Billy Brown, the patriarch on the Discovery reality series “Alaskan Bush People,” died Sunday at age 68.
He passed away following a seizure, according to a private Instagram by his son, Bear Brown, according to People magazine.
“We are heartbroken to announce that our beloved patriarch Billy Brown passed away last night after suffering from a seizure,” Bear wrote. “He was our best friend — a wonderful and loving dad, granddad and husband and he will be dearly missed.”
In a public Instagram post, Bear’s sister Rain — who also goes by Rainy — left a touching tribute to their father.
“I lost a true friend. Not forever, but only in this world,” she wrote. “Please hold my family in your thoughts and prayers, especially my mother. Please hold your family tight for me. Words cannot express how wonderful he was and is. But I will say, the closest thing to an angel I’ve ever known. God bless you da I love and miss you dearly. You will always be my hero. God bless everyone.”
The show’s official Twitter account also acknowledged his “sudden passing,” calling him “a trailblazer, a lovely man, and most definitely one of a kind.”
The reality series, which premiered in 2014, follows the growing Brown family — including parents Billy and Ami, plus their children, Matt, Bam Bam, Bear, Gabe, Noah, Snowbird and Rainy — who live off-the-grid and “deep in the wilderness,” according to the show’s official description.
