'He-Man' artist and toy designer T. Mark Taylor dies at 80

Taylor has said the prototypes date back to his own childhood as he fantasised about being "the next hero.” He said he based the concept of He-Man on his vision of Cro-Magnon men, as well as Vikings. Photo: Handout

T. Mark Taylor, artist and toy designer for the He-Man and the Masters of the Universe franchise as well as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, died Thursday at his Southern California home. He was 80.

The cause was congestive heart failure, Taylor's family said in an email to The Associated Press on Saturday.