David Breashears, a mountaineer, author and filmmaker who co-directed and co-produced a 1998 IMAX documentary about climbing Mount Everest, has died, his business manager confirmed Saturday. He was 68.
Breashears was found unresponsive at her home in Marblehead, Mass., on Thursday, Ellen Golbranson said.
She said he died of natural causes, but “the exact cause of death remains unknown at this time.”
Breashears was one of the most influential Americans in the world of Himalayan mountaineering, summiting Mount Everest five times, including with the IMAX camera in 1996, his family said.
Mountaineer, filmmaker and author David Breashears, 68, died Thursday at his home in Marblehead, Massachusetts
David Breashears is seen behind the camera during filming on Everest in 1996
The film, Everest, generated more than $120 million in revenue and turned Breashears into something of a celebrity
“He combined his passion for climbing and photography to become one of the world’s most admired adventure filmmakers,” the family said in a written statement.
In 2007, Breashears founded GlacierWorks, which describes itself on Facebook as a nonprofit that ‘highlights changes to Himalayan glaciers through art, science and adventure.’
“With GlacierWorks, he used his climbing and photography experience to create unique records that reveal the dramatic effects of climate change on the historic mountain range,” his family said.
In 1983, Breashears transmitted the first live television images from the summit of Everest.
Two years later, in 1985, he became the first American citizen to reach the summit twice.
Breashears and his team were filming the Everest documentary when the May 10, 1996 blizzard hit the mountain, killing eight climbers.
He and his team stopped filming to help the climbers.
David Breashears is pictured filming the IMAX documentary ‘Everest’ which premiered in 1998
Breashears summited Everest five times and founded GlacierWorks to address the impact of climate change on Himalayan glaciers
Breashear’s pioneering achievements include the transmission of live television images from the summit of Everest in 1983
His IMAX film depicted his 1996 expedition to the summit with American guide Ed Viesturs.
It explored the training mountaineers endure prior to their expeditions and the dangers they encounter on their route to the summit.
The film, Everest, generated more than $120 million in revenue and turned Breashears into something of a celebrity.
During those decades, Breashears helped millions of people learn about Mount Everest through his films and broadcasts.
Breashears, who grew up in Boulder, Colorado, said he was the 135th person to reach the top of the world and the experience changed him forever.
“When we look back to 1983, it seems almost strange. We had the entire south side of the mountain to ourselves and not only did I know who my teammates were, but I also knew that they had come to Everest with the careful preparation, experience and thorough training to climb it,’ shared he. Front line.
“I remember feeling much closer to the mountain then, more in tune with the experience.”