‘He-Man’ creator Roger Sweet dead at 91 after dementia battle as fans rallied to help in final months
Roger Sweet, the toy designer who created He-Man, has died at 91 after a battle with dementia. His final months were marked by health struggles, including a fall that led to brain bleeds and costly care. Fans rallied to support his medical expenses through a GoFundMe that raised nearly $94,000.
- ▪Roger Sweet created He-Man after Mattel missed out on producing 'Star Wars' toys and needed a new hit.
- ▪He developed the character by modifying a Big Jim doll with clay and pitching the concept internally at Mattel.
- ▪The 'He-Man and the Masters of the Universe' animated series debuted in 1983 and became a cornerstone of 1980s pop culture.
- ▪Sweet's wife Marlene launched a GoFundMe to cover over $10,000-per-month care costs, which fans helped exceed its goal.
- ▪A new live-action 'Masters of the Universe' movie is set for release this summer, introducing He-Man to a new generation.
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Celebrity News ‘He-Man’ creator Roger Sweet dead at 91 after dementia battle as fans rallied to help in final months By Adam Silverstein Published April 29, 2026, 1:23 a.m. ET Roger Sweet, the toy designer credited with creating He-Man, has died at 91 after battling dementia. Sweet — the mind behind the muscle-bound star of ’80s animation “He-Man and the Masters of the Universe” — died peacefully Tuesday morning at a care facility, his wife Marlene told TMZ. The He-Man creator’s final months were marked by serious health struggles. 5 Roger Sweet, the creator of He-Man, has died at 91 after a battle with dementia. GoFundMe Marlene previously revealed that Roger suffered a scary fall while walking alone and couldn’t remember what happened.
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