"He-Man" Creator Roger Sweet Dies at 91

Roger Sweet, the creator of the "He-Man" action figure, died on Tuesday after a battle with dementia. He was 91.

Sweet was the lead designer for Mattel’s Preliminary Design Department in the ‘70s and ‘80s.

In 1976, Mattel turned down a deal to produce toys for “Star Wars,” an offer that proved extremely lucrative for Cincinnati-based toy maker Kenner Products after “A New Hope” was released in 1977.

After the fact, Mattel struggled to launch a popular action figure based on an original IP. Enter Sweet, who, in pursuit of a fresh idea, experimented by gluing a Big Jim action figure into a fighting stance and adding clay to its body for bulk. This became the prototype for "He-Man," which he successfully pitched to, then CEO Ray Wagner. "He-Man" officially hit markets in 1982.

A year later, in 1983, Mattel and Filmation launched the popular cartoon series “He-Man and the Masters of the Universe,” as a companion project to the highly popular He-Man toyline.

The show took place on the magical planet of Eternia and followed the young Prince Adam.

When wielding the Sword of Power, Adam would utter the now-iconic line, “By the Power of Grayskull! I have the power,” which would turn him into He-Man, the galaxy’s most fearsome warrior. The show ran for 130 episodes from 1983 to 1985.

Amazon, MGM and Mattel will soon reboot the He-Man franchise with the upcoming action film “Masters of the Universe,” which hits theaters on June 5.

Nicholas Galitzine stars as He-Man. Other cast members include Camila Mendes as Teela, Jared Leto as Skeletor, Alison Brie as Evil-Lyn and Idris Elba, and Man-At-Arms.

Sweet is survived by his wife, Marlene.