Basic Information
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Laurette Hayden |
| Date of Birth | July 19, 1958 |
| Birthplace | Los Angeles, California, USA |
| Parents | Eva Marie Saint (mother), Jeffrey Hayden (father) |
| Siblings | Darrell Hayden (brother, born 1955) |
| Education | B.A., Stanford University; M.A. in Clinical Psychology & Applied Community Psychology, Antioch University; Post-graduate studies, Institute of Contemporary Psychoanalysis |
| Occupations | Television executive/producer; Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT); Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP) |
| Clinical Focus | Trauma, anxiety, depression, family dynamics, grief, chronic medical conditions, life transitions |
| Notable Clinical Methods | EMDR, Somatic Experiencing, Internal Family Systems (IFS), ACT, Mindfulness, Gottman Method (couples) |
| Major Media Roles | VP Original Movies (HBO, Lifetime); SVP Long-Form Programming (USA Network) |
| Spouse (former) | Miles Beller (m. Oct 20, 1985; div. Feb 24, 2021) |
| Children | Eli Charles Beller (born Mar 26, 1990) |
| Affiliations | PCH Treatment Center; UCLA Department of Neurology; Epilepsy Foundation |
| Residence | Los Angeles, California |
| Financial Details | Private/not publicly disclosed |
Early Life and Education
Born on July 19, 1958, in Los Angeles, Laurette Hayden grew up in the glow and grit of Hollywood. Her mother, Eva Marie Saint—an Academy Award winner for On the Waterfront (1954)—and her father, director Jeffrey Hayden, provided a household where scripts, sets, and storytelling were part of daily conversation. Yet alongside the lights of the soundstage, there was a steady emphasis on family, patience, and perspective.
At Stanford University, Laurette sharpened an analytical mind that would later serve her on both sides of her career. She went on to earn a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology and Applied Community Psychology at Antioch University and completed post-graduate work at the Institute of Contemporary Psychoanalysis. The mix of rigorous academic training and lived experience gave her a rare ability to translate human complexity—first into compelling stories for television, and later into meaningful therapeutic work.
From Screens to Therapy Rooms
Laurette began her career in media during the early 1980s, with 1982 marking her involvement in The Slumber Party Massacre. By the 1990s she had ascended to prominent executive roles: Vice President of Original Movies at HBO and Lifetime, and later Senior Vice President of Long-Form Programming at USA Network. Her projects included the Lifetime drama My Very Best Friend (1996) and USA Network’s Just Ask My Children (2001), a film built around a harrowing true story. Across these endeavors, her instincts honed in on narratives about relationships, courage, and moral dilemmas.
In the early 2000s, Laurette transitioned from crafting stories to helping people reshape their own. She became an LMFT and Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, establishing a practice in Los Angeles. Her clinical work spans trauma, anxiety, depression, family dynamics, and chronic medical conditions. She integrates modalities such as EMDR, IFS, ACT, mindfulness, and the Gottman Method, tailoring care to the person, not the protocol. Beyond private practice, Laurette has contributed to the PCH Treatment Center as an EMDR and Family Therapist and served as a Clinical Specialist with the UCLA Department of Neurology, where she has led mindfulness and psychoeducational programs.
A teacher as well as a clinician, she has supervised MFT interns and facilitated groups that help individuals and families transform the “noise” of distress into a steady rhythm of resilience.
Family and Relationships
Laurette’s roots reach deep into a family tree known for endurance as much as for artistry. Her parents, married in 1951, shared 65 years together until her father’s passing in 2016. Her brother, Darrell (born April 1, 1955), is a designer and educator who has kept an understated profile while contributing to creative and academic communities.
Laurette married writer and producer Miles Beller on October 20, 1985. Their marriage, which ended in 2021, brought them a son, Eli Charles Beller, born March 26, 1990. Eli faced a life-altering medical challenge at age seven when a benign brain tumor required four surgeries within two weeks. He subsequently developed epilepsy. The family’s response—organizing support groups, building community, and engaging in education and advocacy—became a hallmark of Laurette’s approach to hardship: meet it head-on, and help others along the way.
In recent years, Laurette has been publicly glimpsed mostly around tributes to her mother, including celebrations tied to Eva Marie Saint’s 100th birthday in 2024. These moments show a multigenerational family still gathering, still telling stories, still practicing the art of showing up.
Advocacy and Community Work
- Epilepsy Awareness and Support: Laurette has led mindfulness classes and facilitated support groups, often in partnership with epilepsy organizations. Her work highlights practical skills for patients and caregivers, and a message that managing epilepsy is a marathon, not a sprint.
- Clinical Education: She supervises and mentors therapists-in-training, spreading trauma-informed care and evidence-based methods to the next wave of clinicians.
- Community Mental Health: Her background includes counseling students in Los Angeles County schools, working with homeless and at-risk youth, and home-based support for Early Head Start families—roles that reflect a commitment to care beyond private practice walls.
Selected Projects and Roles
| Year | Project/Role | Network/Institution | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | The Slumber Party Massacre (producer involvement) | Feature film | Early production credit in genre filmmaking |
| 1996 | My Very Best Friend (executive/production role) | Lifetime | Friendship and moral conflict at the center |
| 2001 | Just Ask My Children (executive/production role) | USA Network | True-story drama |
| 2010s–present | EMDR & Family Therapist | PCH Treatment Center | Individual, family, and group therapy |
| 2010s–present | Clinical Specialist | UCLA Department of Neurology | Mindfulness and psychoeducation |
| 2020s | Mindfulness Group Facilitator | Epilepsy Foundation | Community education and support |
Milestones Timeline
| Year/Date | Milestone | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 19, 1958 | Birth | Los Angeles, California |
| 1970s | Undergraduate studies | Stanford University |
| 1982 | Early film credit | The Slumber Party Massacre |
| Oct 20, 1985 | Marriage | Married Miles Beller |
| Mar 26, 1990 | Birth of son | Eli Charles Beller |
| 1996 | Lifetime film | My Very Best Friend |
| 2001 | USA Network film | Just Ask My Children |
| Early 2000s | Career pivot | Began clinical training and practice |
| 2004 | Public advocacy moment | Family epilepsy story shared; community engagement expands |
| Dec 24, 2016 | Family loss | Passing of father, Jeffrey Hayden (age 90) |
| Feb 24, 2021 | Divorce | Marriage to Miles Beller concluded |
| 2024 | Family celebration | Eva Marie Saint turns 100; multigenerational tributes |
| 2025 | Ongoing work | Therapy practice and advocacy continue in LA |
Recent Mentions and Media
Laurette’s public footprint is intentionally light. In 2024, she surfaced in coverage surrounding her mother’s centennial, offering anecdotes that framed Eva Marie Saint not just as an icon, but as a matriarch who still anchors family gatherings. Professional updates appear periodically through clinical affiliations—mindfulness offerings, support groups, and educational workshops—while her television-era credits continue to circulate in retrospectives and fan discussions.
Her approach to visibility mirrors her clinical ethic: steady, useful, and personal. Rather than chasing headlines, she prefers to build skill and community—one session, one support circle, one family at a time.
FAQ
Who is Laurette Hayden?
She is a former television executive and producer who became a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Los Angeles.
When and where was she born?
She was born on July 19, 1958, in Los Angeles, California.
What did she study?
She earned a B.A. from Stanford University, an M.A. in Clinical Psychology and Applied Community Psychology from Antioch University, and completed post-graduate work at the Institute of Contemporary Psychoanalysis.
What are some notable TV and film projects she worked on?
Her credits include The Slumber Party Massacre (1982), My Very Best Friend (1996), and Just Ask My Children (2001).
What does she focus on as a therapist?
She specializes in trauma, anxiety, depression, family dynamics, grief, and chronic medical conditions, using methods like EMDR, IFS, ACT, and mindfulness.
How has her family influenced her advocacy?
Her son’s experience with a childhood brain tumor and epilepsy galvanized her work with epilepsy support and education.
Who are her parents and sibling?
Her parents are actress Eva Marie Saint and director Jeffrey Hayden; her brother is designer and educator Darrell Hayden.
Is her financial information public?
No, her financial details are private and not publicly disclosed.
