David Breashears, whose mountaineering led him to climb Mt.Everestfive times, died at his Massachusetts home on Thursday.
He was 68 and no cause has been determined.
Breashears co-directed and co-produced a 1998Imaxdocumentary for Universal,Everest,about climbing the fabled mountain.
(David Breashears, left, and Jason ClarkePhoto by Chelsea Lauren/Variety/Penske Media via Getty Images
Footage from that expedition to the peak made him a celebrity in the outdoors world.
In 1998, he became the first U.S. citizen to reach the summit twice.
Breashears and his team were filming theEverestdocumentary in 1996 when a blizzard struck, killing eight climbers.
He and his team stopped filming to help the climbers.
No details on survivors or memorial plans was immediately available.
