Rebecca Heineman

Rebecca Ann Heineman (October 30, 1963 – November 17, 2025) was an American video game designer and programmer. She helped design many video games such as The Bard's Tale III: Thief of Fate and Dragon Wars.

Heineman was the co-founder of video game companies Interplay Productions, Logicware, Contraband Entertainment, and Olde Sküül. She was the chief executive officer of Olde Sküül from 2013 until her death in 2025. 

Personal life
Rebecca Ann Heineman was born William Salvador Heineman on October 30, 1963 in Whittier, California. 

In 2003, Heineman was diagnosed with gender dysphoria and began to transition to a woman. She formally changed her given name to Rebecca Ann. Following the transition, Heineman lived as a lesbian. As of 2020, Heineman resided in Heath, Texas. 

She had five children and was married to Jennell Jaquays. Jaquays died in 2024. 

In October 2025, it was announced that Heineman was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma, an aggressive form of cancer that affected her lungs and liver. She died on November 17, 2025 at her home in Rockwall, Texas at the age of 62.

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Category:1963 births
Category:2025 deaths
Category:Lesbians
Category:LGBT businesspeople
Category:LGBT artists
Category:American video game designers
Category:American chief executives
Category:Microsoft people
Category:Businesspeople from California
Category:People from Whittier, California
Category:LGBT people from California
Category:Transgender women
Category:Deaths from adenocarcinoma
Category:Deaths from lung cancer
Category:Deaths from liver cancer
Category:Cancer deaths in Texas