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Andy Heyward

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Not to be confused with Andrew Heyward or Andy Hayward.

Andy Heyward
Born
Andrew B. Heyward

(1949-02-19) February 19, 1949 (age 75)
New York City, U.S.
Occupation(s)Producer, writer, CEO
Years active1976–present
Spouse
Evelyn Heyward
​
(m. 1981)​
Children4

Andrew B. Heyward (born February 19, 1949) is an American media executive and animator who is currently CEO of Kartoon Studios, formerly known as Genius Brands International. He previously worked at defunct animation studio and production company DIC Entertainment as chairman and CEO.[1]

Early life

Heyward was born in New York City, New York, the son of Sylvia (née Block) and Louis M. "Deke" Heyward, who was vice president of development at leading entertainment companies such as Four Star International[2] and Barry & Enright Productions,[3] as well as senior vice president for defunct leading cartoon company, Hanna-Barbera.[4]

Professional life

Andy Heyward's upbringing was robust with access to the entertainment elite, including his first start as an assistant for legendary animator Joe Barbera of Hanna-Barbera on Scooby's All-Star Laff-a-Lympics.[5] In 1986, Heyward took the lead of DIC Enterprises after he and other investors performed a buyout of majority shares owned by Radio-Television Luxembourg (now RTL Group, owned by Bertelsmann[6]). He subsequently bought the remaining shares owned by Jean Chalopin, founder of the French company DIC Audiovisuel.[7][8] Heyward eventually sold a majority interest in DIC to Capital Cities/ABC in 1993, forming a Limited Partnership company called DIC Entertainment L.P. CC/ABC would then be purchased by The Walt Disney Company in 1996. In 2000, with two venture capital firms, Heyward re-purchased DIC Entertainment.[9] On June 20, 2008, Heyward announced that he was selling DIC Entertainment to Cookie Jar Group.[10]

In 2009, he founded A Squared Entertainment (A2) with his wife, Amy.[11] In 2013, the company merged with Genius Brands to form Genius Brands International, with Heyward serving as CEO.[12]

References

  1. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (24 March 2011). "Ex-Governator Partners For TV Toon Series –". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
  2. ^ Obituary at The_Washington_Post 8 April 2002 accessed 28 January 2017
  3. ^ Obituary at Los_Angeles_Times 7 April 2002 accessed 28 January 2017
  4. ^ "Andy Heyward Biography (1949-)". Filmreference.com. 1949-02-19. Retrieved 2011-04-07.
  5. ^ "Cartoon Producer goes digital with Stan Lee, Martha Stewart". Broadcasting and Cable. USA_Today. Oct 10, 2010. Retrieved January 28, 2017.
  6. ^ "Bertelsmann holdings and news", Entertainment Conglomerates, Bertelsmann, December 2016, retrieved July 1, 2020
  7. ^ Adelson, Andrea (1987-12-30). "BUSINESS PEOPLE – For Maker of Cartoons, A Chance to Go Public". The New York Times. Retrieved 2016-01-27.
  8. ^ Bates, James (March 8, 1988). "Huge Debt Keeps Pressure on DIC to Keep Turning Out Animated TV Hits: Cartoon Firm Deals Way to Top". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 19, 2016.
  9. ^ DiOrio, Carl (Sep 18, 2000). "Bain backing buyout of DIC". Variety. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
  10. ^ "Cookie Jar, DIC Entertainment to Merge". Broadcasting and Cable. NewBay Media. Jun 20, 2008. Retrieved November 3, 2014.
  11. ^ Truitt, Brian (2010-02-22). "Meet Stan Lee's newest super-team, 'Super Seven'". USA TODAY. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  12. ^ Bond, Paul (2013-11-15). "Genius Brands Merges With Andy Heyward's A Squared Entertainment". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2015-11-16.
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