Fast Facts

  • His full name is Ken Carson       
  • Ken is named after the son of Mattel founders Ruth and Elliott Handler
  • Ken is a Pisces — his “official birthday” is March 11, 1961
  • Ken is two years and two days younger than Barbie
  • Ken is from (fictional) Willows, Wisconsin
  • Ken stands 12” tall, 1⁄2” taller than Barbie
  • In 1961, a Ken doll sold for $3.50
  • The first Ken doll wore red swim trunks, sported cork sandals and carried a yellow towel
  • In 1961, two versions of Ken doll were launched with “molded” plastic hair — blond and brunette
  • In 1973, Ken debuted a new “real” rooted hairstyle
  • Ken has a younger brother, Tommy
  • Ken’s best friend is Alan, the husband of Midge
  • Ken met Barbie on the set of their first television commercial together in 1961
  • Barbie and Ken broke up on Valentine’s Day in 2004
  • Ken received a makeover by celebrity stylist Phillip Bloch in 2006
  • In Summer 2010, Ken made his big screen debut in Toy Story 3, which included more than 50 costume changes
  • Ken and Barbie rekindled their epic romance on Valentine’s Day, 2011 and are still a couple today