Reality TV Stars You Didn't Know Were Dead

The following article includes mentions of mental illness, substance use, and suicide. It may not be suitable for all readers.

Reality TV is known for crafting over-the-top drama, but sometimes, real life is even more dramatic. Some reality stars deal with extreme issues behind the scenes — from mental illness and addiction to severe health problems and even tragic accidents. In some rare cases, like the unfortunate celebrities on this list, it's even cost them their lives.

For whatever the reason, these celebs of ciéma vérité died too soon, but you might not have even noticed. Unlike reality stars who died tragically died during filming (see: the beloved Steve Irwin), these stars largely finished out their 15 minutes of fame and faded from the spotlight before quietly passing away behind the scenes. From "Mob Wives" to "American Idol" to several stars of MTV's "The Real World," these famous faces have given their last confessional.

Michael Johns, the Australian who competed on the seventh season of "American Idol," reportedly died from dilated cardiomyopathy on Aug. 1, 2014. TMZ describes the disease as a "condition that inhibits the flow of blood to [the] body," which causes the heart to enlarge. According to the report, a "fatty liver" also contributed to Johns' death, and law enforcement told the tabloid that the singer "often drank to excess and did so hours before he died."

According to a family friend who spoke to TMZ, Johns' wife, Stacey Vuduris, allegedly attempted to cover up her husband's alcohol abuse by falsely claiming the 35-year-old died of a blood clot from an ankle injury. The official cause of death has always been an enlarged heart and fatty liver. Vuduris fired back anyway, claiming in court documents that her supposed friend was on a "hate campaign" blaming her for Johns' death.

If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

Frankie Abernathy, who had been diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at just three years old, used her appearance on "The Real World: San Diego” to raise awareness for the progressive, genetic lung disease. According to her mother, who spoke to MTV News, the star was "doing fine" in the years after her 2004 appearance. She moved to Wisconsin and was "designing purses forged from old vinyl records" rather than working full time. Some days were better than others, as is the case with chronic illness, but her health began to decline in the winter of 2006.

"It was a day-by-day thing," her mother told MTV News. "... We were kind of hoping to get her [on a list] to see if she would qualify for a lung transplant, because the disease does get progressively worse. In the winter, most [people with cystic fibrosis] usually have a rough patch, and she had a rough patch this year. She had been sick more this last year than she'd ever been in the past."

In June 2007, Abernathy died at the age of 25. No official cause of death was given.

For most of his career, David Gest was known for his brief and bizarre marriage to actor and singer Liza Minnelli, which officially ended in 2007. Though he was also a producer, he became a reality TV star with stints on "I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here!" and "Celebrity Big Brother." The latter blew a lid on his ongoing health issues.

The star ended up pulling out "Big Brother" in the middle of filming for reported medical reasons, but his health was a major plot point on the show. According to a 2021 Mirror report, it caused a "massive misunderstanding" among his former housemates, some of whom believed he had died when he was definitely still alive (remember: the "Big Brother" house is cut off from the rest of the world).

Sadly, weeks after leaving the series in 2016, BBC News reported that the 62-year-old British TV personality was found dead in his hotel room in London's Canary Wharf neighborhood. Per the Mirror, police attributed his death to "natural causes," with other reports pointing to a possible stroke.

Michael Nance, one of the suitors on "The Bachelorette" in 2012, had been open about his substance use issues. During his time on the show, he spoke about his prescription drug addiction and admitted that he was nearly two years sober. From the looks of it, Nance had come a long way. Unfortunately, he relapsed following his stint on ABC series.

According to the Daily Mail, Nance was found dead in a sober living facility in May 2017, five years after vying for Emily Maynard's heart on national television. Police didn't suspect any foul play, and the toxicology report (via Us Weekly) revealed the 31-year-old had ingested multiple drugs, including "cocaine, heroin, Clonazepan, and Gabapentin." His death was considered an accidental overdose.

Per an Us Weekly report (captured by the Daily Mail before it was scrubbed from the internet), Nance's co-stars were aware of his struggles. Arie Luyendyk Jr., one of the show's more controversial contestants, claimed Nance had been jumping in and out of treatment as he struggled with addiction.

If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

Mychael Knight, a Georgia-based fashion designer, made a name for himself on the third season of "Project Runway." The contestant came in fourth place, sparking his own line and a star-studded career. According to People, Knight regularly dressed celebs like Toni Braxton, Sherri Shepherd, and Ciara. Unfortunately, he was also dealing with health issues behind the scenes.

According to TMZ, Knight had irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) which "wreak[ed] havoc on his immune system." In a social media post, the star explained that his body didn't properly absorb nutrients from food, and he was suffering from an issue called "leaky gut," which is linked to autoimmune diseases like lupus and diabetes. As a result, he claimed (via Today) that he suffered from "chronic abdominal pain/diarrhea/nausea, extreme fatigue & exhaustion, food sensitivities/allergies, foggy brain," and headaches. Knight also had developed "acute Autoimmune responses like Psoriasis, inflamed joints, and small respiratory issues."

In 2017, Knight reportedly checked into a hospital for intestinal issues. He died shortly after, though it's unclear what exactly caused his death. IBS is not a fatal illness, though other intestinal conditions can be. He was 39.

Jim Raman, who appeared on Season 25 of "The Amazing Race" in 2014, died on March 11, 2019. He was just 42 years old. Raman was a South Carolina orthodontist who partnered with his wife, Misti, on the hit CBS show. Variety reports that the couple came "in first place for five of the 12 legs" of the race, ultimately coming in second place behind food scientists Maya Warren and Amy Jeong. 

Raman was found dead in his home, USA Today reports. While his death wasn't ruled to be suspicious, no cause has been revealed, as of this writing. Lexington County Sheriff's Dept. Capt. Adam Myrick told the newspaper, "No one has been arrested or detained in connection with this [death] investigation. We aren't seeking any suspects or persons of interest as our work on the case continues."

In a statement to USA Today, "The Amazing Race" co-creators Bertram van Munster and Elise Doganieri said, "We are shocked and deeply saddened to hear of Jim's passing. He was a wonderful and very kind person." 

"Wicked Tuna" star William "Willbilly" Hathaway died at just 36 years old on Dec. 15, 2018. WBOC reported that Hathaway was driving in Salisbury, Maryland when he swerved "into a ditch" to avoid another driver who "turned in front of him." After the accident, Hathaway reportedly called his wife to tell her he was fine and reiterated that to passing motorists who stopped to help. By the time emergency personnel arrived, however, he reportedly wasn't breathing. The star was rushed to a nearby hospital and pronounced dead.

Hathaway was first mate on the Foolish Pleasures ship. Captain Dale Lisi wrote on Facebook after Hathaway's death, "He lived to fish and you could not have a better time fishing with anyone, he and I killed a lot of fish together and I learned a lot from him, he was one of the most original, genuine and real people you could ever know and anyone who knew him knew this. He will be horribly missed by everyone whose life he touched, words cannot express a tragedy like this." A fundraiser was established for Hathaway's wife and young daughter.

"Storm Chasers" star Joel Taylor was found dead aboard a cruise ship on Jan. 23, 2018. He was just 38 years old. The Discovery Channel personality reportedly passed out on the dance floor of a club aboard the ship, TMZ reported, and sources told the site that they saw Taylor being carried off of the dance floor the night he died. Later tests revealed that Taylor died of "MDMA poisoning" and also had ketamine in his system at the time of his death.

Taylor was an avid meteorologist. "Storm Chasers" followed him and his co-star and fellow AccuWeather meteorologist and University of Oklahoma alum, Reed Timmer, as they chased storms in Tornado Alley in their home state. Timmer tweeted after Taylor's death, "RIP my best friend and storm chasing partner, Joel Taylor. I am shocked and absolutely devastated by the loss of my incredible, caring friend. We chased so many intense storms, and I wish we could have just one more storm chase. I'll miss you forever, Joel. We lost a legend." Taylor was laid to rest in a funeral in his native Oklahoma.

"America's Next Top Model" contestant Jael Strauss died on Dec. 4, 2018, at just 34 years old. The Detroit native appeared on the competition series in 2007, finishing in sixth place. She struggled with substance abuse and addiction, but appeared on "The Dr. Phil Show" in December 2012 in an effort to get clean. In August 2018, she revealed that she was proudly five years sober.

Strauss had also been diagnosed with breast cancer, which ultimately took her life, but before her death, she was incredibly candid about her illness. Friends of the model set up a GoFundMe page to raise money to help with her medical bills, saying she'd been hospitalized in September 2018 and diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer the following month. Strauss herself wrote on Facebook that October, "It has aggressively spread throughout my body and is incurable. With treatment it may prolong my life longer than the 'few months' doctors said I could make it. I don't want to die. I need another one of those miracles that I got back in 2013."

By November, Strauss revealed that she'd entered hospice care, writing, "First night in hospice. So many things I never knew about life. Or death. So many things." When she died, her family told TMZ in a statement, "The one blessing was that we were able to show her how loved she was before she passed. She brought so much light to people."

If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

Mike Thalassitis, who appeared on U.K. reality show "Love Island," was found dead on March 16, 2019, in his Essex, London home. He was just 26. According to USA Today, reports suggest that he died by suicide, as police said that his death was "not being treated as suspicious."

Thalassitis was reportedly "in a dark place" before his death, his co-star, Montana Brown, claimed on Instagram. His death, and his co-stars' reactions to it — which included saying they too felt alone and in need of help after leaving the show — prompted "Love Island" producers and the show's network, ITV, to make changes to how former contestants on the series are treated after leaving. "Love Island" contestant Rachel Fenton, who also appeared on the show in 2016, said (via Fox News), "I hope this educates 'Love Island' producers to provide the necessary support to everyone who enters the show. You get a 'chat' with a mental health nurse before you enter the villa but that's it. Not a single thing after you leave." 

As a result of the outcry, ITV told Variety, "We ensure that all of our contributors are able to access psychological support before, during and after appearing on the show. The program will always provide ongoing support when needed and where appropriate. We also discuss at length with all of our Islanders, before and after the show, how their lives might change and they have access to support and advice to help with this."

If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline​ at​ 1-800-273-TALK (8255)​.

Tyler Gwozdz's exit from Season 15 of "The Bachelorette" was a glossed-over mystery. Bachelor Nation never figured out what happened. All we know is that he abruptly left during the third week, even though he had a successful date with Hannah Brown, who was impressed with his credentials as a psychology graduate student. There were rumors that his dating history had something to do with it, but nothing was ever confirmed.

The year after Gwozdz exited the series, he died of an apparent overdose in January 2020. According to TMZ, the 29-year-old had been hospitalized in the ICU for at least a week after paramedics rushed to his home following a 911 call. The Palm Beach Post (via Page Six) released the traumatic 911 call, where "a woman is heard screaming at Gwozdz to wake up." She said she believed the reality star took heroin, and he was given Narcan by the paramedics who arrived on the scene.

Medical examiners later confirmed to Page Six that Gwozdz died as a result of opioid toxicity from heroin, though there was "a lack of admission specimens," so it could have been a different substance.

If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

Nikki McKibbin was the oft-forgotten star of the heyday of "American Idol." In 2002, she finished out the inaugural season of the series right behind Kelly Clarkson and Justin Guarini. Though she never got her own schmaltzy, poorly rated film (lest we forget "From Justin to Kelly") or massive chart success, she did manage to forge ahead with her music.

Following her success on "American Idol," McKibbin became somewhat of a career reality star, appearing on "Kill Reality," "Battle of the Network Reality Stars," and "Camp Reality." Her struggles with substance use were well-documented on "Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew" and the spin-off, "Sober House," but over the last decade of her life, she had shied away from the spotlight.

In 2020, McKibbin suffered from a brain aneurysm and was put on life support until her organs could be donated. In a Facebook post, her husband, Craig Sadler, revealed they were playing Fleetwood Mac's "Landslide" during the 42-year-old's final surgery. "She was so loved that I know thousands of you will be grieving with us," he wrote. "There are only a few hours left for me to hold her hand and kiss her forehead."

If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).