Allan Sherwood is a fictional character from the

Mattel Mattel, Inc. ( ) is an American multinational corporation, multinational toy manufacturing and entertainment company headquartered in El Segundo, California. Founded in Los Angeles by Harold Matson and the husband-and-wife duo of Ruth Handler, ...

brand

Barbie Barbie is a fashion doll created by American businesswoman Ruth Handler, manufactured by American toy and entertainment company Mattel and introduced on March 9, 1959. The toy was based on the German Bild Lilli doll, Bild Lilli doll which Hand ...

. He was introduced in 1964 as Ken's friend.

History

Allan was named after the son-in-law of Mattel co-founder

Ruth Handler Ruth Marianna Handler (née Mosko; November 4, 1916 – April 27, 2002) was an American business magnate and inventor. She is best known for inventing the Barbie doll in 1959 and being co-founder of toy manufacturer Mattel with her husband Ell ...

. The first Allan doll was released in 1964. He was marketed as Ken's friend who could also fit into Ken's clothes. In 1991, the spelling of his name was changed to Alan. The Wedding Day Alan doll featured Alan marrying Barbie's friend

Midge A midge is any small fly, including species in several family (biology), families of non-mosquito nematoceran Diptera. Midges are found (seasonally or otherwise) on practically every land area outside permanently arid deserts and the frigid ...

. The doll was also part of the Wedding Party Midge Gift Set. Festa de Casamento Alan ("Wedding Party Alan") was released in Brazil, but he was marrying a character named Viky. It was manufactured by Estrela Toys under license from Mattel. In 1992, Alan and Midge dolls were featured in booklets holding baby twins. They were wearing casual, matching outfits, with Midge holding their baby girl and Alan holding their baby boy. Under the dolls, a caption read, "Midge® and Alan™ have adorable twin babies that magically hold their bottle and toy." The dolls were not released. In December 2002, the Barbie Happy Family line included Alan, his pregnant wife Midge, and their son Ryan. Alan was sold with Ryan and a stroller. The line included white and African-American versions of the dolls. Barbie.com said that the pregnant Midge doll was "a wonderful prop for parents to use with their children to role-play family situations". Jo Ann Farver, a psychologist from the

University of Southern California The University of Southern California (USC, SC, or Southern Cal) is a Private university, private research university in Los Angeles, California, United States. Founded in 1880 by Robert M. Widney, it is the oldest private research university in ...

, was interviewed and said, "The pregnancy-themed Happy Family dolls complement children's strong interests in family relationships and supports their social and emotional development". Midge's pregnancy was so controversial that Walmart stopped selling all of the Happy Family dolls, including Ryan, two weeks before Christmas. Melissa Berryhill, a spokeswoman for

Walmart Walmart Inc. (; formerly Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.) is an American multinational retail corporation that operates a chain of hypermarkets (also called supercenters), discount department stores, and grocery stores in the United States and 23 other ...

, said, "Customers said they were not happy with the pregnant Midge doll so Walmart removed the entire Happy Family set". In 2004, more Alan and Ryan dolls were released. The theme was the first birthday of Alan and Midge's baby, Nikki. The Happy Family Hometown Fair Gift Set was also released. It included Alan, Midge, Ryan, and Nikki. Happy Family Shopping Fun Midge, Nikki & Baby showed that Alan and Midge had had another baby after Nikki. Allan was featured in the 2023 ''

'' film adaptation, played by

Michael Cera Michael Austin Cera ( ; ; born June 7, 1988) is a Canadian actor. Over his career he has received nominations for a British Academy Film Award, three Critics' Choice Movie Awards, four Screen Actors Guild Awards, and a Tony Award. Cera beca ...

. He has no interaction with the pregnant Midge character, or any apparent relationship with her.

Dolls

*1964 - Allan Doll: "Allan™ - HE'S KEN'S® BUDDY™ - BY MATTEL® - ALL OF KEN'S CLOTHES FIT HIM!" (straight legs) *1965 - Allan Doll: "Allan™ WITH ‟LIFELIKE” BENDABLE LEGS" *1991 - Wedding Day Alan: "He's marrying Barbie® doll's best friend Midge®!" *1991 - Wedding Party Midge Gift Set *2002 - Happy Family Alan & Ryan Dolls

hite Hite or HITE may refer to: *HiteJinro, a South Korean brewery **Hite Brewery *Hite (surname) *Hite, California, former name of Hite Cove, California *Hite, Utah Historic Hite is a flooded ghost town at the north end of Lake Powell along the Co ...

ith stroller. There is also a second edition with Midge and baby cardboard cutout inside*2002 - Happy Family Alan & Ryan Dolls frican-American ith stroller. There is also a second edition with Midge and baby cardboard cutout inside*2004 - Happy Family Alan & Ryan Dolls

ikki's birthday*2004 - Happy Family Alan & Ryan Dolls frican-American ikki's birthday*2004 - Happy Family Hometown Fair Gift Set

*2004 - Happy Family Hometown Fair Gift Set frican-American*2008 - Campus Sweet Shop Midge Doll and Allan Doll Giftset *2014 - Double Date 50th Anniversary Giftset *2024 - 60th Anniversary Reproduction *2025 - Family & Friends

Outfits

*1965 - Allan Doll Original Swimsuit *1966 - Best Man *2003 - Happy Family Neighborhood Fashions

References

{{Barbie Barbie characters Toy characters Fictional characters introduced in 1964