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Former Senior Disney Executive Dies at 47

dave hollis died

We bring sad tidings from the world of Disney. The former Disney distribution chief, Dave Hollis, has died at the age of 47. It appears to be one hard report after another. Recently, we lost ABC star from Laverne & Shirley, Cindy Williams, today, we’re reporting on Hollis’s passing. The former president of worldwide distribution passed away in his home in Austin, Texas.

Dave Hollis

Former president of distribution, Dave Hollis/Courtesy of Variety/Penske Media via Getty Images

Hollis saw an incredibly successful run at the Walt Disney Company. From 2011 to 2018, he led theatrical distribution; in 2018, he stepped down to run Chic Media, his ex-wife Rachel Hollis’s company. During his term, Disney saw unprecedented box office success: this was when Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, and Pixar were doing remarkably well. Think movies like Doctor Strange, Deadpool, Captain America: Civil War from Marvel, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story from Lucasfilm, Finding Dory, Coco from Pixar, and more. During this time, Disney also produced and released live-action remakes of animated classics like The Jungle Book and Alice Through The Looking Glass, among others.

Hollis’s tenure saw some of Disney’s best years, enough that in 2016, Disney became the first studio to cross $7 billion globally in a single year.

Marvel Phase 4

Marvel Phase 4 timeline/Courtesy of Showbiz Cheat Sheet

Per the latest reports, Hollis had been hospitalized due to heart-related issues. However, the exact cause of death has not yet been determined or announced. His ex-wife, Rachel Hollis, took to Instagram to share her grief at the news that Dave Hollis has died.

“We are devastated,” she wrote. “I have no words, and my heart is too broken to find them. Please wrap the kids in prayers as we try and navigate through the unthinkable.”

the walt disney company

The Walt Disney Company entrance/Courtesy of Disney

Dave Hollis is survived by his four children, and his death is certainly one that has left many in mourning. Beyond his time at Disney, Hollis also hosted his own podcast, Rise Together, and is a published author of two self-help books, “Get Out of Your Own Way: A Skeptic’s Guide to Growth and Fulfillment” and “Built Through Courage: Face Your Fears to Live the Life You Were Meant for,” and a children’s book, “Here’s to Your Dreams: A Teatime with Noah Book.”

About Priyanka Kumar

Priyanka is a writer, artist, avid reader, and travel enthusiast based in Chicago. In her free time, she is probably walking by the lake, catching up on the latest releases on TV, or spending inordinate amounts of time rewatching Moana, Encanto, and her Disney Channel life-long favorites Zack and Cody wreak havoc on the Tipton.

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