Matt Brown dies at 43: Why did ‘Alaskan Bush People’ star’s family break ties with him; here’s what we know

Matt Brown, the reality star who appeared in nearly 80 episodes of “Alaskan Bush People” from 2014 to 2019, has died by suicide, his brother Bear Brown confirmed. He was 43 years old. Alaskan Bush People portrayed a family roughing it in Alaska’s wilderness, living off the land in a small settlement called “Browntown.” For more than thirty years, the family was shown surviving deep in the wild, where sharing their front yard with some of the world’s most dangerous animals was depicted as part of everyday life.The 43-year-old sparked concern online in May 2026 after livestreaming himself on YouTube. During the broadcast, he appeared to ramble incoherently while wandering through a town in Washington state. He was seen nude, appeared to be possibly intoxicated, and at one point held what appeared to be a gun, prompting alarm among viewers.In a TikTok post on Saturday (May 30, 2026), Bear Brown shared the news saying he never imagined his brother would harm himself and urging people to be respectful and kind as the family grieves.TMZ obtained dispatch audio from the initial search for Matt Brown’s body, in which responding personnel noted that his backpack had been found while his gun was believed to be in the water, and his body was not with it. Authorities also ordered a search boat and dive team to assist in the effort.Why did Matt Brown’s family break ties with himFamily sources told TMZ that most of the members of the Brown family cut ties with Matt about five years ago, explaining they could no longer support him amid his ongoing addiction struggles. Gabe Brown, one of his siblings, was the only family member who continued to communicate with Matt, though those conversations were described as rare and infrequent.Despite the estrangement, Matt Brown’s family was seen concerned over his disappearance, with his brother Bear releasing a video in which he said people had seen Matt near a river and that he was floating in the water at one point.ALSO READ: Matt Brown, 'Alaskan Bush People’ star, dies by suicide, cops launch probe as family mourns; here's what we know so far