Who Has Died From Deadliest Catch? What Happened To The Cast Of Deadliest Catch? How Many From Deadliest Catch Have Died?

Deadliest Catch Overview 

Deadliest Catch is a popular reality television series that first aired on the Discovery Channel on April 12, 2005. The show follows the dangerous and high-risk work of crab fishermen aboard fishing vessels during the Alaskan king crab and snow crab fishing seasons in the Bering Sea. The fishing fleet is based in the Aleutian Islands port of Dutch Harbor, Alaska, and the show’s title reflects the dangerous nature of the work, where injuries and even deaths are common.

The first season of Deadliest Catch consisted of ten episodes, with the final episode airing on June 14, 2005. Since then, the show has aired on the Discovery Channel every year during the Alaskan crab fishing season, typically from April to June or July. Deadliest Catch has gained a worldwide following and is now broadcasted globally.

On March 7, 2019, the Discovery Channel announced the renewal of Deadliest Catch for its fifteenth season, which premiered on April 9, 2019. The show’s 18th season was simulcast on the Discovery Channel and the streaming service Discovery+ and premiered on April 19, 2022.

Who has Died from the Deadliest Catch? 

Todd Kochutin

Todd Kochutin’s death at age 30 was a tragedy for two featured vessels in the “Deadliest Catch” series. He died from injuries sustained in a crab pot accident while working on the fishing vessel Patricia Lee, which was devastating for the entire production. The accident spread to other boats in the area, and Captain Wild Bill Wichrowski anxiously awaited updates.

Kochutin’s short commercial fishing career had just started, but he had already faced a great deal of hardship, including being the last surviving member of his immediate family. The following year, a crew member on Patricia Lee was seriously injured in an accident similar to Kochutin’s.

Mahlon Reyes

Mahlon Reyes, a deckhand on the Summer Bay, suffers a leg injury in Season 16 of “Deadliest Catch” and is forced to return to shore for medical attention. Reyes passed away in July 2020 due to a massive heart attack caused by an accidental cocaine overdose. He was a talented fisherman who appeared in about a dozen episodes of the series, starting out as a greenhorn in Season 8.

Phil Harris

Captain Phil Harris of the F/V Cornelia Marie, who started as a breakout star in the second season of the series, died at the age of 53 in February 2010. Harris suffered a massive stroke while at port in St. Paul Island and was flown to a hospital in Anchorage, where he was placed in a medically-induced coma.

Although he emerged from the coma briefly, he eventually died of an intracranial hemorrhage. His stroke and subsequent hospital stay were captured on camera by the production and featured in several Season 6 episodes. After his death, his son Josh took over the Cornelia Marie.

Tony Lara

Captain Tony Lara, a family friend and former crew member of the Cornelia Marie, briefly helmed the vessel after Phil Harris’ death in 2010. Lara vacated his position as captain at the end of Season 7. He died of a heart attack in August 2015 at age 50, years after his stint on the show. His death was mourned by fans and stars of the show, including Josh Harris and F/V Wizard captain Keith Colburn.

Nick McGlashan

Wild Bill receives news of Nick McGlashan’s death due to an apparent drug overdose just before the F/V Summer Bay begins the Winter 2021 season. Nick, a longtime deck boss, was an integral part of the vessel’s operations and his death hit the crew hard. Despite his well-known struggles with addiction, he returned to the show newly sober after seeking treatment in 2017.

McGlashan, who started working in the Bering Sea at 13 and became deck boss due to his work ethic, passed away at 33. If you need help with addiction, visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA’s National Helpline.

Blake Painter

Blake Painter, an expert crabber and former captain of the F/V Maverick, died at age 38 on May 25, 2018, over ten years after his last appearance on “Deadliest Catch.” His body was found by a friend who had become concerned by Painter’s absence. Prescription meds were found on the scene, leading to speculation about the cause of death. Painter had a history of drug-related charges, including heroin possession and reckless driving. If you or anyone you know needs help with addiction issues, visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

Ross Jones

Ross Jones was a crewman aboard the F/V Saga in Season 16 of “Deadliest Catch,” but only appeared in a few episodes. He died in June 2022, with no cause of death reported. Despite his brief time on the show, Jones was remembered fondly by fans and Saga captain Jake Anderson.

Justin Tennison

Justin Tennison, a deckhand on F/V Time Bandit in Season 7, was an experienced fisherman and Alaska resident for nearly three decades. He was found dead in a Homer, Alaska hotel room in February 2011, right after the end of the Winter season. An autopsy found that his death was due to complications from sleep apnea. He was 34 at the time of his death and had two kids.

Joseph McMahon

In 2015, Joseph McMahon, an associate producer for “Deadliest Catch” was shot and killed outside his home in Pasadena, California. The alleged shooter, an old friend from high school, was found dead in his car from self-inflicted gunshot wounds. McMahon’s father later wrote an essay advocating for gun safety measures.

Josh Paulus, Danny Matlock, and Blaine Steinmetz

The spin-off show “Deadliest Catch: Dungeon Cove” aired in 2016, following Oregon crab fleets as they sought out Dungeness crabs along the treacherous Pacific Northwest coast. The show’s third episode, “Lost at Sea,” chronicled the vessels’ struggles during a storm in Coos Bay.

While several boats made it through safely, the Eagle III sank and three crew members lost their lives: Josh Paulus, Danny Matlock, and Blaine Steinmetz. The fourth member, Captain Glenn Burkhow, survived after swimming to shore and walking for miles to get help.

What Happened to the Cast of Deadliest Catch? 

Deadliest Catch portrays the hazardous realm of crab fishing and the financial and emotional struggles associated with one of the most dangerous professions on the open ocean, as the title implies. The show’s realistic documentary style coupled with high-energy grit has attracted a large audience of devoted viewers since its inception in 2005 on the Discovery Channel. 

Although the show has had some heart-wrenching moments over the years, such as ships sinking and crew members passing away, due to the high-risk nature of the “Deadliest Catch,” some of these tragedies go unnoticed, particularly when they occur on the job.

The subsequent list includes cast and crew members from “Deadliest Catch” who have passed away, ranging from inexperienced newcomers who gave it their all but paid the ultimate price, to seasoned veterans who spent most of their lives at sea.

How Many from Deadliest Catch have died?

Who died on Deadliest Catch 2024?

All six crew members, including Kai Hamick, Charles J. Jones, Larry O’Grady, Darick Seibold, Raymond Winkler, and Captain Jeff Hathaway, lost their lives as a result of the disaster in the deadliest catch of 2024.

Despite the closure of the red king crab season by Alaska officials, the reality TV series “Deadliest Catch” will return in April 2024. The show follows lobster fishermen aboard fishing vessels and has gained a large following since its premiere in 2005.