Matt Brown, a fan favorite from the Discovery Channel reality series “Alaskan Bush People,” has died at the age of 42. The former TV personality was found dead on May 30, 2026, in the Okanogan River in Washington, in what his family believes was a tragic suicide.

According to a statement released on May 31 by the Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office, Brown’s body was discovered by a group of private citizens who had been searching the river. A separate sheriff’s office press release had detailed the incident, stating that a 911 caller reported seeing a man sitting in the shallow water of the Okanogan River south of Oroville. The caller looked away, heard a sound, then turned back to find the man face down in the water and drifting with the current. A firearm was also recovered from the water in the area where the man was last seen.

In a somber video shared with followers, Bear Brown delivered the devastating news. He revealed that his brother Noah Brown had been part of the search team that located Matt’s body and was tasked with the painful job of identifying his sibling.

“They found a body in the river a few hours ago, and it was positively identified as being Matt. Noah [Brown] was with him and helped pull him out of the water, and Noah identified him,” Bear said in the video.

The official cause and manner of death, however, have yet to be determined by the coroner, the sheriff’s office confirmed.

Words Can Hurt More Than Fists

In his video announcement, Bear Brown urged fans and online critics to show compassion toward his grieving family. He noted that many people had left negative comments on Matt’s social media accounts in recent years, messages that may have contributed to his brother’s emotional pain.

Bear pleaded with viewers to “please be respectful to my family and to my mom,” reminding followers that “sometimes, words can hurt more than fists can.” The message has struck a chord with fans of “Alaskan Bush People,” who have responded with tributes and condolences across social media since the announcement.

Years of Personal Battles

Matt Brown had publicly struggled with alcohol and drug addiction for much of his adult life. His battles played out partly on the family’s reality show and continued after he left television.

“I would have never suspected he would have hurt himself, honestly. He struggled for a long time, as I’ve mentioned. I was so worried he was gonna end up OD’ed or something like that, I didn’t think that he would hurt himself,” Bear shared in the TikTok video.

During his final conversation with Matt, Bear said his brother told him he had “fallen off the wagon.” The family had long feared the possibility of an overdose rather than suicide, making the apparent nature of his death particularly shocking despite his ongoing battle with substance abuse.

From Reality Star to Recovery

The Discovery Channel docudrama “Alaskan Bush People” made Matt Brown a household name among reality TV audiences. The show ran from 2014 to 2022, following Matt, his parents and his six siblings as they lived off the grid in the rugged Alaskan wilderness.

As the eldest of the Brown siblings, Matt was a central figure in the show’s early seasons, known for his quirky personality and deep love for his family. He appeared in 79 episodes across the first eight seasons from 2014 to 2019 before leaving the series to focus on his recovery and personal life.

His departure from the show stemmed directly from his ongoing battle with addiction, and Matt repeatedly sought treatment over the years. Fans continued to follow his journey on social media, where he occasionally shared updates about his sobriety, his artwork and his life beyond the cameras.

The Brown family first captured public attention with their unique lifestyle, building their own homes, hunting for food and homeschooling the children far from modern civilization. Patriarch Billy Brown, who died in 2021, was the driving force behind the family’s adventurous spirit. Matt’s death now marks another profound loss for the close-knit clan.

On June 1, the family released an official statement to their verified Instagram account. “It is with broken hearts that we share the loss of our beloved son, brother, uncle, and friend, Matthew Brown,” it read, describing him as “intelligent, curious, creative” and “a gifted outdoorsman, fisherman, boatman, artist, and lifelong learner.” The family acknowledged his long battle with addiction and mental health, saying they experienced “periods of hope, recovery, setbacks, heartbreak, and reconciliation,” and that they “do not believe any person’s life should be defined solely by their lowest moments.” They closed: “He was imperfect. He was human. He was deeply loved. And he will be missed beyond words.”

He is survived by his mother Ami Brown and his six siblings, including Bear Brown and Noah Brown, who were involved in recovering his body from the river. As the family awaits the coroner’s official findings, tributes continue to pour in from fans who watched Matt grow up on screen and rooted for him through his battles.

If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, help is available. Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.