The Brown family, stars of the hit reality TV series Alaskan Bush People, is speaking out after Matt Brown was found dead at 43.
“It is with profound sadness and broken hearts that we share the loss of our beloved son, brother, uncle, and friend, Matthew Brown,” the statement, shared exclusively with Us Weekly on Sunday, May 31, 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.”
The family continued, “Matt was intelligent, curious, creative, and endlessly fascinated by the world around him. He was a gifted outdoorsman who felt most at home on the water, in the wilderness, or sharing what he had learned with others. He was an accomplished fisherman, an experienced boatman, and served as the radar operator on our family’s vessels. He loved adventure and never stopped exploring new ideas.”
Bear Brown, Matt’s brother, confirmed his sibling’s death at the age of 43 via TikTok on Saturday, May 30, revealing that their other brother, Noah Brown, was with the group of private citizens when they located his oldest brother’s remains.
“On Saturday, May 30, 2026, a group of private citizens conducting a search along the Okanogan River located a deceased individual in the river,” a Sunday, May 31, updated press release shared by Washington state’s Okanogan County Sheriff Office’s official Facebook account read in part. “The individual was recovered and brought to shore, where he was positively identified as Matthew Brown.”
Noah later broke his silence in the wake of his oldest brother’s death, confirming he was with the group of citizens when his brother’s remains were located.
“Matt had an extraordinary mind. He taught himself sign language, studied Egyptian hieroglyphs, petroglyphs, and Sanskrit, learned conversational Spanish, and could spend hours mastering a new skill simply for the joy of understanding it. He was also a talented artist whose creativity allowed him to see beauty and meaning in places others often overlooked,” the family’s Sunday statement to Us continued. “Those who truly knew Matt knew his heart. He was compassionate, generous with his time, and deeply wanted to help others.”
The family continued, “During periods of sobriety and recovery, he openly shared his struggles with addiction and mental health through his online videos and personal outreach. He encouraged others to seek help, offered hope to people fighting similar battles, and used his own experiences in an effort to make others feel less alone.”’
Matt Brown Courtesy of Matt Brown/Instagram
No official cause of death has been announced at the time of publication, though Matt’s brother Bear speculated that his sibling’s death was “self-inflicted.”
“I was so worried that he would end up ODed or something like that,” he said in a Saturday social media upload. “I didn’t think he would hurt himself.”
In the exclusive Sunday statement to Us, the family said they are “incredibly proud of the lives” Matt touched prior to his untimely death.
“Some of the messages we treasure most are from people who told us Matt’s honesty about addiction and recovery gave them hope during their own darkest moments,” the statement continued. “At the same time, Matt spent many years battling serious mental health challenges and addiction. These were complex struggles that affected every aspect of his life. Like countless families facing similar circumstances, we experienced periods of hope, recovery, setbacks, heartbreak, reconciliation, and renewed hope again.”
The family added, “Our dad, Billy Brown, never stopped believing in Matt’s ability to heal and find peace. Throughout the years, there were rehabilitation programs, interventions, treatment efforts, and countless attempts to support his recovery. Those efforts continued long after our father’s passing. In recent months, as Matt publicly shared his pain and struggles, members of our family were actively trying to reconnect, offer support, and help him find his way back to stability and healing.”
The family urged fans to remember that the “truth” regarding their family dynamics is “far more complicated than” what could ever be shown on television, adding that “mental illness and addiction are devastating diseases that impact not only the person suffering but everyone who loves them.”
“Families facing these challenges often make difficult decisions, establish boundaries, and endure periods of separation while never losing their love for the person at the center of the struggle. Our family was no different,” they continued. “Matt’s life was not without mistakes, struggles, and painful chapters. Like all of us, he was imperfect. Some of those chapters caused hurt, and we do not minimize that. At the same time, we do not believe that any person’s life should be defined solely by their lowest moments, especially when there was so much more to who they were.”
The family of Alaskan Bush People showcased their unique lifestyle for viewers from 2014 until 2022. The Discovery Channel docudrama-style reality show followed Billy Brown and Ami Brown as they survived in the remote wilderness of Alaska — and later Washington state — with their seven children, Matt Brown, Joshua “Bam Bam” Brown, Bear Brown, […]
The family went on to encourage fans to use the loss of their family member to advocate for “greater compassion for those silently battling mental illness, addiction, loneliness, and despair,” adding that “words” and “kindness” matters.
“If there is one message we hope people take from Matt’s life, it is that no one should have to suffer alone. If you are struggling with addiction, depression, or hopelessness, please reach out. Talk to someone. Ask for help. There is strength in seeking support, and there is always hope,” the family continued. “Matthew’s life cannot be measured solely by how it ended. It should be measured by the people he encouraged, the adventures he lived, the knowledge he pursued, the beauty he created, and the love he shared with those around him.”
They concluded, “When we think of Matt, we will not think first of his struggles. We will remember the young man who could navigate rough waters, draw for hours, lose himself in learning ancient symbols and forgotten histories, make us laugh unexpectedly, and dream bigger than most people ever dare. He was imperfect. He was human. He was deeply loved. And he will be missed beyond words.”
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
