Former Disney exec and author Dave Hollis' cause of death revealed in autopsy

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Former Disney executive Dave Hollis' death has been ruled an accident, a medical examiner ruled.

His cause of death is listed as the "toxic effects of cocaine, ethanol, and fentanyl," according to a report from the Travis County, Texas, Medical Examiner's Office, obtained by USA TODAY.

The report also cites hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, which can result in heart attack or stroke, as a contributing factor to his death.

"He had a history of hypertension, depression, illicit drug use, and alcohol abuse," the autopsy report says.

Hollis, 47, died in February at his home in Dripping Springs, Texas, a city on the outskirts of Austin, according to Hays County Justice of the Peace Andrew Cable. An autopsy was done because Hollis, who was last seen the evening before, was “youthful and didn't have a long medical history," Cable said.

Dave Hollis: Former Disney exec, author and ex to Rachel Hollis, dies at 47

Dave Hollis speaks onstage at CinemaCon 2018. Hollis died at 47 in February due to the effects of cocaine, ethanol, fentanyl.
Dave Hollis speaks onstage at CinemaCon 2018. Hollis died at 47 in February due to the effects of cocaine, ethanol, fentanyl.

The report details that high levels of ethanol and fentanyl can cause death as they suppress the body's heart rate and breathing. Cocaine, the report says, also can cause unexpected death for a number of reasons.

Fentanyl, the leading cause of death in Americans ages 18 to 45, has been at the center of congressional debate. More than 70,000 people died of a fentanyl overdose in 2021, according to the most recent federal data available, more than double the amount in 2019 and a large share of the nearly 107,000 drug overdose deaths in 2021.

Hollis was president of Disney's worldwide distribution for nearly seven years before stepping away to help with his former wife's media empire.

He wrote three books: "Get Out of Your Own Way," "Built with Courage" and a children's book, "Here's to Your Dreams."

During his tenure at Disney, Hollis oversaw the release of blockbusters including “Black Panther" and films in the Star Wars franchise.

Rachel Hollis, with whom he shares four children, wrote on Instagramin February that the family was "devastated" by his death on Instagram.

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Contributing: Naledi Ushe, Candy Woodall

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dave Hollis cause of death accidental from cocaine, ethanol, fentanyl