Stanley Weston was a licensing pioneer best known for conceiving a male military action figure that was ultimately sold through Hasbro as G.I. Joe.
In 1963, he proposed the action figure idea to Hasbro; it sold immediately and became a runaway success, eventually spawning films and television shows. Weston would also help to create the animated series ThunderCats.
Additionally, he founded the licensing and merchandising company Weston Merchandising, later renamed Leisure Concepts. They would represent clients including Farrah Fawcett, Nintendo and the World Wrestling Federation, as well as the television shows Alf and Welcome Back, Kotter.
Weston died May 1, 2017, in Los Angeles. He was 84.