Jeffrey Katzenberg

Jeffrey Katzenberg (born December 21, 1950) is an American film producer and CEO of DreamWorks Animation. He is perhaps most known for his period as chairman of The Walt Disney Studios when Disney produced some of its biggest hits, including Good Morning, Vietnam, Dead Poets Society, The Little Mermaid, Pretty Woman, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Sister Act and The Lion King. As a founder and CEO of DreamWorks Animation, he has overseen the production of such animated franchises as Shrek, Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda and How to Train Your Dragon. Katzenberg was born in New York City, the son of Anne, an artist, and Walter, a stockbroker. He attended the Ethical Culture Fieldston School, graduating in 1969. Katzenberg began his career as an assistant to producer David Picker, then in 1974 he became an assistant to Barry Diller, the Chairman of Paramount Pictures. Diller moved Katzenberg to the marketing department, followed by other assignments within the studio, until he was assigned to revive the Star Trek franchise, which resulted in the hit film, Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979). He continued to work his way up and became President of Production under Paramount President