Roger Sweet, a Lake Stevens resident and co-creator of the iconic He-Man character, has died at age 91 after a battle with dementia.
Sweet died Tuesday, April 28, at a memory care facility, his wife, Marlene Sweet, told TMZ.
Sweet, a longtime toy designer at Mattel, played a key role in developing the Masters of the Universe franchise, helping bring He-Man and its universe of characters to life during the 1980s. His work helped shape one of the most recognizable toy and animation brands of a generation.
In recent months, Sweet’s health had declined significantly. Marlene said he suffered a fall while out walking earlier this year but did not remember what happened. Doctors later discovered two brain bleeds, and he was hospitalized for a week before being moved into a memory care facility.
“The doctors at the hospital said he could not come home because he’s too much of a fall risk,” Marlene told the Everett Herald.
She said Sweet had been living with dementia, which continued to worsen in the weeks leading up to his death. By late March, he had limited use of his right arm and leg and required a wheelchair and daily assistance, according to updates she shared.
To help cover the cost of care — more than $10,000 a month not covered by insurance — Marlene launched a GoFundMe campaign that quickly drew support from fans around the world. As of Wednesday, April 29, the fundraiser had raised more than $93,000, nearly doubling its original goal.
“So many thanks to all the He-Man fans out there who care about Roger,” Marlene wrote in an update.
The Mattel Foundation contributed $5,000, according to the campaign.
Sweet worked at Mattel for more than 15 years and was instrumental in designing and naming the original He-Man character. He later collaborated with other designers to build out the broader Masters of the Universe world, including its characters and playsets.
“I always wanted to be a He-Man and never could,” Sweet told The Everett Herald in 2019. “I knew almost every guy in the world would love to be a He-Man.”
Beyond his work, Sweet was known for his enthusiasm for fans, frequently attending comic conventions and sharing stories about the creation of the franchise.
His death comes as a new live-action Masters of the Universe film is scheduled for release June 5. Marlene said she has tried to contact the film’s producers in hopes the movie could be dedicated to Sweet and fellow creator Mark Taylor.
“It would be so appropriate if they would dedicate this movie to Roger as the creator of He-Man, and also to Mark Taylor, who created Skelator,” Marlene wrote.
Those interested in donating can do so via GoFundMe.
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