The ‘Deadliest Catch’ Family Mourns… Remembering a Star Lost in 2026 and Others Gone Too Soon

In this handout from Discovery Channel, Captain Phil Harris of Cornelia Marie is seen. Harris, 53, who appeared on the television show "Deadliest Catch," died February 10, 2010 of a stroke he suffered in January. Todd Meadows — Phil Harris; Todd Meadows.Credit : Blair Bunting/Discovery Channel via Getty; Todd Meadows/Facebook

NEED TO KNOW

Deadliest Catch has aired 21 seasons since it first premiered in 2005
The cast of the Discovery Channel series has suffered multiple deaths
The latest fatality is Todd Meadows, a deckhand, who died in February 2026

Deadliest Catch takes place on the high seas, but there have been some lows over the 21 seasons of the Discovery Channel series, with the cast facing several tragedies.

The Emmy-winning documentary show portrays real-life events aboard fishing vessels in the perilous, icy waters of the Bering Sea, depicting how crab fishing in Alaska is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world.

There have been dark moments captured during Deadliest Catch‘s two decades on the air. In 2016, Captain Sig Hansen suffered a heart attack while filming. When it happened, the fisherman wanted to keep going, but the crew insisted he receive medical attention. After he was air-lifted to a medical facility in Anchorage, Alaska, Hansen made a full recovery.

Unfortunately, there have also been deaths. Most recently, Todd Meadows, a 25-year-old deckhand, died while working. The incident is currently under investigation by the United States Coast Guard, a spokesperson confirmed to PEOPLE.

“February 25, 2026 was the most tragic day in the history of the Aleutian Lady on the Bering Sea,” Captain Rick Shelford wrote in a Facebook post announcing the news. “We lost our brother, Todd Meadows. Todd was the newest member of our crew, he quickly became family.”

Not all Deadliest Catch fatalities, however, happened at sea. Here’s a look at the show’s late stars.

Todd Meadows

Meadows died at age 25 on Feb. 25, 2026.

Less than a week later, Shelford announced Meadows’ death on March 2 via a Facebook post. He shared that the deckhand was the “newest member of our crew, but quickly became family.”

“His love for fishing and his strong work ethic earned everyone’s respect right away,” Shelford’s tribute continued. “His smile was contagious, and the sound of his laughter coming up the wheelhouse stairs or over the deck hailer is something we will carry with us always.”

After TMZ reported it was a “fishing-related incident” that happened while filming, the United States Coast Guard Arctic District told PEOPLE in a statement that Meadows was working when he “fell overboard” just after 5 p.m. local time in Alaska.

“He was recovered unresponsive by the crew approximately ten minutes later,” it continued. “First aid and attempts to resuscitate were unsuccessful, and the crew transported the deceased to Dutch Harbor.”

The U.S. Coast Guard added that officials are “currently investigating this situation.” The statement concluded, “As the nation’s leading marine safety organization, the Coast Guard investigates marine casualties and accidents to uncover their causes and initiate necessary corrective actions.”

Tom Brossard

Tom Brossard was an engineer on the F/V Saga, who died from a heart attack on Jan. 27, 2024. He was 64, according to his obituary.

“Tom was my best friend over the last nine years,” Captain Jake Anderson said after he was told about Brossard’s death. “He taught me everything I know about boats. He was always there, always helped out whenever anybody needed him. I was grateful for that.”

He added, “I think I’m a pretty lucky guy to have Tom has a friend. God, I loved him.”

Nick Mavar

Nick Mavar died at 59 on June 13, 2024, after suffering a heart attack while working in a boatyard in Naknek, Alaska.

Mavar was a deckhand on the F/V Northwestern fishing boat and was considered Hansen’s “right hand man,” appearing in nearly 100 episodes of Deadliest Catch.

He left the series in 2020 after his appendix ruptured during filming, which led to the discovery of a cancerous tumor, according to The New York Times.

Todd Kochutin

Todd Kochutin died on Feb. 26, 2021, from injuries during a fishing expedition while aboard the F/V Patricia Lee, according to his obituary. He was 30.

“He was a passionate fisherman. He devoted most of [his] summers and winters to fishing for king crab, opilio, Pacific cod and pollock in the Bering Sea,” the obituary read. “The Bering Sea was very special place near and dear to his heart.”

“His pleasant personality was contagious to everyone he met,” the tribute continued.

Mahlon Reyes

Mahlon Reyes, a deckhand, died at 38 on July 27, 2021.

According to USA Today, Reyes’ cause of death was acute cocaine intoxication. Brian Heino, the sheriff and the coroner at the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office, ruled Reyes’ death as accidental.

Starting in 2012, Reyes appeared in 14 episodes of Deadliest Catch.

“We laugh and remember all the funny stories and have been surrounded by an amazing group of our best friends and family,” his wife, Heather Sullivan, wrote in an email to USA Today. “I am in awe of the people that he touched just by his positive attitude and smile.”

Nick McGlashan

Nick McGlashan, who worked as deck boss on the Discovery series, died on Dec. 27, 2020, in Nashville, according to TMZ, which first reported the news. He was 33. The cause of death was a drug overdose.

“Our deepest sympathy goes out to Nick’s loved ones during this difficult time,” a spokesperson for Discovery told PEOPLE at the time. “Nick came from a long line of crabbers and was known for his great depth of knowledge. He also had a sharp sense of humor even in the most difficult conditions. He will be deeply missed by all those who knew him.”

According to a previous bio on Discovery Go, McGlashan was a seventh-generation fisherman, raised on the island of Akutan, Alaska, not far from Dutch Harbor — the base of operations on Deadliest Catch.

The deck boss first began crabbing when he was 13 years old, joining his family on his dad’s boat, the Westling, which they took out on the Bering Sea.

McGlashan appeared on 78 episodes of Deadliest Catch, beginning in 2013.

Blake Painter

In May 2018, former Deadliest Catch captain Blake Painter was found dead in his home in Astoria, Ore., the Clatsop County Sheriff’s Office confirmed to PEOPLE. He was 38.

TMZ reported that he was discovered when a friend grew concerned and called the police after not having heard from him for several days.

According to a police report obtained by PEOPLE, there were multiple forms of drugs located near Painter’s body when he was pronounced dead.

The past captain of the F/V Maverick appeared on the series in 2006 and 2007. Painter, an expert crab fisherman, spoke of his complicated relationship with his career, including several of his related injuries, in an interview with Seattle Weekly in January 2013.

“I dread long-lining season, just because it’s so repetitive,” he said. “When fishing is good, you’re making money quick. It’s not uncommon to make $1,000 a day.”

Phil Harris

000062155 — Phil Harris.Discovery Channel

Phil Harris’ death stunned fellow fishermen and fans when the colorful captain and part owner of the Cornelia Marie suffered a massive stroke while off-loading crab in Alaska on Jan. 29, 2010.

An engineer found Phil on the floor of his room, unable to move. Phil then called for his son Josh, who contacted 911.

“The whole left side of his face was in paralysis, and that was hard,” Josh told PEOPLE at the time. “He couldn’t move his arms or anything, he was just paralyzed on the floor.”

Phil was rushed to a hospital in Anchorage, where he underwent a long operation. He came out of the medically induced coma and his condition appeared to be improving. But on Feb. 9, 2010, the veteran fisherman died at the age of 53, surrounded by family and friends in the hospital.

“We had nine days total that we were there to enjoy a few moments with him,” Josh said. “We had our closest people there, and it was awesome.”

Justin Tennison

Justin Tennison, a deckhand on Deadliest Catch‘s Time Bandit, was found dead in a Homer, Alaska, hotel room on Feb. 22, 2011, per The Hollywood Reporter. He was 33.

His death was reportedly due to complications related to sleep apnea, according to ABC News.

“It is with great sadness that the Time Bandit family announces the death of crew member Justin Tennison,” the vessel’s crew posted on its website at the time. “Justin died peacefully in his sleep.”

“Justin was tough as a bull and was an all-around good hand,” the statement continued. “The captains and crew appreciated his hard work and many contributions this past year. We will miss him terribly and wish his family all the best during this most difficult time.”

Tony Lara

Tony Lara, former Deadliest Catch captain, died of a heart attack in his sleep in Sturgis, S.D., in August 2015.

Lara, who also had his own freight and salvage company, appeared in six episodes as the captain of the Cornelia Marie.

“He was always a captain that was super easy to get along with,” Lara’s longtime friend and fellow captain Keith Colburn later told PEOPLE. “Very professional and people enjoyed his company.”

“He was a really good guy all around, and he had wonderful character,” Colburn added. “If you ever needed help, he would be the first guy there to help you out.”