Tyler Duckworth, known for his participation in six seasons of the reality show “The Challenge” and his appearance on MTV’s “The Real World: Key West,” has passed away in North Dakota at the age of 44.
His mother, Joni, shared the news of his passing on Facebook on Thursday, stating, “My son, Tyler, passed away earlier this week. Cause of death has yet to be determined. I will post on Facebook about services as soon as his dad and I figure it out.”
Duckworth made his debut on MTV’s “The Real World: Key West” in 2006 and later competed on four seasons of “The Challenge,” including “The Duel,” “The Gauntlet III,” “Cutthroat,” and “Rivals.” He also participated in the spinoffs “All Stars 2” in 2021 and “All Stars 3” in 2022. Duckworth achieved victory in “Cutthroat” alongside teammates Brad Fiorenza, Dunbar Merrill, and Tori Fiorenza, and in “Rivals” with partner Johnny “Bananas” Devenanzio.
“Tyler was truly part of the Bunim/Murray family, he was an exceptional human being and beloved by both fans and his fellow contestants alike on ‘The Challenge,’” stated the Bunim/Murray Productions team in a message to Variety. “He will be missed by us all and our heart goes out to his family, his friends and everyone who enjoyed watching him compete on the show across so many seasons.”
Showrunner Justin Booth commented, “‘The Challenge’ community is gutted to hear of Tyler Duckworth’s remarkably untimely passing. The young man who first came into our universe as a comical and sensitive personality developed into a force who would become a two-time champion, and he will be sorely missed. We are devastated, and we send our most heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. Rest in peace, young man.”
Duckworth’s final public appearance was at a “Challenge Mania” fan event in Minneapolis on July 31, where he shared the moment on Instagram with “Challenge” competitors Rachel Robinson, Fiorenza, Tina Barta, Paul Califiore, and Mark Long.
Numerous cast members have expressed their shock and sorrow on social media, including Barta, who had competed alongside Duckworth on multiple occasions over the past 20 years.
“It’s hard to find the right words when someone who was part of such a meaningful chapter of your life is suddenly gone,” Barta wrote in a video caption of the two together. “We shared an experience that very few people will ever fully understand, and somewhere along the way, it became more than a show or an adventure. It became friendship. It became history. It became family. How blessed am I to be surprised by your visit to Challengemania where I got to hug and kiss you one last time. We didn’t want to leave each other. We never do. I love you.”
