Billy Brown, the patriarch of Discovery’s reality show “Alaskan Bush People”, died on Sunday at the age of 68.
He passed away after a seizure, according to a private Instagram of 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 a seizure,” wrote Bear. “He was our best friend – a wonderful, loving father, grandfather and husband, and he will be sorely missed.”
In a public Instagram post, Bear’s sister Rain – who also serves as Rainy – left a touching tribute to her father.
“I lost a true friend. Not forever, but only in this world, ”she wrote. “Please keep my family in your thoughts and prayers, especially my mother. Please hold your family strong for me. Words cannot express how wonderful he was and is. But I will say, the closest thing to an angel I have ever met. God bless you, I love you and miss you so much. You will always be my hero. God bless you all.”
The program’s official Twitter account also recognized his “sudden death”, calling him “a pioneer, a lovely and definitely unique man”.
The reality show, which debuted in 2014, follows the growing Brown family – including parents Billy and Ami, as well as their children, Matt, Bam Bam, Bear, Gabe, Noah, Snowbird and Rainy – who live off the net and “deeply in the desert ”, according to the official description of the program.