Greg Hyman – the co-inventor of Tickle Me Elmo – has passed away age 78.

Greg Hyman – veteran creator of over 90 licensed toys and games – has died. He was 78. Greg passed away peacefully at his home in Boca Raton in Florida, on May 1st.

Among his many creations, Greg is most likely to be remembered as the co-inventor of Tickle Me Elmo. His other products include Talking Barney, Baby All Gone, Alphie the Robot and the groundbreaking – and now iconic – Major Morgan.

Greg is survived by his partner of 22 years, Deborah Nelson. To Deborah and to Greg’s many friends in the industry, we sent our sincere condolences. You can read more about how Greg and Ron Dubren created Tickle Me Elmo in an article here. You can also read a moving tribute to Greg from his good friend Richard Levy below.

The Man That Tickled the World
A Tribute to Greg Hyman by Richard C. Levy

Greg Hyman, my dear friend of more than 40 years and nearby neighbor for more than 20 years, and inventor of more than 90 licensed toys and games, and holder of 17 patents, passed away peacefully at his home in Boca Raton, FL, on May 1, 2026. Greg was 78 years old, but always young at heart.

In 1957, 10-year-old he issued a hand-printed flyer to the third and fourth graders at his New Rochelle, NY, elementary school. It was titled “Learn to Invent.”

His journey to the North Pole was not direct. Greg, an electronic engineer, first went into business, at age 16, outfitting neighborhood homes with crude security systems. Then he was hired to do read-outs, lock-outs, buzzers, and bells for Ron Greenberg Productions in New York City, a company that specialized in TV game shows. While there, he backed into the toy and game industry in partnership with Greenberg’s brother, Larry. A special sound effects device Greg designed for a TV show pilot became, through a series of serendipitous events, a toy called Major Morgan by Playskool.

Hyman/Greenberg next hit with Alphie and Alphie II – child’s first electronic learning toys – also from Playskool. In 1996, Greg made the whole world laugh when he co-created Tickle Me Elmo from Tyco/F-P, Electronic. That Christmas, TME mania swept across the country. The toy was in such demand that Greg said he had trouble getting one. His giggling Sesame Street Muppet won the heart of America. It not only appealed to preschoolers; it brought out the three-year-old in kids of all ages.

Among his other successful products Talking Barney by Hasbro, Baby All Gone by Kenner, Alphie the Robot from Playskool and his UCSS Speech Technology for Hasbro.

Greg was a founding member of the Sunshine Santas, a tight-knit group of independent toy and game inventors residing in south Florida. Greg left footprints in many hearts, including mine, my wife Sheryl’s and his ‘niece’ Bettie’s. He is survived by his loving partner of 22 years, Deborah Nelson.

–

To stay in the loop with the latest news, interviews and features from the world of toy and game design, sign up to our weekly newsletter here

More Recent News

Hasbro partners with Nintendo for Legend of Zelda toys

“For decades, The Legend of Zelda franchise has captivated fans through its deep lore, unforgettable characters and enduring sense of discovery,” said Billy Lagor, President Toys and Board Games at Hasbro.

Vietnamese game design contest – Road to Essen – returns for its second edition

The winner will receive full sponsorship to showcase their game at SPIEL Essen 2027 in Germany.

First UK Gundam store opens in London

“The opening of our permanent Gundam Base Store in the UK represents the strength and heritage of the Gundam brand, as well as the wider growth of anime as a whole,” said Kazu Kojima, Commercial Director at Bandai Toy & Hobby UK.

LEGO and Paramount debut LEGO Icons SpongeBob SquarePants: Bikini Bottom building set

The 1,794 piece set includes Bikini Bottom’s most recognisable landmarks.

Jones Soda Co. celebrates 30th anniversary with latest Crayola collaboration

“This collaboration represents the type of authentic partnership we believe can create meaningful brand momentum,” said Scott Harvey, Chief Executive Officer of Jones Soda Co.

Olivia DeLorenzo joins Inventor Relations team at Mattel

Olivia will be working across Games and Fisher-Price/Preschool products.