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Ryan De Nino, who appeared on the second season of Married at First Sight, has died at the age of 40. His family confirmed that he died suddenly earlier this week in New Jersey, although no cause of death has been disclosed.
De Nino's sister, Melissa DeNino, shared the news on social media on August 11, posting photographs of the siblings from childhood and later years. In her tribute, she remembered Ryan as someone who was "so damn funny and witty" and described him as fiercely loyal to the people he loved.
"He had a huge heart, always," Melissa wrote. She also reflected on the difficulty of losing a sibling, saying, "I can't explain what it's like to lose a sibling. Someone who's been there from the beginning and shares the same memories. No matter what we were going through, I loved him immensely. Life as I know it will never be the same."
De Nino became known to reality television audiences in 2015 when he joined the second season of Married at First Sight, which was then broadcast on Lifetime. At 29, he was matched with Jessica Castro, a receptionist, and the pair met for the first time at the altar before getting married.
The couple initially chose to remain married on Decision Day. Castro said at the time that divorce was not something she wanted, explaining, "I come from a family of long successful marriages."
Their relationship, however, deteriorated after filming. By the time the season's reunion aired, Castro accused De Nino of cheating after finding a Valentine's Day card from another woman. De Nino denied responsibility, saying he can't control people from sending him cards.
The pair eventually divorced, and their relationship became the subject of further controversy. In 2015, Castro filed for a restraining order and made allegations about threats against her and members of her family. De Nino publicly disputed the situation.
Despite the difficult history surrounding their marriage, Castro responded to news of his death with condolences for his family. She told Page Six that she had not been in contact with De Nino for years and therefore did not know about his life in recent times.
"May he rest peacefully," Castro said.
De Nino's family has not released further details about his death.
