Donald Levine - Wikipedia - Recent changes [en]

Donald Levine was born in Elmhurst, New York to the late Ralph and Mildred Levine. He graduated Syracuse University.<ref name="Leisure Concepts">{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/464603885/?terms=Stan%20Weston%20Leisure%20Concepts&match=1|title=Levine to Head Leisure Firm|newspaper=[[New York Daily News]]|page=282|date=September 5, 1971 |url-access=subscription |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=July 25, 2021}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/providence/obituary.aspx?n=Donald-Levine&pid=171115004 |work=The Providence Journal |title=Donald Levine Obituary |date=May 24, 2014 |via=legacy.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729231354/https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/providence/obituary.aspx?n=Donald-Levine&pid=171115004 |archive-date=2020-07-29 |access-date=}}</ref>

Donald Levine was born in Elmhurst, New York to the late Ralph and Mildred Levine. He graduated Syracuse University.<ref name="Leisure Concepts">{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/464603885/?terms=Stan%20Weston%20Leisure%20Concepts&match=1|title=Levine to Head Leisure Firm|newspaper=[[New York Daily News]]|page=282|date=September 5, 1971 |url-access=subscription |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=July 25, 2021}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/providence/obituary.aspx?n=Donald-Levine&pid=171115004 |work=The Providence Journal |title=Donald Levine Obituary |date=May 24, 2014 |via=legacy.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729231354/https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/providence/obituary.aspx?n=Donald-Levine&pid=171115004 |archive-date=2020-07-29 |access-date=}}</ref>

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.<ref name=msn/> He wanted the G.I. Joe toys to be an attempt at honoring all the service members in the United States, like him.

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.<ref name=msn/> In September 1971 he was appointed president of [[4Kids Entertainment|Leisure Concepts]].<ref name="Leisure Concepts"/>

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."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/cia-hatched-plan-to-make-demon-toy-to-counter-bin-laden-influence/2014/06/19/cb3d571c-f0d0-11e3-914c-1fbd0614e2d4_story.html |url-access=subscription |title=CIA hatched plan to make demon toy to counter Osama bin Laden's influence|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=June 19, 2014|first=Adam|last=Goldman |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190512044007/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/cia-hatched-plan-to-make-demon-toy-to-counter-bin-laden-influence/2014/06/19/cb3d571c-f0d0-11e3-914c-1fbd0614e2d4_story.html?utm_term=.4c52b46338c0 |archive-date= May 12, 2019 }}</ref>

In September 1971 he was appointed president of [[4Kids Entertainment|Leisure Concepts]].<ref name="Leisure Concepts"/>

In 2014 Levine died from cancer at a [[Providence, Rhode Island]] hospice. He was survived by Nan, his wife of nearly 60 years. He had three children and four grandchildren.<ref name="msn" /> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Man Who Brought G.I. Joe To Children Dies At 86|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2014/05/26/316109167/the-man-who-brought-g-i-joe-to-children-dies-at-86|access-date=2021-04-24|website=NPR |first1=Bill |last1=Chappell |date=May 26, 2014 |language=en}}</ref>

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."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/cia-hatched-plan-to-make-demon-toy-to-counter-bin-laden-influence/2014/06/19/cb3d571c-f0d0-11e3-914c-1fbd0614e2d4_story.html |url-access=subscription |title=CIA hatched plan to make demon toy to counter Osama bin Laden's influence|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=June 19, 2014|first=Adam|last=Goldman |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190512044007/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/cia-hatched-plan-to-make-demon-toy-to-counter-bin-laden-influence/2014/06/19/cb3d571c-f0d0-11e3-914c-1fbd0614e2d4_story.html?utm_term=.4c52b46338c0 |archive-date= May 12, 2019 }}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Man Who Brought G.I. Joe To Children Dies At 86|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2014/05/26/316109167/the-man-who-brought-g-i-joe-to-children-dies-at-86|access-date=2021-04-24|website=NPR |first1=Bill |last1=Chappell |date=May 26, 2014 |language=en}}</ref>

In 2014 Levine died from cancer at a [[Providence, Rhode Island]] hospice. He is survived by Nan, his wife of nearly 60 years. They have three children and four grandchildren.<ref name="msn" />

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