This article is about the toy executive. For the sociologist, see Donald N. Levine.
Donald M. Levine
Born
(1928-04-01)April 1, 1928
Elmhurst, Chautauqua County, New York
Died
May 22, 2014(2014-05-22) (aged 86)
Providence, Rhode Island
Nationality
American
Occupation
Executive of Hasbro
Known for
Creator of GI Joe and its related toys
Children
3
Don Levine (April 1, 1928 – May 22, 2014) was a business executive at toy manufacturers Hasbro credited as the "father" of G.I. Joe action figures.[1]
Donald Levine was born in Elmhurst, New York to the late Ralph and Mildred Levine. He graduated Syracuse University.[2] He was an avid tennis player competing in the Jr. Davis Cup and representing the US Army in tournaments in Asia during his military career.[3]
As Hasbro's head of research and development, Levine guided G.I. Joe through its design and development after receiving the conceptual idea from a man named Stanley Weston (Weston received $100,000 for his contribution) and the name from a 1945 film called The Life of G.I. Joe, also called The Story of G.I. Joe. Levine served with the United States Army in the Korean War and Hasbro's employees also included many military veterans, so it was decided the toy should be outfitted in the uniforms of the Army, Navy, Marines, and Air Force and their respective accessories.[1] He wanted the G.I. Joe toys to be an attempt at honoring all the service members in the United States, like him.
In September 1971 he was appointed president of Leisure Concepts.[2]
In 2005-2006, Levine designed and manufactured an action figure of Osama bin Laden for a Central Intelligence Agency psychological warfare program called Devil Eyes. Levine developed a twelve-inch lifelike figure whose face was painted with a material that, when heated, would peel off to reveal a demon-like visage with green eyes and black markings. When asked in 2014 about Levine's involvement in the program, his family
said in a statement, "Don Levine was a dedicated Patriot, and proud Korean War veteran. When called on, he was honored to assist our country."[4]
In the years before his death, he sold some rare prototypes of G.I. Joe Figures , including one that sold for $200,000 in 2003 at auction.[5]
^ abDon Levine, Hasbro exec who helped create GI Joe, dies Archived 2014-09-20 at the Wayback Machine May 24, 2014 AP
^ ab"Levine to Head Leisure Firm". New York Daily News. September 5, 1971. p. 282. Retrieved July 25, 2021.(Subscription required.)
^"Donald Levine Obituary". legacy.com. Archived from the original on 2020-07-29.
^Goldman, Adam (June 19, 2014). "CIA hatched plan to make demon toy to counter Osama bin Laden's influence". The Washington Post.
^"The Man Who Brought G.I. Joe To Children Dies At 86". NPR.org. Retrieved 2021-04-24.
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region), there has been social stratification. According to the historian DonaldLevine, these comprised high-ranking clans, low-ranking clans, caste groups...
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preacher in 19th-century renowned in Amharic oral tradition for (to quote DonaldLevine) his "quick and biting wit." He was a master of the genre of Amharic...
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Donald Glover: Sarah Paulson, 'Bootylicious,' and More". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on July 4, 2017. Retrieved February 17, 2018. Levine...
the son of Nagala Mammit. While his reign was disturbed by few wars, DonaldLevine observes that he "spent his days breaking the power of the feudal lords...
AGGRESSION, AND THE BODY IN EURO-AMERICAN AND ASIAN SOCIAL THOUGHT DonaldLevine, University of Chicago (2004) Ueshiba, Kisshōmaru (2004), The Art of...
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