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The Tragic Toll: Every Deadliest Catch Star Who Has Died (Updated 2024)

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The Bering Sea is a place of legend, risk, and immense reward, but for the stars of Discovery Channel’s Deadliest Catch, it has often proven to be the final, tragic frontier. Since the show first aired, the series has been haunted by the loss of several beloved cast members, a stark reminder that the title of the show is not mere hyperbole but a brutal reality of Alaskan crab fishing.

As of late 2024, the list of fallen fishermen has grown, with the most recent passing sending a fresh wave of shock through the tight-knit fishing community. This article provides a comprehensive and updated look at every star from Deadliest Catch who has tragically died, detailing their life, their legacy on the show, and the circumstances of their untimely death.

The Fallen Fleet: A Complete Biography of Deadliest Catch Stars Who Have Died

The lives of the men and women on Deadliest Catch are lived on the edge, a fact underscored by the heartbreaking roll call of those who have been lost. From legendary captains to hardworking deckhands, their stories are now part of the show's enduring, and often sorrowful, legacy.

Nick Mavar Jr. (1965–2024)

  • Role: Deckhand, Relief Captain
  • Vessel: F/V Northwestern
  • Seasons: 2005–2021 (17 seasons)
  • Date of Death: June 13, 2024
  • Cause of Death: Heart attack/Medical emergency

Nick Mavar was one of the longest-serving and most recognizable faces on the F/V Northwestern, working alongside Captain Sig Hansen for nearly two decades. Known for his quiet competence and dedication, Mavar was a fixture of the show from 2005 to 2021. He passed away suddenly in Naknek, Alaska, after suffering a medical emergency that was later identified as a heart attack. His death in 2024 is the most recent tragedy to strike the cast, highlighting that the dangers of the fishing industry extend beyond the immediate hazards of the Bering Sea.

Captain Phil Harris (1956–2010)

  • Role: Captain
  • Vessel: F/V Cornelia Marie
  • Seasons: 2004–2010
  • Date of Death: February 9, 2010
  • Cause of Death: Complications from a massive stroke

Captain Phil Harris was arguably the most iconic figure in Deadliest Catch history. Known for his gravelly voice, no-nonsense leadership, and deep love for his sons, Josh and Jake, Harris collapsed while offloading crab in St. Paul Island, Alaska, in January 2010. He had suffered a massive stroke. After a period in a coma, he passed away on February 9, 2010, at the age of 53. His death was documented on the show, making it one of the most emotional and pivotal moments in the series' run and cementing his legacy as a crab fishing legend.

Todd Kochutin (1990–2021)

  • Role: Deckhand
  • Vessel: F/V Patricia Lee (previously F/V Summer Bay)
  • Seasons: Featured in Seasons 15, 16, and 17
  • Date of Death: February 26, 2021
  • Cause of Death: Fatal injuries from a falling crab pot

Todd Kochutin’s death was a grim reminder of the physical dangers inherent in Alaskan crab fishing. In February 2021, while working as a deckhand on the F/V Patricia Lee, he was fatally injured after being struck by a heavy crab pot. He was only 30 years old. His passing was particularly tragic as it was a direct, on-the-job fatality, illustrating the brutal reality of the Bering Sea environment and the constant risk of heavy machinery.

Nick McGlashan (1987–2020)

  • Role: Deck Boss
  • Vessel: F/V Summer Bay
  • Seasons: 2013–2020
  • Date of Death: December 28, 2020
  • Cause of Death: Drug overdose

Nick McGlashan, a seventh-generation fisherman, was known for his incredible skill and his candid struggles with addiction, which were sometimes featured on the show. After being suspended from the show in Season 13 to seek treatment, he returned to the Bering Sea. Sadly, he was found dead in a Nashville hotel room in December 2020. His autopsy confirmed he died from a toxic mix of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine. His death, just weeks before Todd Kochutin’s, was a profound loss to the fishing community.

Mahlon Reyes (1982–2020)

  • Role: Deckhand
  • Vessel: F/V Seabrooke, F/V Destination
  • Seasons: Featured in 14 episodes
  • Date of Death: July 26, 2020
  • Cause of Death: Cocaine overdose

Mahlon Reyes, a deckhand who worked on several vessels, including the F/V Seabrooke, passed away in July 2020 at the age of 38. He initially suffered a heart attack at his home in Montana and was taken off life support days later. The subsequent autopsy determined his official cause of death was a cocaine overdose. His tragic passing occurred just five months before his friend and co-star, Nick McGlashan, also died from an overdose.

The Hidden Dangers: More Deadliest Catch-Affiliated Fatalities

The fishing vessels themselves are not the only places where tragedy has struck the Deadliest Catch family. Several other individuals connected to the show have also passed away, often due to the high-risk lifestyle associated with the industry or personal battles.

Captain Tony Lara (1967–2015)

Captain Tony Lara, who commanded the F/V Arctic Dawn, was a veteran of the Bering Sea with 40 years of experience. He appeared in the seventh season of the show. Lara died of a heart attack in his sleep in Sturgis, South Dakota, on August 8, 2015, at the age of 50.

Blake Painter (1977–2018)

Blake Painter was the captain of the F/V Maverick and appeared in seasons two and three of the show. He was found dead in his home in Astoria, Oregon, in May 2018. His death was attributed to an overdose of fentanyl, morphine, and alcohol, adding to the list of cast members whose lives were cut short by substance abuse.

Justin Tennison (1971–2011)

Justin Tennison was a deckhand on the F/V Time Bandit. He was found dead in a Homer, Alaska, hotel room in February 2011, shortly after filming for Season 7 had wrapped. His death was attributed to complications from sleep apnea and potential alcohol use.

Joe McMahon (1973–2015)

While not a fisherman on the show, Joe McMahon was a supervising producer for Deadliest Catch. He was tragically shot and killed in 2015 near his home in Pasadena, California, in a case of murder-suicide. His death was a devastating blow to the production crew and the extended Deadliest Catch family.

The True Price of the Crab Fishing Industry

The sheer number of fatalities connected to the show serves as a sobering testament to the true cost of the Alaskan crab fishing industry. The Bering Sea is notorious for its fierce weather, icy conditions, and the constant threat of rogue waves. The work itself—hauling massive, heavy crab pots across a slick, freezing deck—is physically exhausting and inherently dangerous.

The high-pressure environment, combined with long stretches away from home, also fuels the underlying issues of substance abuse that have tragically claimed the lives of several deckhands, including Nick McGlashan and Mahlon Reyes. The show, through its documentation of these events, has inadvertently become a national conversation starter about the mental health and addiction struggles faced by those in high-risk, high-reward professions.

A Legacy of Risk and Resilience

The deaths of these cast members, from Captain Phil Harris’s stroke to Nick Mavar’s heart attack and Todd Kochutin’s on-deck accident, underscore a grim truth: the life of a crab fisherman is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. The fishermen who continue to sail the Bering Sea do so with the knowledge that they are facing a constant, often deadly, threat.

For the fans, the tragic losses have only deepened the emotional connection to the show. Every King Crab season and Opilio Crab season now carries an added layer of tension, a silent acknowledgment of the high stakes. The memory of the fallen fleet—the dedicated captains and deckhands—lives on in the series, a powerful reminder of the resilience and sacrifice required to bring the world its prized Alaskan crab.

The Tragic Toll: Every Deadliest Catch Star Who Has Died (Updated 2024)
deadliest catch deaths
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