Phil Harris, the captain of the Cornelia Marie, on Discovery Channel's "Deadliest Catch," has died. He was 53. Harris suffered a stroke on Jan. 30.
"It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to our dad," Harris' sons, Jake and Josh, said in a statement. "Dad has always been a fighter and continued to be until the end. For us and the crew, he was someone who never backed down. We will remember and celebrate that strength. Thanks to everyone for their thoughts and prayers."
OMG. R.I.P.
ReplyDeleteOh no!!! Who is going to Captain the Cornelia Marie now?!!!
ReplyDeleteRIP Captain. I'm going to wait until I get home to cry. The farewell episode is going to be hard to watch.
ReplyDeleteAw, so sad to hear of his passing. God bless him and his family.
ReplyDeleteSo sad since I thought he was getting better. I wonder what happened?
ReplyDeleteG'bye, Captain.
ReplyDeleteI'm sadder about this than I would've thought.
/sigh
Lots of seriously ill people rally right before they pass. It has a name but I forget what it's called. Must have been what happened when he seemed to be pulling through.
ReplyDeleteI am very sad about this. He was one of those great personalities that just compelled people to be around him. I wish his family strength during this time. Poor boys.
ReplyDeleteI confess I watched that show - loved Phil. I am so sorry to hear of his passing.
ReplyDeleteRIP Phil. Very sad.
ReplyDeleteRest in peace Captain Phil. Your sons should be proud of you. Thanks for sharing a part of your life with us.
ReplyDeleteThis upsets me so much-it's amazing how shows like this allow you to get to know & feel close to someone you've never met (& will probably never meet). I feel so bad for Jake & Josh, it was obvious how close those three were. RIP Captain Phil. Sail On, Sailor...
ReplyDeleteAw! This just breaks my heart. RIP Captain Phil!
ReplyDeleteStrokes are difficult, because it's hard for the doctors to tell the extent of the brain damage. My dad spent 10 days in the hospital before dying, and there were a few times we thought he was coming back around.
ReplyDeleteHe will be sorely missed. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family during this difficult time. He and his sons have always been my favorite on the show...
ReplyDeleteHe was my favorite part of the show. He loved the sea and his sons. He died doing what he loved, being on his boat with his sons on board.
ReplyDeleteWill be hard to watch the show without him.
So very very sad. He was so much fun to watch. The show just won't be the same and the reactions of the other captains are going to be almost impossible to watch. RIP and much love to his friends and family. He will be TRULY missed.
ReplyDeletewe really did not know if he was progressing or not, since all the Discovery Channel got were a few brief emails from his sons and the DC did not want to invade their privacy and they were in Anchorage, not known for paps popping out of the woodwork. Capt. Phil lived a rough life, wondered if he had a wife or not. I know his sons worked on the Cornilea Marie with him and will probably take over. Wonder if this is a blessing or not.
ReplyDeleteOnline this morning the news said he'd had a "massive" stroke. I never heard how bad he was when it happened.
ReplyDeleteGive up the smokes, folks.
I mean, we just don't think of these guys dying off the boat on their own--instead of actually while on the job.
ReplyDeleteI really do think that is one of the hardest jobs out there.
Commercial fishing is bad enough but in THAT cold water...I shudder to even think of it.
I didnt watch the show but 53 is my dads age which is way too young :(
ReplyDeleteHe looked like a cool guy RIP
i never watched the show,but that is sad. RIP.
ReplyDeleteMoosh,sorry to hear about your Dad as well...strokes are hard to determine the outcome and a lot of times its like an earthquake..you get aftershock strokes that can be fatal.
Mookshi - I'm sorry to hear about your dad. I did not watch this show but it sounds like he was well-liked and definitely way too young.
ReplyDeleteThis was such sad news to hear. Captain Phil's relationship with his sons was a very cool thing to watch. Complete respect & love between them all. This has to be devastating for them. 53 is just too young, but it certainly appears that he made the most of those 53 years.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Vicki, the farewell episode is going to be very hard to watch. I'm sure it will be a wonderful tribute, and I'm sure I'll be crying on my couch like a baby!
this whole lifestyle is dangerous and stressful. smoking is part of it, but not all of it. he was overweight too and just didn't take good care of himself in general. he LOOKED like a stroke waiting to happen.
ReplyDeletei'll miss him on the show.
Hell, my husband is older than that--pushing 55 this year! Scary.
ReplyDeleteIt really is all maintenance after a certain age. Gone are the days of really bad habits. God only knows what damage we've already done.
RIP Captain Phil.
ReplyDeleteNot going to be the same without you.
I am really, genuinely sad about his passing. He was the main person I tuned in to see on DC. I feel like my gruff, chain smoking favorite uncle has died.
ReplyDeleteI am so sad about this. It was a treat to watch him with his sons, and how boys turned into men, and even though he was "tough" on them, you could see the pride and love he had for them.
ReplyDeleteRIP, Capt. Phil. I guarantee I will go thru a box of Kleenex for a tribute show.
ReplyDeleteDC said in a statement "We will miss his straightforward honesty, wicked sense of humor and enormous heart."
For Capt. Phil:
ReplyDeleteSunset and evening star
And one clear call for me!
And may there be no moaning of the bar,
When I put out to sea,
But such a tide as moving seems asleep,
Too full for sound and foam,
When that which drew from out the boundless deep
Turns again home.
Twilight and evening bell,
And after that the dark!
And may there be no sadness of farewell,
When I embark;
For though from out our bourne of Time and Place
The flood may bear me far,
I hope to see my Pilot face to face
When I have crossed the bar.
Alfred Lord Tennyson (1809-1892)
Oh no no no! I loved this show and Capt. Phil was a big part of that. I am going to miss him soo much! I hope they do him justice on his tribute episode. God rest your soul Phil.
ReplyDelete@Middle-aged diva, that is my favorite poem of all times! What a great tribute. RIP Captain Phil, this is very sad. I really enjoyed watching him on Deadliest Catch.
ReplyDeleteI loved Phil and I still love Deadliest Catch.
ReplyDeleteBut, I guess strange things happen when you smoke two cigarettes at one time and constantly drink red bull and Jack Daniels.
I was so upset when I heard about this. Captain Phil was my favourite in the show. RIP.
ReplyDeleteHe was a force of nature, and the show won't be the same. He was my favorite.
ReplyDeleteHe started fishing when he was only seven years old, and at twenty-one was one of the youngest captains ever to run a vessel on the Bering Sea.
So sad. He will be missed by everyone who watched him and his boys.
:(