Burt Meyer, the inventive mind behind some of the most enduring toys of the 20th century, has died at the age of 99. His death was confirmed by his son, Steve Meyer, to The New York Times.
Born in Hinsdale, Illinois, in 1926, Meyer served in the U.S. Navy during World War II before earning a degree in product design from the Institute of Design at the Illinois Institute of Technology. He joined the influential toy design firm Marvin Glass and Associates around 1960, where he made a significant impact. One of his earliest successes was Rock ’Em Sock ’Em Robots, introduced in 1964 and destined to become a fixture of American playrooms. Meyer was inspired by an experience at an arcade; it was his idea to use robots (as opposed to boxers) and have the heads pop up.
Meyer went on to create some of the most recognizable products in the modern toy industry, including Lite-Brite, inspired by illuminated displays he had seen in New York City. Debuting in 1967, Lite-Brite uses small translucent pegs that glowed when arranged against a backlit panel, encouraging open-ended creativity.
His portfolio also included Mouse Trap — a pioneering three-dimensional board game — along with Toss Across, Mr. Machine, Pretty Pretty Princess, and Catch Phrase. Lite-Brite was inducted into the Toy Hall of Fame in 2022; Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots was a finalist in 2016. After leaving Marvin Glass in the mid-1980s, Meyer established his own firm, Meyer/Glass Design, where he continued to develop hit products known for their playful engineering and lasting appeal.
In addition to his numerous contributions to the toy industry, Meyer was an avid outdoorsman and experienced pilot, having flown as recently as nine years ago, kayaked the Northwest Passage, and skied through the Arctic to the North Pole.
Meyer is survived by his children, Steve, Lee, and Sheryl; six grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. His wife, Marcia, died in 2001.
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