Dana Walden

Dana Walden (born 1964) is an American businesswoman and the Co-Chairman of Disney Entertainment.

Dana Walden
Born
Dana M. Freedman

October 1964 (age 58)
NationalityAmerican
OccupationBusinesswoman
EmployerThe Walt Disney Company (2019–present)
TitleCo-Chairman of Disney Entertainment
Board member ofLive Nation Entertainment
UCLA’s Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center
Saban Free Clinic of Los Angeles
Children2

Career

Dana Walden was named Co-Chairman of Disney Entertainment on February 8, 2023, overseeing Disney's entertainment media, news and content businesses globally, including Disney's streaming business.[1] In this role, Walden leads Disney's content brands and businesses, including ABC Entertainment, ABC News, ABC Owned Television Stations, Disney Branded Television, Disney Television Studios (20th Television, ABC Signature, 20th Television Animation and Walt Disney Television Alternative), Freeform, FX, Hulu Originals, National Geographic Content and Onyx Collective. Walden previously served as chairman of Disney General Entertainment Content.[2]

She is responsible for television and streaming.

Over the past three decades, Walden has overseen the development and production of shows including 24, Glee, Grey’s Anatomy, Homeland, and This Is Us; culture-defining franchises like American Horror Story, black-ish, Family Guy and The Simpsons; unscripted stalwarts like American Idol, Dancing With The Stars and Jimmy Kimmel Live!; classic children’s programming like Bluey and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse; and Abbott Elementary, The Bear, Dopesick, The Dropout and The Old Man. In 2022, programming under Walden’s oversight earned Emmy nominations across daytime, primetime, news and documentary and children’s and family categories; as well an Oscar for Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised). Throughout her career, teams under Walden’s supervision have been responsible for programs that have won more than 1,000 awards.[3]

In 2021, Walden was given a Lifetime Achievement Award from Harvard Undergraduate Women in Business.[4] She has received the National Association of Television Program Executive's Brandon Tartikoff Legacy Award[5] and was named MIPCOM's Personality of the Year.[6] In 2013, she was inducted into Broadcasting & Cable's Television Hall of Fame.[7] She has been named Showman of the Year by Variety, Television Showman of the Year by the Publicists of the International Cinematographers Guild, and Executive of the Year in 2019 by The Hollywood Reporter.[8][9]

Fox Television Group

Walden previously served as chairman and CEO of Fox Television Group,[10] which included Fox Broadcasting Company, 20th Century Fox Television, Fox 21 Television Studios, Fox Consumer Products and the syndication supplier, 20th Television. In the four years she oversaw Fox Broadcasting Company, she took the network from fourth place to first.[11][12]

The Walt Disney Company

On June 9, 2022, Walden replaced Peter Rice as Chairman of Disney General Entertainment Content.[2] Walden was previously chairman of Entertainment, Walt Disney Television.

Board Positions & Other roles

During her tenure at Disney, she appointed many women to leadership positions within her portfolio. She also established Onyx Collective, a content brand dedicated to showcasing premium content from creators of color, both new and established.[13]

Walden sits on the board of directors for Live Nation Entertainment,[14] UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Saban Free Clinic of Los Angeles.[15] Additionally, she is a member of USC’s President’s Leadership Council and the President’s Circle of the NAACP.

Personal life

Walden is married and has two children. She lives in Brentwood, Los Angeles. Her grandmother Rose Freedman was a survivor of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire who lived to 107.[16]

Early life and education

Dana Freedman was born to a Jewish family[17] in Los Angeles in 1964. Her father was in the travel industry and her mother was a dancer. As a teenager, Walden rode show hunters competitively. She earned a degree in communications from the University of Southern California.

References

  1. White, Peter (2023-02-08). "Dana Walden & Alan Bergman To Oversee New Disney Entertainment Unit". Deadline. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  2. Andreeva, Nellie; Fleming Jr, Mike (June 9, 2022). "Shocker! Peter Rice Fired From Disney; Dana Walden Taking His Post As Chairman, General Entertainment Content". Deadline Hollywood.
  3. "Dana Walden". The Walt Disney Company. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  4. White, Peter (February 7, 2021). "Disney's Dana Walden On Increasing Opportunities For Smaller Production Companies, Covid Impact, Leaning Into Failure & Fostering Diversity". Deadline.
  5. "14TH ANNUAL BRANDON TARTIKOFF LEGACY AWARD HONOREES ANNOUNCED". NATPE. November 11, 2016.
  6. Stanhope, Kate (May 28, 2015). "Fox Chiefs Dana Walden and Gary Newman Named MIPCOM's Personality of the Year". The Hollywood Reporter.
  7. "B+C Hall of Fame". Broadcasting and Cable.
  8. "Dana Walden". Variety.
  9. "The Hollywood Reporter's 2019 Women in Entertainment Power 100". The Hollywood Reporter. December 11, 2019.
  10. Littleton, Cynthia (July 14, 2014). "Dana Walden, Gary Newman Take Over Fox Broadcasting in Restructuring". Variety.
  11. Rose, Lacey (December 5, 2012). "20th TV's Dana Walden On Her Career-Changing 'Jerry Maguire' Moment". The Hollywood Reporter.
  12. "Dana Walden on TV's 'Existential Crisis,' TV Studio Vision and Why She Joined Disney". June 19, 2019.
  13. Hunan, Tom (May 17, 2021). "Disney Makes Strong Diversity Investment: Launches 'Onyx Collective'". Forbes.
  14. Variety Staff (June 8, 2018). "Fox's Dana Walden Joins Live Nation Entertainment Board". Variety.
  15. Littleton, Cynthia (October 8, 2019). "Dana Walden Backs the Cancer Center That Helped Save Her Mother's Life". Variety.
  16. Martin, Douglas (February 17, 2001). "Rose Freedman, Last Survivor of Triangle Fire, Dies at 107". The New York Times. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
  17. Jewish Daily Forward: "The World’s Most Powerful Jewish Women" by Laura E. Adkins June 15, 2016
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