George Lerner (1922–1995) was an American inventor known for inventing the toy Mr. Potato Head.[1]
Biography
George Lerner was born in Brooklyn, New York. He was artist, graphic designer and model maker.[2] In 1949, he designed and produced a first generation set of plastic face pieces. The push pin shaped noses, ears, eyes, and mouth parts could be pushed into fruits or vegetables to transform the food into playmates.[3] The toy did not take off at first because post-World War II consumers didn't like the idea of wasting food by playing with it.[4] Lerner finally sold the toy for $5,000 to a cereal company. The toys were planned to be a premium giveaway in cereal boxes. But when Lerner found a better deal offered by toy manufacturer Hassenfeld Brothers (now Hasbro