Dave Hollis dies at 47; the former Disney official who quit job for his wife

Dave Hollis died at his home in Texas. He was 47. He had left his post as a Disney executive to help his wife run a successful lifestyle empire.

His ex-wife Rachel Hollis wrote the bestseller 'Girl, Wash Your Face'. He was declared dead on Sunday afternoon at his home in Dripping Springs, a city on the outskirts of Austin, according to Hays County Justice of the Peace Andrew Cable. An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death since Hollis, who was last seen the evening before, was "youthful and didn't have a long medical history," Cable said.

In an Instagram post on Tuesday, Rachel Hollis asked for prayers as the family tries to "navigate through the unthinkable."

"We are devastated," she wrote. "I have no words and my heart is too broken."

Dave Hollis worked for Disney for 17 years and had been head of distribution for the company for seven years when he left in 2018 to join his wife's venture. Rachael is the founder and CEO of chic media. Together, the couple launched, 'The Hollis Company.'

The parents of four moved from Los Angeles to the Austin area, collaborated on livestreams, podcasts and organized life-affirming conferences. In their podcast, 'Rise Together,' they focused on marriage.

Hollis oversaw the release of blockbusters including 'Black Panther' and films in the the 'Star Wars' franchise at Disney. He told The Associated Press in 2018 that he joined his wife's enterprise after realizing he was in a corporate rut.

Together, Dave and Rachel were one of the most influential couples in the personal development and media space.

Hollis also wrote motivational books. His book 'Get Out of Your Own Way: A Skeptic's Guide to Growth and Fulfillment' was published in 2020 and he released 'Built Through Courage: Face Your Fears to Live the Life You Were Meant For' in 2021.

Rachel Hollis announced on Instagram in 2020 that they were getting divorced, she said they had worked "endlessly" over the prior three years to make their marriage work but came to the conclusion that "it is healthier and more respectful for us to choose this as the end of our journey as a married couple."