Jeffrey Katzenberg

Jeffrey Katzenberg (born December 21, 1950) is an American media executive and film producer recognized for his leadership in reviving feature animation and advancing digital media ventures.

Katzenberg began his Hollywood career in 1975 as an assistant at Paramount Pictures, rising to become one of the studio's youngest presidents at age 31 and contributing to hits including Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) and Beverly Hills Cop (1984). In 1984, he joined The Walt Disney Studios as chairman of film production, where he spearheaded the Disney Renaissance by greenlighting innovative animated features such as The Little Mermaid (1989), Beauty and the Beast (1991)—the first animated film nominated for Best Picture—and partnerships like the one with Pixar that produced Toy Story (1995).

Jeffrey Katzenberg was born on December 21, 1950, in New York City to a Jewish family of Ashkenazi descent. His father, E. Walter Katzenberg, worked as a stockbroker, providing financial stability for the household, while his mother, Anne (née Stern) Katzenberg, pursued a career as an artist. The family resided on Park Avenue in Manhattan's Upper East Side, reflecting a prosperous urban environment typical of mid-20th-century New York Jewish middle-class life.