Ruth Handler company, Ruthton Corp., formed by her and Peyton Massey, which manufactured a more realistic version of a woman's breast, called "Nearly Me". She personally fitted one for the then first lady, Betty Ford. In 1974, Handler resigned from Mattel after investigations of producing fraudulent financial reports. In 1978, Handler was charged with fraud and false reporting to the Securities and Exchange Commission. She pleaded no contest, was fined $57,000 and sentenced to 2,500 hours of community service.She blamed her illness for making her "unfocused" on her business. Though the Handlers took a more hands-off approach to their company's business practice
Evan Handler scene and struck Handler on the backside. Handler responded later, stating, "I removed myself from the production because from the first day of rehearsals I have endured the show's producers condoning Nicol Williamson's persistent abusiveness to other cast members." Handler's understudy continued the performance, for which Gregory Peck and Elaine Stritch were in attendance. Handler is also an author. His first book, "Time On Fire: My Comedy of Terrors", tells the story of his unlikely recovery from acute myeloid leukemia in his mid-20s. His second, "It's Only Temporary...The Good News and the Bad News of Being Alive", tells the story