Who was the first action figure?

The first action figure is widely considered to be G.I. Joe, created by Hasbro in 1964. G.I. Joe was originally a 12-inch (30 cm) tall figure that was marketed as a "soldier" action figure, and it became the first true action figure that could be posed and played with. This toy revolutionized the toy industry by introducing the concept of posable, articulated figures that children could engage with in imaginative play.

Before G.I. Joe, toys like dolls and figures existed, but they were often static, non-articulated, and not marketed as "action figures." G.I. Joe set the standard for what we consider action figures today, especially in terms of articulation, accessories, and the concept of figures based on specific characters, like soldiers, astronauts, or superheroes.

The term "action figure" itself was coined by Hasbro to differentiate these types of toys from traditional dolls, as they were targeted towards boys. Over time, action figures evolved to represent a wide range of characters, from superheroes to pop culture icons, and became a staple of toy collecting and pop culture.