Louis M. Heyward

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Louis M. Heyward (June 24, 1920 – March 26, 2002) was an American producer and film and television screenwriter. He was also known as "Deke" Heyward.

Born in New York City, New York, he served in the United States Air Force before becoming a full-time comedy writer, providing scripts for eight seasons (1950 – 1958) of The Garry Moore Show. He also wrote material for The Ernie Kovacs Show, eventually becoming head writer for that series. Heyward co-created and wrote scripts for Winky Dink and You, a children’s show hosted by Jack Barry that ran from 1953 - 1957.

In the early 1960s, Heyward relocated to Los Angeles, California and worked various executive positions at 20th Century Fox and MCA. His production experience at Fox and MCA and his proven penchant for comedy was noticed by James H. Nicholson of American International Pictures. Heyward was originally brought into the employ of AIP to write Pajama Party (1964), one of many Beach Party films made by the company. Heyward would subsequently write several more similar teen-themed AIP comedies, as well as horror films and science fiction thrillers.

In 1966, Heyward was made AIP’s Director of Overseas Productions, and set up a London-based office of operations in 1967. He produced several European and British films from 1967 – 1972, all co-financed by AIP with Heyward maintaining a degree of control over the various productions in order to ensure the movies were suitable for release in both the U.S. and European markets. In this capacity, he assisted in the production of some of AIP’s most critically acclaimed and profitable films of that period, including Michael Reeves’s Witchfinder General (1968), The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971), and Dr. Phibes Rises Again (1972), all starring Vincent Price.

After his AIP days, Heyward became Vice President in Charge of Development for Barry & Enright Productions, a game show and TV-movie production company run by Jack Barry and Dan Enright. He served as Executive Producer of the company’s popular Tic Tac Dough.

Heyward's son, Andy, is chairman and chief executive officer of DiC Entertainment, an animation studio that was originally founded in France as a subsidiary of the RTL Group.

Heyward died of pneumonia.