Helene Hahn Loyd, a former executive vice president at Disney and one of the first executives recruited to build DreamWorks SKG, has died at 78. She died peacefully in her sleep on Oct. 24 in Park City, Utah, where she had moved after leaving DreamWorks in 2004.
Born in Westbury, New York, Loyd graduated from Hofstra University in 1970 before moving to Los Angeles. Her introduction to work at Paramount Pictures came through a temporary job while she was attending law school. She earned her law degree from Loyola Law School in 1975, combining her early experience at the studio with her legal education.
Her career included senior positions at several major film companies. She was named executive vice president at Walt Disney Studios in 1981, placing her among the highest-ranking women in the film business. Her Paramount career also included a return to the company in 1997, when she became a senior vice president.
At Disney, Loyd worked with Jeffrey Katzenberg and played a significant role in the company's renaissance. Her work included involvement in Disney's partnership with Pixar. That contribution was part of a career that brought her into leadership roles at both established studios and the newly formed DreamWorks SKG.
In 1994, Loyd was recruited to help build DreamWorks, the company founded by Katzenberg, Steven Spielberg and David Geffen. As one of its original executives, she participated in the studio's beginnings and later rose to chief operating officer. She remained with DreamWorks until her departure in 2004.
Beyond the positions she held, Loyd served as a mentor to many women working toward executive careers in the film industry. Supporting those emerging female executives was a part of her professional life alongside her responsibilities at the companies where she worked.
After leaving DreamWorks, Loyd moved to Park City and developed a passion for skiing. Her husband of more than two decades, Charles “Chuck” Loyd Jr., died in July. The couple shared a love of the sport and a commitment to supporting the next generation of athletes.
The family has asked anyone wishing to donate in the couple's memory to direct their contributions to U.S. Ski & Snowboard. The request honors both their enthusiasm for skiing and their support for younger athletes.
