Outdoors Reality TV Star Matt Brown Found Dead at 42
A beloved U.S. outdoors reality TV star has been found dead. He was just 42 years old.
Matt Brown, who appeared on Discovery's "Alaskan Bush People" from 2014 to 2019, has tragically been found dead. The eldest son of the Brown family featured on Discovery's reality TV show was found dead in Washington on Saturday, May 30. He was found dead in the wilderness.
His brother, Solomon Isaiah "Bear" Brown, shared the tragic news.
"They found a body in the river a few hours ago, and it was positively identified as being Matt," Bear said in his video. "I would have never suspected he would have hurt himself, honestly. He struggled for a long time, as I've mentioned, and I worried he was going to end up, like, OD'd or something like that. I didn't think he would hurt himself."
"It does look as though the injury is self-inflicted," continued the sibling. "Obviously, the coroner and stuff still has to look at him and stuff, but I thought that y'all guys should know that it is him."
Brown had apparently been struggling recently.
"He called me after that, and he said that he had fallen off the wagon," Bear recalled. "And I was like, ‘Well, get back on it, man. Everybody falls off. Just get back on it. Go to rehab if you've got to. You've got this.'"
Prior to his death, Matt Brown was known for documenting his life in the Alaskan wildneress.
"My name is Matt. My world is fire and rain," his bio shared. "I grew up in the most remote parts of the Alaskan wilderness, what we who live there call the bush."
Tributes for Brown are pouring in online
"I'm so sorry for your loss Bear. I feel your pain.. My husband went down that same road with drugs and took his life. My condolences. You and your family are in my prayers🙏," one wrote.
"My condolences to you, Noah and the rest of your family especially your mom. No matter what the circumstances are, it's so hard to lose a family member. May he rest in peace 🙏🏻," one added.
"I'm so sorry! Praying for you and your family, and praying extra for Noah, because that's something you can never unsee. May you all feel yourselves surrounded and filled by the Lord's comfort and peace as you walk through this complicated grief," one added.
"My heart breaks for you and your family. My son took his life 8 years ago and I know just how cruel people can be at times. The words do hurt. I hope people treat you and yours respectfully as you navigate through this turbulent time. Sending you and yours all the love and light," one shared.
May he rest in peace.
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This story was originally published May 31, 2026 at 7:37 AM.