Helene Hahn Loyd, who led Disney and DreamWorks, dies at 78
The veteran executive died in Utah, leaving behind a career that helped shape major studio partnerships and mentor a new generation of women in film.
By Priya Marino ·
Helene Hahn Loyd, a senior leader at both Walt Disney Studios and DreamWorks SKG, has died. She was 78. The former executive passed away in her sleep in Park City, Utah, on October 24.
Loyd spent four decades in the Los Angeles film industry, rising to the executive vice presidency at Disney in 1981. Her tenure at Disney coincided with a period of major creative change. She worked closely with Jeffrey Katzenberg on the studio’s partnership with Pixar, a collaboration that reshaped the animation sector. At the time, her promotion placed her among the most senior women working in the film business.
In 1994, Katzenberg, Steven Spielberg, and David Geffen founded DreamWorks SKG. Loyd was recruited as one of the first executives to build the new company. She climbed the corporate ladder to become chief operating officer before departing in 2004. During her years at both studios, she served as a mentor to numerous female executives entering the field.
Before her executive roles, Loyd was born in Westbury, New York, and graduated from Hofstra University in 1970. She moved to Los Angeles to attend law school, earning her degree from Loyola Law School in 1975. She worked temporarily at Paramount Pictures while in school and returned to the studio in 1997 as a senior vice president.
After leaving DreamWorks, Loyd settled in Park City, Utah, where she took up skiing. Her husband of more than 20 years, Charles “Chuck” Loyd Jr., died in July. The family asked for donations to U.S. Ski & Snowboard in their memory, reflecting their shared interest in the sport and their support for young athletes.
