Andy Heyward
Encyclopedia
Andrew A. "Andy" Heyward (born February 19, 1949) is the former Chairman and CEO of DIC Entertainment
, an animation production company.
Heyward was born in New York City
, New York, the son of Sylvia (née Block) and Louis M. "Deke" Heyward
, who was vice president in charge of development at Barry & Enright Productions
. Heyward created DiC Entertainment in 1982 after performing a management buyout
of DiC Audiovisual, a French
production company owned by Radio-Television Luxembourg.
Prior to launching DIC he first began his career as a writer and story editor for Hanna-Barbera
. Years later he created Inspector Gadget
and the following years has been working on many animated and live-action TV shows, specials and films.
He has also worked as a voice director for Rainbow Brite
and DIC's first special Poochie
, a creative consultant for the CINAR Animation special Madeline's Christmas and helped developed James Bond Jr.
with his partner Robby London. He also made a guest appearance on The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!
as Howard Stevens, a man who appraises paintings.
For over many years Heyward has become the Chairman and CEO of DIC with Robby London and Michael Maliani.
On June 20, 2008, it was announced that DIC would be acquired by Cookie Jar Group. On July 23, 2008, Cookie Jar completed the acquisition of DIC Entertainment, and DIC was then completely folded into Cookie Jar Entertainment.
Heyward now runs a new animation company called A Squared Entertainment, which he co-founded with his wife Amy Moynihan.
DiC Entertainment
DIC Entertainment was an international film and television production company. In addition to animated television shows such as Ulysses 31 , Inspector Gadget , The Littles , The Real Ghostbusters , Captain Planet and the Planeteers , and the first two seasons of the English adaptation of...
, an animation production company.
Heyward was born in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, New York, the son of Sylvia (née Block) and Louis M. "Deke" Heyward
Louis M. Heyward
Louis Mortimere Heyward was an American producer and film and television screenwriter.-Life and career:...
, who was vice president in charge of development at Barry & Enright Productions
Barry & Enright Productions
Barry & Enright Productions , was a United States television production company that was formed in 1947 by Jack Barry and Dan Enright.-History:Jack Barry and Dan Enright first met at radio station WOR in New York, where...
. Heyward created DiC Entertainment in 1982 after performing a management buyout
Management buyout
A management buyout is a form of acquisition where a company's existing managers acquire a large part or all of the company.- Overview :Management buyouts are similar in all major legal aspects to any other acquisition of a company...
of DiC Audiovisual, a French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
production company owned by Radio-Television Luxembourg.
Prior to launching DIC he first began his career as a writer and story editor for Hanna-Barbera
Hanna-Barbera
Hanna-Barbera Productions, Inc. was an American animation studio that dominated North American television animation during the second half of the 20th century...
. Years later he created Inspector Gadget
Inspector Gadget
Inspector Gadget is an animated television series that revolves around the adventures of a clumsy, simple-witted cyborg detective named Inspector Gadget – a human being with various bionic gadgets built into his body. Gadget's arch-nemesis is Dr...
and the following years has been working on many animated and live-action TV shows, specials and films.
He has also worked as a voice director for Rainbow Brite
Rainbow Brite
Rainbow Brite was a character franchise introduced by Hallmark Cards in 1983, with the animated television series starting the following year....
and DIC's first special Poochie
Poochie (Toy)
Poochie was a popular Mattel toy in the 1980s, a white poodle with pink ears and paws that wore a pair of purple sunglasses and could do extraordinary things, such as drive a car and speak....
, a creative consultant for the CINAR Animation special Madeline's Christmas and helped developed James Bond Jr.
James Bond Jr.
James Bond Jr. is a fictional character described as the nephew of Ian Fleming's masterspy James Bond. The name "James Bond Junior" was first used in 1967 for an unsuccessful spinoff novel entitled 003½: The Adventures of James Bond Junior written under the pseudonym R. D. Mascott...
with his partner Robby London. He also made a guest appearance on The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!
The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!
The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! is an American television series based upon Nintendo's Super Mario Bros. and Super Mario Bros. 2 video games. It was originally broadcast via first-run syndication to mostly independent or Fox television stations from September 4, 1989, to December 1, 1989, with...
as Howard Stevens, a man who appraises paintings.
For over many years Heyward has become the Chairman and CEO of DIC with Robby London and Michael Maliani.
On June 20, 2008, it was announced that DIC would be acquired by Cookie Jar Group. On July 23, 2008, Cookie Jar completed the acquisition of DIC Entertainment, and DIC was then completely folded into Cookie Jar Entertainment.
Heyward now runs a new animation company called A Squared Entertainment, which he co-founded with his wife Amy Moynihan.