe campaign raised $94,000 for his care. Amazon MGM Studios and Mattel are preparing a live-action Masters of the Universe film starring Nicholas Galitzine, releasing on June 5. Marlene Sweet has reached out to producers to dedicate the film to her husband.