Frank Wells

Frank Wells (March 4, 1932 – April 3, 1994) was an American entertainment businessman.

Previously, Wells had worked for Warner Brothers as its Vice President of West Coast in 1969, then in 1973 as President, and in 1977 as Vice Chairman until he left the company in 1982. Disney shareholders Roy E. Disney and Stanley Gold recruited Wells to become Disney's President and Chief Operating Officer (1984-1994), along with Michael Eisner as Chairman and CEO, in their bid to oust CEO/President Ron W. Miller.

He came close to, but did not achieve, his goal of the Seven Summits, climbing the highest mountain on each of the seven continents: Kilimanjaro in Africa, Denali (Mount McKinley) in North America, Aconcagua in South America, Elbrus in Europe, Mount Everest in Asia, Mount Kosciuszko in Australia, and Vinson in Antarctica. Only Everest eluded him, as bad weather forced his party to give up one day before reaching the summit. His partner in the Seven Summits attempt, Dick Bass, an entrepreneur who developed Snowbird ski resort in Utah, made it up all seven peaks, the first man to do so. At the Matterhorn Bobsleds attraction at Disneyland in Anaheim, Wells' love of mountain-climbing is honored with skiing expedition boxes emblazoned with the words "Wells Expedition" littered about an early scene.

Wells died in a helicopter crash at age 62 while returning from a ski trip in Nevada's Ruby Mountains. The movie The Lion King, which came out the summer following Wells' death, is dedicated to him. Additionally, the building housing the Disney Archives at Walt Disney Studios is named in his honor.

External links

• NTSB Report on the helicopter crash
• Frank Wells at Find a Grave