Matt Brown became a familiar face to reality TV viewers through Discovery’s hit series “Alaskan Bush People,” which followed the Brown family’s unconventional lifestyle.
Matt appeared on the show for several seasons before stepping away from the spotlight amid personal struggles. Following news of his death, many fans have been looking back on his life, his time on reality television, and his role within the Brown family. With that in mind, here are five fast facts about Matt Brown.
1. Matt Brown Starred On “Alaskan Bush People” From 2014 to 2019
The Brown family began starring on Discovery’s reality TV series, “Alaskan Bush People,” in 2014. Matt Brown was already an adult, at age 30, when the family began filming for the show. While “Alaskan Bush People” ran for 14 seasons from 2014 to 2022, Matt stepped away from filming in 2019.
2. Matt Brown Struggled With Addiction and Entered Rehab
One of the primary reasons Matt Brown stopped filming for “Alaskan Bush People” was that he was struggling with substance abuse. In 2016, Matt entered an inpatient rehab program, but continued to battle addiction in the years that followed. While he stepped away from reality TV, Matt did stay connected with fans through his YouTube channel and other social media platforms.
3. Matt Brown Was the Oldest of Billy and Ami Brown’s Children
As viewers of “Alaskan Bush People” will remember, Matt Brown was the oldest of Billy and Ami Brown’s seven children. Matt had four younger brothers: Bam Bam, Bear, Gabe, and Noah. He also had two younger sisters: Birdy and Rainy.
Matt also had an older half-sister, Twila Byars, through his father, Billy. However, the Brown siblings did not grow up with Twila, as she was raised in Texas.
4. Matt Brown Lost His Father, Billy Brown, in 2021
Matt Brown and his siblings suffered a devastating loss in 2021 when their father, Billy Brown, passed away. Billy died on February 7, 2021, at the age of 68. His son, Bear Brown, later informed fans that Billy had suffered a seizure.
5. Matt Brown Passed Away at Age 42
Matt Brown’s younger brother, Bear Brown, also informed fans of Matt’s passing. Bear took to social media in late May 2026 to inform fans that he believed his brother might have passed away, as locals claimed to have seen Matt’s body in the Okanogan River near Oroville, Washington.
Bear later gave an update, confirming Matt’s passing, after his brother’s body was found and identified by their other brother, Noah Brown. Bear Brown, 38, told his TikTok followers on May 30, 2026, “There’s an update about Matt. They found a body in the river a few hours ago, and it was positively identified as being Matt.”
Matt Brown spent years in the public eye as part of the Brown family on “Alaskan Bush People.” While his life included both personal struggles and reality TV fame, many fans continued to follow his journey long after he stepped away from the series.
Following news of his passing at age 42, tributes and messages of support poured in from viewers who had watched him on television and followed his journey for over a decade.
