Matt Brown, known for his role on the reality TV series Alaskan Bush People, has been confirmed dead at the age of 43. His body was discovered on Saturday, May 30, 2026, in a river in northern Washington state.
Matt's brother Bear Brown announced the news in a video, revealing that the body had been found a few hours earlier. Another brother, Noah, assisted police in recovering the body from the water. Bear suggested that Matt died by suicide, noting a wound that appeared self-inflicted.
Bear expressed shock, saying he had feared Matt might overdose due to his long struggle with addiction, but never expected him to harm himself. Matt had a history of drug and alcohol addiction.
The disappearance occurred earlier that week. According to the Okanogan County Sheriff's Office, a witness reported seeing a man sitting in shallow water near a river south of Oroville on Wednesday. The witness looked away briefly and then saw the man face down, being carried away by the current. A search operation was launched but initially failed to locate him.
Matt was one of the original stars of Alaskan Bush People, which followed the Brown family's off-grid lifestyle in Alaska. The show ran for 14 seasons, ending in 2022. In recent years, Matt lived apart from his family, and his relationships with them had become strained due to his personal challenges.
