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Matt Brown, Star of 'Alaskan Bush People,' Dead at 42 After Years of Public Struggle.
His brother Bear Brown confirmed the news in an emotional Instagram video, asking fans to respect the family's grief, and to remember Matt as a man with a generous spirit and a good heart.
Matt Brown, the eldest son of the family at the center of Discovery's long-running reality series Alaskan Bush People, has died at the age of 42. His brother Solomon Isaiah "Bear" Brown, 38, confirmed the news in a video posted to Instagram late Saturday night, saying Matt's body had been found in a river in Washington state and positively identified. A coroner's investigation is ongoing. His brother Noah, 33, was present at the scene and helped with the identification.
Bear's announcement came after a painful few days in which he had shared his fears publicly, asking fans for patience as authorities worked to confirm what had been reported. In asking followers to be kind in the aftermath, he was candid about the complexity of his brother's final years, including a long struggle with addiction and a period of estrangement from the family. "He didn't want anything to do with the family," Bear said, pushing back on suggestions the Browns had turned their backs on Matt. "That's not actually the case."
"In life, we all get lost every now and then and have to find our way back."
Matt appeared on Alaskan Bush People from its 2014 debut, helping introduce audiences to the family's off-grid life in the Alaskan and Washington wilderness. He stepped away in 2019 while publicly addressing his battles with alcohol.
He had first entered rehabilitation in 2016, telling PEOPLE at the time that his family's support had been "unbelievable" and that the experience had transformed him. After leaving television, he built a YouTube channel with more than 65,000 subscribers, documenting his recovery, personal reflections, and life on his own terms.
He is survived by his mother Ami; brothers Joshua "Bam Bam," Bear, Gabriel "Gabe," and Noah; and sisters "Bird" and "Rain." He was preceded in death by his father, Billy Brown, who died in 2021.
