Over the years, TLC has delivered some of television’s most unique and talked-about reality TV shows, from “Sister Wives” and “7 Little Johnstons” to “90 Day Fiancé” and its many spinoffs.”
However, with such an expansive lineup spanning many years, there has also been loss along the way. This year, fans were shocked to hear about these beloved TLC stars’ deaths.
Bill “Papa” Putman, Barb “Neenee” Putman, & Megan Putman – ‘Meet the Putnams’
In 2017, TLC premiered “Meet the Putnams,” a show that followed a huge Michigan family led by Bill and Barb Putnam and their unconventional lifestyle, in which three generations all lived under one roof.
In September, tragedy struck when three members of the Putnam family were killed in a car crash. In an Instagram post from the family’s account, it was shared that “Papa” Bill Putnam, Barb “Neenee” Putnam, and their daughter-in-law, Megan Putnam, were sadly killed. Five others were also in the vehicle but survived; those five included “Uncle Blake, Lulu, Alena, Noah and Gia.”
According to ABC 12 News, a man named Pavel Shchukin was driving a semi-truck when he went through a stop sign and hit the Putnam’s vehicle. Shchukin was sentenced to 365 days in jail, with 74 already served. He must also pay fines and costs.
The family has continued to share updates with family, friends, and fans on Instagram. A week after the devastating crash, it was shared on the family’s Instagram that Blake, Lulu, and Alena had been discharged from the hospital. Meanwhile, Noah was improving, and Gia was “doing better.” In their most recent post on Dec. 9, it was revealed that Gia had 10 surgeries in the last 75 days.
Pauline Potter – ‘My 600-Lb. Life’
In November, Pauline Potter, known for starring on season 3 of “My 600-Lb. Life,” died due to various health struggles after she and her son were involved in a car crash in January. She was 62.
In a YouTube video, her son, Dillon Brooks, detailed his mother’s passing: “Unfortunately, my mom passed away this past Thursday, on Thanksgiving.”
He went on to give more insight into the crash that resulted in his mother’s health decline. “We both got in a pretty bad car accident. We were driving early in the morning, it was still dark outside. We were driving on a dark two-lane highway and there was a truck and trailer that was stopped in the middle of the road and we did not see it because they didn’t have any lights on.”
Brooks added that the driver had run out of gas, and his mom hit the corner of the trailer at 50 mph, which “spun us completely around.”
As a result, Potter suffered several health issues in the months after, including “severe chest pain,” “digestive issues,” and “blockage in her esophagus.”
“So August 20 was the last time she was at home and she has been in the hospital since then,” he added. “Her health was not in a good state for her to keep doing surgeries, they couldn’t do all these tests and surgeries and procedures that they wanted to do because there was always something wrong.”
Chuck Potthast – ’90 Day Fiancé’
Chuck Potthast, a well-known and beloved figure of TLC’s “90 Day Fiancé,” died in November. According to TMZ, which obtained audio of the 911 call, Chuck was discovered by his son unresponsive in a bathtub, with heavy bleeding from his chest. At this time, the exact cause of his death remains unclear. He was 64 years old.
Chuck was the father of Elizabeth Potthast, who married Moldovan native Andrei Castravet. While Chuck and the Potthast family had a rocky and tense relationship with Andrei, Chuck and Andrei’s relationship would improve over time. Chuck was often seen trying to keep the peace and support his children, which made him a memorable and beloved figure to fans.
News of his passing was first revealed by his daughter, Elizabeth, in an Instagram post. Sharing a photo of her dad posing alongside her, his son-in-law, and his two grandchildren, she captioned the post, “Two weeks ago, tragedy struck our family and it has left us completely shattered. My sweet, loving, and caring dad went to heaven. We’re trying to figure out how to navigate our lives and move forward without him.”
