Veteran screenwriter William Hasley, who ghostwrote Caitlyn Jenner’s 1996 self-help book and spent decades working in Hollywood, was found dead near Runyon Canyon in Los Angeles on Saturday evening.
He was 78 years old.
According to the Los Angeles Fire Department, rescuers reached Hasley at approximately 7:05 p.m. after he was discovered near the popular hiking area.
Emergency personnel attempted medical treatment but were unable to save him.
Hasley was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office has not released a cause of death and has deferred any official determination while the investigation continues.
Authorities have not publicly explained how Hasley died or whether foul play is suspected.
Temperatures in the Los Angeles area that evening were reportedly in the low-to-mid 60s.
Hasley built a lengthy career writing screenplays for major studios, including Universal Pictures, Warner Brothers and 20th Century Fox.
He also served as a screenwriting instructor at UCLA Extension, where he encouraged aspiring writers to develop distinctive voices suited for an evolving entertainment industry.
Many readers knew him best for writing “Finding the Champion Within,” Caitlyn Jenner’s 1996 book published by Simon & Schuster.
According to his personal biography, Hasley and Jenner became close friends while working together on an Olympics-related project before Jenner hired him to write the book.
Hasley was also previously married to actress Robin Riker, who appeared on the Showtime sitcom “Brothers” and later on “The Bold and the Beautiful.”
One of the more striking details surrounding Hasley’s death came from a neighbor who reportedly saw him earlier that same day.
The neighbor said Hasley was carrying groceries and appeared to be going about his normal routine.
“I just saw him on Saturday carrying groceries,” the neighbor told reporters.
“It’s very sad he had to die all alone like that.”
Exactly what happened between that encounter and the discovery of Hasley’s body later that evening remains unknown.
The Los Angeles Fire Department said its Air Operations unit lowered rescuers to reach the patient after he was located near the trail.
Medical treatment was administered before he was pronounced dead.
Hasley’s biography painted the picture of someone who remained active throughout his later years.
He enjoyed horseback riding, participated in celebrity golf tournaments and played in the Showbiz Softball League.
His website also described him as an environmental advocate who volunteered in soup kitchens, wrote articles and spoke to youth organizations.
UCLA Extension continued listing Hasley as an instructor at the time of his death.
Neither UCLA nor representatives connected to Jenner have publicly commented on the tragedy.
The circumstances surrounding Hasley’s death have left several unanswered questions.
Officials have not disclosed his precise location when he was found or explained whether investigators have ruled out criminal activity.
Runyon Canyon remains one of Los Angeles’ busiest hiking destinations, attracting thousands of visitors each year.
The death of a 78-year-old man on one of the city’s most traveled trails naturally raises questions about emergency response, trail safety and the events leading up to the incident.
For now, however, authorities have released few details beyond confirming that an investigation remains ongoing.
Hasley’s passing marks the end of a career that stretched across Hollywood studios, publishing and education.
He collaborated with one of the world’s most recognizable athletes, mentored future writers and remained engaged in community causes throughout his life.
His death also presents a poignant contrast between a public career spent shaping stories and a private final chapter that remains largely unexplained.
Until the Medical Examiner’s Office releases its findings, the circumstances surrounding William Hasley’s death will continue to generate questions from friends, former students and those who followed his work, The Los Angeles Times reported.
For now, officials have only confirmed one certainty.
A longtime Hollywood writer who spent decades telling other people’s stories has left behind one final story that investigators are still trying to explain.
This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
