Caitlyn Jenner’s friend and established ghostwriter, William Hasley, was found dead on Hollywood’s famous Runyon Canyon trail.
According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s office, Hasley died on Saturday, June 6, near Runyon Canyon Park, a popular hiking destination in Los Angeles. He was 78.
His cause of death has yet to be revealed.
The Los Angeles Fire Department confirmed to the New York Post that air rescuers attempted to save the man but were unsuccessful.
“LAFD Air Operations lowered rescuers to the patient, and medical treatment was administered,” an LAFD spokesperson told the publication. Officials later pronounced Hasley dead at the scene.
According to an LAFD alert, 26 LAFD personnel were assigned to the incident, which is believed to be related to Hasley’s case. At this time, officials said there was no known cause of medical condition or possible injury.
Us Weekly has reached out to LAFD for comment, but the department could not provide details, citing HIPAA and privacy rules.
Born in Pittsburgh, Hasley graduated from Marshall University, where he played football and ran cross-country, according to his official bio viewed by Variety.
He started his Hollywood career in animation, writing for The Smurfs and Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids.
While working with NBC on the TV special Star Salute to the U.S. Olympic Team, Hasley was able to meet Jenner, now 76, and became “fast friends.” The Olympian later commissioned Hasley to write the motivational book Finding the Champion Within for Simon & Schuster.
He went on to ghostwrite other motivational books, including Passion, Profit & Power and The Slight Edge.
In his personal life, Hasley was previously married to The Bold and the Beautiful actress Robin Riker. She portrayed the role of Beth Henderson Logan on the long-running soap from March 2008 until the character’s death in April 2010.
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Most recently, Hasley taught writing at UCLA and participated in numerous charitable events.
“As your instructor, my goal is to help you develop your own distinct style into a concise and creative screenplay for today’s ever-changing marketplace,” Hasley wrote in his instructor statement for the university. “Let’s turn your dreams into reality. In my class, only you can limit yourself. I hope to form a camaraderie among my students so you will feel safe enough to fall flat on your pages, then pick them up, and improve on what you have already written.”
He continued, “There is nothing more thrilling than touching another with the words you have written. I challenge you to challenge yourself.”
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