“Alaskan Bush People” Star Matt Brown’s Family Speaks Out After His Death at 42: ‘He Was Deeply Loved’

Julia MooreMon, June 1, 2026 at 4:09 PM UTC

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'Alaskan Bush People' star Matt Brown
Credit: Matt Brown/Instagram -

Matt Brown was found dead in Washington on May 30. He was 42

The Alaskan Bush People star's family issued a statement on May 31, confirming his death "with broken hearts"

"Our Dad, Billy Brown, never stopped believing in Matt’s ability to heal and find peace, and neither did we," the family said in the statement

Matt Brown's family is paying tribute to him after a devastating loss.

The Alaskan Bush People star was found dead in Washington on May 30, his brother, Solomon Isaiah “Bear” Brown, confirmed in an Instagram post that same day. He was 42.

"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," Bear said in the video.

On Sunday, May 31, Bear and his brother Josh both shared a statement on behalf of their family. "It is with broken hearts that we share the loss of our beloved son, brother, uncle, and friend, Matthew Brown," the statement began. "To millions of viewers, Matt was known as one of the original stars of Alaskan Bush People. To us, he was so much more."

"Matt was intelligent, curious, creative, and endlessly fascinated by the world around him. He was a gifted outdoorsman, fisherman, boatman, artist, and lifelong learner. He loved adventure, nature, and discovering new things. Matt had an extraordinary mind," the statement said.

"Those who truly knew Matt knew his heart. He was compassionate, generous with his time, and deeply wanted to help others. During periods of sobriety and recovery, he openly shared his struggles with addiction and mental health through his videos and personal outreach. He encouraged others to seek help, offered hope to people fighting similar battles, and reminded them they were not alone. We are incredibly proud of the lives he touched."

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'Alaskan Bush People' star Matt Brown
Credit: Matt Brown/Instagram

"Matt spent many years battling serious mental health challenges and addiction. Like countless families facing similar circumstances, we experienced periods of hope, recovery, setbacks, heartbreak, and reconciliation. Our Dad, Billy Brown, never stopped believing in Matt’s ability to heal and find peace, and neither did we," the statement continued. Billy, the patriarch of the family who found fame on the Discovery Channel's Alaskan Bush People in 2014, died in 2021 at age 68.

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In the family's statement, they acknowledged that Matt, the oldest of the family's seven siblings, "was not without mistakes, struggles, and painful chapters. Some of those chapters caused hurt, and we do not minimize that. At the same time, we do not believe any person’s life should be defined solely by their lowest moments."

"When we think of Matt, we will remember the young man who loved the wilderness, could navigate rough waters, draw for hours, lose himself in learning, make us laugh unexpectedly, and dream bigger than most people ever dared," the statement continued. "He was imperfect. He was human. He was deeply loved. And he will be missed beyond words."

Concerns were first raised about Matt on May 29 when Bear posted a video on TikTok and said he had been told that his brother "took his own life."

"He has been struggling for a long time with alcohol and with drugs," Bear said in the video. “Everyone thinks that the family has shunned him and won't have anything to do with him, but that’s not actually the case. He didn't want anything to do with the family."

'Alaskan Bush People' star Matt Brown
Credit: Matt Brown/Instagram

Matt starred on Alaskan Bush People from its premiere in 2014 until 2019, when he stepped away amid his public struggles with addiction. In the years that followed, he largely lived outside of the spotlight and separately from much of the Brown family while sharing occasional updates with fans through YouTube and social media.

Along with Bear and Joshua, he is survived by his mother, Ami, his brothers, Gabe and Noah, and his sisters, Amora and Rain.

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use problems, or just needs to talk, call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org 24/7.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”