Bear Brown believes his older brother ‘took his own life.‘

Alaskan Bush People star Matt Brown is likely dead after being seen ‘floating in the river’

Bear Brown believes his older brother 'took his own life.'

By Derek Lawrence

Derek Lawrence

Derek Lawrence is a former associate editor at **. He left EW in 2022.

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May 29, 2026 2:05 p.m. ET

'Alaskan Bush People' star Matt Brown. Credit:

Matt Brown/Instagram

- *Alaskan Bush People* alum Matt Brown is likely dead.

- His brother Bear shared the news on social media.

- Matt has struggled with alcohol and drug addiction over the years.

*Alaskan Bush People* star Matt Brown is likely dead, according to his family.

Brown's brother Bear took to social media to share the news, even though he said that he can't confirm it with absolute certainty.

"I'm being told that late last night that Matt took his own life," Bear revealed. "Witnesses say that he was seen in a river, at a river, or close to a river, and that he took his own life, and then they saw him floating in the river. They called the police and they've been trying to find the body. So far they haven't been able to. All the witnesses are saying it was Matt."

The reality series *Alaskan Bush People* aired for 14 seasons on Discovery Channel, before signing off in 2022. The docudrama followed the extended Brown family as they lived off the grid together in Alaska. Matt had previously exited the show due to his ongoing addiction issues. Just days earlier, Bear asked people to stop sending money to Matt, who he said was using the funds on his vices and needed to head to rehab.

"He has been struggling for a long time with alcohol and drugs," Bear said of his older brother. "He has done a lot of stuff that people don't even know about, and 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.

Matt Brown/Instagram

Bear insisted that he "encouraged [Matt] to stay on his path and keep on his sobriety." The last time they spoke, Bear shared that Matt said he'd "fallen off the wagon," and apparently he'd recently gone through a bad breakup and had "been drinking too much."

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And still, Bear admitted, "I would have never thought that Matt would take his own life."

'Alaskan Bush People' star Bear Brown opens up about dad Billy's death: 'He was my best friend'

'Alaskan Bush People' dad Billy Brown dies at 68

Bear told his followers that he will keep them as he learns more, and hoped that people would not "blame" or "attack" their mother, who has "been through a lot" for Matt.

*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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