Action Man is an action figure boys' toy launched in Britain in 1966 by Palitoy as a licensed copy of Hasbro's American "moveable fighting man": G.I. Joe.

Action Man was originally produced and sold in the United Kingdom and Australia by Palitoy Ltd of Coalville, Leicestershire from 1966 until 1984.

The original Action Man had a moulded hard vinyl painted head, with a livid scar on the cheek registered as a trademark, identical to G.I. Joe. Talking Commander figures often have the soft vinyl painted head also used for talking GI Joe figures. Action Man figures of the seventies tend to have a pinker coloration than G.I. Joe.; the feet are of the smaller original G.I. Joe variety. They were held together by elastic with crimped metal eyelets through which rivets passed, for the legs, and metal hooks retaining the neck post and shoulders.

Pre-1970 bodies used the painted-rivets similar to G.I. Joe, 1970–1977 bodies have chromed rivets which were not used on the Hasbro U.S. version. Especially noticeable with 1970- on figures, the limb sections tend to be slightly smaller than the G.I. Joe counterpart, hence Action Man is slightly shorter in height. The pelvis, also smaller, has an extra ridge on each side immediately above the buttocks, which also distinguishes it from the U.S. version, trademarkings aside. The Canadian G.I. Joe body uses this pelvis. Bodies from 1978 on are all-plastic construction, with a flexible rubber connection for the neck post . 

1964 - GI Joe action figures introduced in U.S. by toy firm Hasbro, generating huge sales.
1966 - Action Man launched in UK by Palitoy - a simple copy of GI Joe produced under licence.
1968 - Action Man sportsman range launched, including footballer and cricketer.
Talking military commander Action Man issues spoken commands when string in back is pulled.
1970 - Palitoy develops distinct figures for UK market, initially with British / German World War II uniforms. Distinctive fuzzy 'flock hair' introduced, along with beards.
1973 - Gripping rubber hands appear - a major improvement as earlier figures could barely hold weapons. Each figure sold with special thimble to protect delicate rubber fingers during dressing and undressing.
Famous accessories include Scorpion tank, jeep, helicopter, motorbike and sidecar, inflatable boat with electric motor.

1976 - Eagle Eyes make first appearance. Small switch in back of head allows Action Man to glance left and right in faintly sinister style.
1979 - Built-in blue underpants introduced, finally concealing Action Man's puzzlingly gender-free nether regions.
New 'sharpshooter head position' allows more realistic fighting poses.

1980 - New direction, as 'Captain Zargon the Space Pirate' and 'ROM the Robot' introduced. They fail to halt sales slump.

1984 - Action Man is discontinued.

1996 - New range of fantasy-style Action Man appears, with no connection to real military.
2006 - Production of familiar figures ceased. Action Man brand name is currently attached to Hasbro's 'ATOM' range - smaller plastic fantasy figures, with no visible sign of Action Man pedigree.