There have been quite a few iconic blondes throughout history, real and fictional: Marilyn Monroe, Elle Woods, Regina George, and, of course, Barbie. And who can forget Barbie’s other half, Ken? With the latest version of the character being Ryan Gosling’s from the Barbie movie, Ken is the blonde hunk we all know and love. I’m not ashamed to admit it, “I’m Just Ken” went platinum in my car. But did you know that Ken is 65 years old? That’s right, 2026 marks 65 years since Ken boldly stepped onto the scene. To honor the anniversary of one of pop culture’s most famous blondes, here are a few lesser-known fun facts about Ken.
1. His full name is Kenneth Sean Carson.
While Barbie has never explicitly referred to Ken as “Kenneth” in any of the movies, his full name is canonically Kenneth Sean Carson. He was named after the son of Mattel founders Ruth and Elliot Handler.
2. Ken’s hometown is Willows, Wisconsin.
Both Barbie and Ken grew up in the fictional town of Willows, Wisconsin, before moving to Malibu. The two met on the set of their first television commercial in 1961. It may not be as lavish as Barbieland, but it is home for the golden couple.
3. He is a Pisces. (You’re welcome, astrology folks)
Ken’s official birthday is March 11, 1961, making him a Pisces. He’s exactly two years and two days younger than Barbie, whose birthday falls on March 9, 1959. That makes her a Pisces, too. That’s a pretty compatible match, for all you astrology folks out there.
4. The first Ken doll was just $3.50.
Talk about a bargain, am I right? Well, for the time, it was actually a little more expensive than you can get a Ken doll for nowadays. $3.50 in 1961 translates to roughly $37.94 in today’s dollars—a pretty penny, indeed. The first Ken had molded hair in blonde or brunette, wore red swim trunks, cork sandals, and carried a yellow towel.
5. Ken is taller than Barbie.
Aligning with traditional standards at the time, Ken is taller than his partner, Barbie. Ken stands at 12 inches tall, half an inch taller than Barbie.
6. He’s more than “Just Ken.”
It might come as a shock to some, but Ken can do more than just “beach.” Much like Barbie, Ken is just as smart as he is stylish. He’s had several careers over the years, including doctor (1963), pilot (1975), super star tennis player (1980), firefighter (2019), lifeguard (2019), and barista (2019).
7. Kenneth, the car guy.
Ken always drives along the Malibu coast in style. Duh, we knew that much from Aqua’s “Barbie Girl” music video from the ’90s. He has a couple of iconic cars to his name, including a Dream ‘Vette (1984) and a Mini Cooper (2012-13).
8. Barbie and Ken broke up.
Ever since they met, Ken and Barbie have been a power couple in the media. But what many don’t know is that the lovebirds actually broke up in 2004 on Valentine’s Day. It was the breakup that shocked the world. Naturally, the two couldn’t stay apart forever. Proving true love conquers all, Barbie and Ken reunited in 2011, reportedly reconnecting on the set of Toy Story 3, no less.
9. He’s got more looks than you think.
Sure, the traditional image of Ken may sound something like this: blonde, tan, and toned. But that’s not all. More diverse than ever, Ken has three body types, nine skin tones, ten eye colors, 27 hair colors, and 20 hairstyles.
As it turns out, Ken is a much deeper guy than we thought. To quote himself, he’s “great at doing stuff.” That same guy who trademarked the mojo dojo casa house is also a doctor, a firefighter, and so much more. The duality of man (or doll, in this case). So, what’s next for the blonde icon? In Greta Gerwig’s retelling, he’s off to discover who he is without Barbie. In a new partnership between Expedia and Mattel, he’s leaving Malibu behind to embark on a year-long journey around the world, inspiring fans everywhere. Wherever he may be, we know he’s Kenough. Happy 65th birthday, Kenneth.
The post 9 Surprising Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Ken appeared first on Nerdist.
This articles is written by : Nermeen Nabil Khear Abdelmalak
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