Mr. Potato Head was invented and patented in 1952 by George Lerner of New York. The idea was based on an earlier toy known as “make a face” where an actual potato acted as the face.

The original design of the all plastic Mr. Potato Head was that it would act as one of the novelty toys found in cereal packets. Lerner sold Mr. Potato Head to the Hassenfeld Brothers of Rhode Island, owners of Hasbro Inc., the Toy Company.

Hasbro sold the first versions of Mr. Potato Head with a styrofoam head included in the box as a base for the facial features to be plugged in to. Instructions were included suggesting the use of alternative fruits and vegetables to replace the styrofoam.

Hasbro continue to make Mr. Potato Head to this day. Another notable landmark in the Mr. Potato Head story was that he was the first toy to be advertised on television in the US.