The Discovery Channel was originally a documentary-style network focused on educational programming and fact-based shows based on science, geography, technology, and history. However, this has changed dramatically over the past two decades, with the network releasing more reality television shows. That’s largely down to the success of series like “Gold Rush” and “Deadliest Catch,” two shows that show people working in harsh and dangerous conditions.

Debuting in 2005, “Deadliest Catch” has been a huge ratings hit and spawned several similar series, including “Wicked Tuna,” “Lobster Wars,” and “River Monsters.” It follows several ships fishing for crab in the Bering Sea, giving viewers an in-depth look into the lives of fishermen and how tough the job is on a daily basis.

With fishermen working long hours and facing almost constant danger, “Deadliest Catch” often shows treacherous events that leave viewers breathless. However, the cast of the reality series have had their own private struggles, and many of them have gone through some truly tragic incidents that fans might not know about.

Blake Painter died of a suspected drug overdose

Blake Painter first appeared in “Deadliest Catch” in 2006 and initially worked as an engineer before taking the helm of the F/V Maverick. He was featured in 10 episodes of the reality television series during the second and third seasons but later quit the show — although he did continue to work as a crab fisherman in real life.

At just 38 years of age, Painter was found dead at his home in May 2018 by police officers. Friends had contacted authorities after noticing a seemingly lifeless body at Painter’s home, while he had been missing for several days. Although there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death, reports indicated that Painter had been arrested a few months before for allegedly using heroin while driving.

According to TMZ, several drugs were found in the room where Painter’s body was located when police searched the premises. While no cause of death was provided, he was suspected to have died due to an overdose.

Jake Anderson’s sister and father both died while he was on the show

Out of the many crab fishermen who have starred in “Deadliest Catch” as a leading cast member, Jake Anderson is one of the longest serving. He made his debut on the show in 2007 and has so far appeared in just over 200 episodes, eventually going on to become the captain of the ship known as Saga. However, his time on the show has not been easy for the fisherman, and he has received bad news on two separate occasions about his family while on screen.

The first happened in an episode during Season 5 of “Deadliest Catch” recorded in February 2009. He was told that his sister, Chelsea Dawn Anderson, had passed away unexpectedly. She had suffered from Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis since childhood and died due to complications of pneumonia that were exacerbated by her chronic condition.

A year later, in a Season 6 episode, the crew broke the news to Anderson that his father had gone missing. Keith Anderson’s truck had been discovered empty in a remote area of Washington. The 62-year-old was presumed dead due to the freezing conditions, although his body was not found until two years later when a hiker came across unidentified human remains.

Mahlon Reyes had a fatal heart attack

Having first appeared in the 2012 episode “The Hook” as a greenhorn aboard the fishing vessel known as the Seabrooke, Mahlon Reyes became a regular throughout the eighth season. Reyes was promoted to deckhand on the Seabrooke in later seasons before transferring to the Cape Caution in 2014. He was then absent for over half a decade until his return as a deckhand on the Summer Bay in 2020 for three episodes.

Those episodes proved to be the final time that Reyes would be on screen in “Deadliest Catch.” In August 2020, he died at the age of 38 from a heart attack. According to his family members, Reyes was not suffering from any pre-existing health conditions, and the heart attack came as a total surprise. He is survived by his wife and their four children, with his family later revealing that his ashes were to be scattered at sea. A later episode of “Deadliest Catch” was subsequently aired in memory of the fisherman.

“On Sunday night our family together made the hardest choice we’ve ever made and that was to remove him from life support. Mahlon’s body was tired and had put up an amazing fight. He was the strongest guy we knew,” read a post from his family on Facebook (via USA Today). “He was surrounded by so much love.”

Several Captains have seen their ships sink with tragic consequences

One of the biggest threats for any fisherman is their vessel becoming damaged. This can not only put their own lives at risk but also opens up the very real possibility of the ship sinking with all of its equipment. It is the worst nightmare for any captain, and something that nobody wants to witness.

Unfortunately, “Deadliest Catch” has featured several fishing ships that have sadly sunk either on the show or off-screen, often with tragic consequences for those involved. The F/V Big Valley sank in 2005, killing five of the six crew on the ship, while the F/V Destination disappeared, leading to a widespread search that was depicted in “Deadliest Catch” as the Coast Guard and close-by boats helped to locate the sunken vessel.

Other ships that have appeared in “Deadliest Catch” and have subsequently been lost at sea include the Virginia Boys, which sunk with three crew members aboard, the FV Alaska Ranger, and the Katmai. Perhaps the most highly publicized of these terrible incidents was the FV Scandies Rose, a crab fishing ship that sank in 2019, resulting in the death of five of the seven crew members on board.

Jake Anderson battled addiction and was once homeless

As one of the regulars of the series, much of Jake Anderson’s life has been discussed and shown on screen during episodes of “Deadliest Catch.” He began life on the show as a greenhorn on the Northwestern before making his way up to deckhand and then deck boss on the same ship. He has also worked as an engineer and eventually became captain of his own vessel, the Saga. But not everything has been smooth sailing for Anderson, as he has revealed in interviews over the years and in a recent book.

Before he became involved in crab fishing on “Deadliest Catch,” his life was very different and could have ended in tragedy. In his debut book “Relapse,” Anderson spoke about his battles with addiction. After an injury that ended his professional skateboarding career and losing almost all of his sponsorship money, Anderson struggled with drug and alcohol problems. He also spent time homeless, unable to afford rent due to unemployment and addiction issues. Having reached rock bottom, Anderson has shared his personal stories in the hope of inspiring others rather than gaining sympathy.

Jake Harris struggled with drug and alcohol abuse following the death of his father

As the son of “Deadliest Catch” icon Phil Harris, Jake Harris was a prominent member of the cast. When his father died, Jake and his brother Josh took on the responsibility of running the Cornelia Marie — at least until he departed the show in 2012. Originally making his debut as a greenhorn on the ship, he quickly became a deckhand and worked on the Cornelia Marie for six years before later returning for a single episode in the 2020’s “Everything Changes.”

Part of the reason why Harris left the show was related to his personal struggle with drugs following the death of his dad. Speaking about the situation later in a 2011 interview with Dr. Drew, Harris said, “I got a big hole in my heart and tried to fill it up with everything that wasn’t good for it.” The reality star had been involved in drugs when younger and began abusing illicit substances again to help deal with his grief. This eventually led to him landing himself in trouble with police after he was arrested for a DUI and officers later discovered heroin in his home.

Justin Tennison shockingly died at a young age

Compared to some of the other cast members of “Deadliest Catch,” Justin Tennison didn’t have a particularly long run on the show. In Season 7, the experienced fishermen joined the Time Bandit as a deckhand. That meant working with Andy, Jonathan, and Neal Hillstrand as well as Eddie Uwekoolani, on one of the series’ most popular vessels. He made his first appearance in 2011 and appeared in a total of eight episodes, although his time was ultimately cut short.

Tennison was found dead in a hotel room in Alaska in February 2011 at the age of 33. Despite initial suggestions that his death may have been caused by substance abuse, it was eventually revealed that he suffered from sleep apnea and complications from this condition were responsible. His friend and cousin Uwekoolani told The Hollywood Reporter that “his last wishes were to be cremated and taken out to the water for one long trip. He loved Alaska. He loved hunting and fishing and everything about it. He loved his kids tremendously.”