R.I.P. Dakota Fred Hurt: ‘Gold Rush’ and ‘Gold Rush: White Water’ Star Was 80

Where to Stream:

Gold Rush

reality tv

‘The Bachelorette’ Alum Rachel Lindsay Breaks Her Silence About “Difficult” Divorce From Bryan Abasolo: “I Didn’t Think I Would Get Emotional”

‘Tall, Dark, and Dangerous’: Tom Sandoval’s Lifetime Movie Set To Premiere Just One Week After ‘Vanderpump Rules’ Season 11 Begins

‘Vanderpump Rules’ Fans Are In An Uproar Over Tom Sandoval’s Posed Photo-Op With A Tiger At A Thailand Zoo: “I Wish It Ate Him”

Andy Cohen Claps Back At Jen Shah For Claiming He Was “Butt Hurt” She Denied His Interview Request: “Her Stipulations Were Insane”

Dakota Fred Hurt, the beloved star of Discovery shows such as Gold Rush and Gold Rush: White Water, has died after a short battle with cancer. He was 80 years old.

The famed gold miner died Tuesday (July 11), just one day after his 80th birthday and only four months after he was diagnosed with stage 4 brain cancer, per Deadline. His family confirmed the sad news in a Facebook post.

“‘Dakota’ Fred Hurt passed away this morning surrounded by family,” they wrote. “He fought courageously in his battle against cancer. Fred touched many lives and was loved and supported by many.”

The family also asked that fans donate to the Mike Rowe Works Foundation in Hurt’s honor. The charity offers scholarships to those looking to learn a trade rather than attend a four-year university. They wrote, “Having worked in skilled labor for the majority of his career, Fred was passionate about teaching others these valuable skills.”

Hurt — who began as a gold prospector in North Dakota — rose to fame in 2010 on the Discovery series Gold Rush, where he remained for the show’s first four seasons. The reality series documents the lives of miners as they head north in search of gold.

After leaving Gold Rush, Hurt and his son, Dustin Hurt, landed their own spinoff, Gold Rush: White Water, in 2018. The show follows the father-son duo as they face the dangerous elements of the Alaskan Wilderness to look for gold. Hurt has also made appearances on Gold Rush: South America and Gold Rush: The Legend of Porcupine Creek.

Hurt — who was described as a “man of adventure, thrill of the hunt and exploration” — had also recently become a co-owner of Thrill of the Hunt Entertainment LLC, “with plans to work on several film projects,” per the March press release that first announced his illness.

“I’ve lived a full 80 years of an interesting life. If I emerge from this dark diagnosis, I’ll have another adventure to share with you folks,” he wrote in the release.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Gold Rush (@goldrushtv)

Following the news of his death, the show’s Instagram handle shared a touching tribute on Wednesday night (June 12).

“The Gold Rush family is deeply saddened to learn of Fred Hurt’s passing,” they wrote. “His joy for life and adventure was contagious. We share our heartfelt condolences with his family, friends, and all who loved him.”