Discovery Channel’s “Deadliest Catch” has demonstrated that seeing fishermen risk their lives to make a living results in good reality TV. Since premiering in 2005, the series has shown us the best and the worst of life on the high seas, resulting in one of the most successful action-packed franchises of the network.
While “Deadliest Catch” has done well at shedding some light on the risks to which fishermen are exposed, and the environmental consequences of commercial fishing, there’s another darker side that doesn’t fail to make the audiences all the more emotional. That is the passing of several cast members over the years ,and the consequences that this has had on their former crew mates.
So who were these fishermen and how did they pass away? Keep with us for a heartfelt tribute to all of them, in no specific order!
Phil Harris
The respect-inspiring Captain of the fishing vessel F/V Cornelia Marie, Phil Harris, ws one of the most iconic cast members of “Deadliest Catch”. His personality and passion for fishing were inspiring and unforgettable throughout his time in the show, thus it was unsurprising that audiences and fellow cast members were heartbroken when he passed away in early 2010.
Born in 1956, Phil had been fishing since he was a small kid, and then eventually introduced his two sons Josh and Jake to his craft. However, as audiences witnessed how the family went through some difficult times as both young men adjusted to life at the seas, Phil’s health went downhill following a fall he suffered in 2008, resulting in a pulmonary embolism.
His health condition stopped Phil from fishing for the rest of that year, but he returned to sea with renewed energy in January 2009. Unfortunately, Phil’s health spiraled down from then, with him suffering a stroke in January 2010 while on board the Cornelia Marie. He was taken to Anchorage, Alaska, to receive medical attention.
Even though Phil’s condition was said to improve as he was induced into a coma, he sadly passed away on 9 February. Years later, Phil’s son Josh became Cornelia Marie’s Captain, and appeared in the show up to the 17th season.
Tony Lara
Following Phil Harris’ passing in 2010, Captain Tony Lara became the skipper of the Cornelia Marie. Despite his short-lived run on TV, Tony was warmly remembered by the audiences for playing an important role in keeping Cornelia Marie in business, as the crew adjusted to the loss of their former captain.
Not much is known about Tony’s whereabouts after the show, except that he was involved in the freighting industry. Sadly, he died on 9 August 2015, a couple of days before due to take part in an annual motorcycle rally in Sturgis, South Dakota. According to reports, he suffered a heart attack while asleep.
The Cornelia Marie and “Deadliest Catch” both offered a tribute to their former Captain.
Blake Painter
Long-time fans of “Deadliest Catch” surely remember Blake Painter, who appeared in seasons two and three of the show, first working on the F/V Maverick, and then as Captain.
While Maverick stopped appearing in the show after the third season in 2006, years later fans were shocked to find out that Blake sadly passed away at 38 years old in May 2018. According to reports, Blake hadn’t been answering calls, thus prompting one of his friends to search for him. His body was at his home in Astoria, Oregon, but reports didn’t state the cause of death, but did affirm that a toxicology test was underway.
Nick McGlashan
From seasons nine to 17, Nick McGlashan appeared constantly in “Deadliest Catch”. He started as a deckhand on F/V Cape Caution and later became a deck boss on the F/V Summer Bay.
Unfortunately, Nick’s promising career in fishing was cut short when he died at 33 years old on 27 December 2020. The cause of his death wasn’t revealed, but he was always open about his struggles with drugs and alcohol.
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Nick Mavar
Another familiar face for “Deadliest Catch” audiences has been Nick Mavar, who appeared from seasonsone up to to 17. Nick was the deckhand of the F/V Northwestern until the 17th season ,when he left the show due to appendicitis.
While it’s apparent that Nick eventually returned to work on the high seas, not much was known about him from 2021 to 2024 when he passed away on 13 June at 59 years old. According to reports, he suffered a heart attack while working on a boat in Alaska.
Justin Tennison
As a member of the F/V Time Bandit’s crew, Justin Tennison was just starting on his path as a “Deadliest Catch” star during the show’s seventh season. Unfortunately, Justin passed away on 22 January 2011, just a couple of days after returning from the high seas.
As reported back then, the night before his passing he had been hanging out with his cousin in Homer, Alaska. It was that cousin who couldn’t contact Justin and reported it to the police, who found Justin’s body in a hotel room. Marijuana and alcohol were also found in the room, though the cause of his death was reported as sleep apnea.
Mahlon Reyes
Initially a greenhorn on the F/V Seabrooke and later a deckhand on the Cape Caution and Summer Bay, Mahlon Reyes appeared in several episodes of “Deadliest Catch” from 2012 to 2020. He was last seen on screen in the 16th season, before disappearing from the show altogether.
He was reported dead on 27 July 2020, at 38 years old, with authorities saying that the cause of death was an accidental drug overdose. He was survived by three children and his wife.
Todd Kochutin
While Todd only appeared a couple of times in the show during his time as a greenhorn on the F/Vs Summer Bay and Patricia Lee, the accident leading to his death was featured in the 18th season’s episode “Crushed at Sea”.
Todd was 30 years old when he was crushed by a crab pot while working on Patricia Lee. He was taken to Anchorage to receive medical attention, but sadly died soon afterwards from the injuries he sustained. The official date of his passing is 26 February 2021.
Ross Jones
Ross was a greenhorn who worked on the F/V Saga, but sadly not much is known about him or the cause of his passing. The news was revealed by “Deadliest Catch”’s Facebook fan community in June 2022. He was survived by his child and girlfriend.
Tom Brossard
Even though it’s unclear how many episodes of “Deadliest Catch” he appeared in, Tom Brossard was an important crew member of the F/V Saga. He worked as an engineer on the vessel alongside his Captain Jake Anderson, who was informed of Tom’s passing in a heartbreaking episode of the show’s 20th season, which aired in 2024.
According to Tom’s obituary, he was 64 years old at the time of his passing in January 2024 from a heart attack He’d been living for some time in the Philippines alongside his family.
All in all, these unfortunate losses are a reminder of how tough the work on the high seas is.
