Phil Harris died!

[bigdaddy]

The last time it seemed he was doing better and told his boys "Don't fuck up", which seems like him....

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The Discovery Channel says the captain of the "Deadliest Catch" fishing vessel Cornelia Marie has died.
Capt. Phil Harris suffered what his family described as a massive stroke on Jan. 29 while the boat was in port at St. Paul Island, Alaska. The 53-year-old fisherman was flown to Anchorage for surgery.
A Discovery spokesman says the Harris family contacted the network Tuesday evening with word of his death.
Discovery Channel spokeswoman Elizabeth Hillman issued a statement on behalf of sons Jake and Josh Harris. It says in part, "It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to our dad — Captain Phil Harris. Dad has always been a fighter and continued to be until the end."
In the network's own statement, Hillman says, "We will miss his straightforward honesty, wicked sense of humor and enormous heart."
In an e-mail she said no additional information was immediately available.
The Discovery Channel reality show depicts the crab fishing industry in the dangerous waters off Alaska. Harris' fishing vessel was based in Seattle.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100210/ap_on_en_tv/us_obit_capt_phil_harris

He fished right until the end like he always would, fishing was his life.

 

[Mr Nighttime]

This saddens me greatly. I was always a fan of the show and considered myself lucky to have met the man and shake his hand at a signing he did in Oregon. His autograph is on a coffee cup and he signed a Christmas message for my aunt as a early, early Christmas gift.

I did share a laugh with him and the boys and told them that I would give real money if one of them would bust Capt. Keith in the mouth. Phil just that quick shakes his head and says, "You wouldn't have to pay me." Then he suddenly realized where he was and looked to see if anyone else had heard. He was pretty much just as you saw on television and It was an honor to meet a man of his cut.

 

[Amaris]

He was one of my favorite Captains on the show. Really knew what he was doing, and did it well.

 

[Emher]

Aw dammit it. Well I did say he was going to wish until he died, and that he did.

Rest in peace, Phil

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

Ah, that's sad. RIP.

 

[Bloodwhiner]

I truly thought he had gotten past the danger and was going to make it. My deepest condolences to the family.

RIP Captain.

 

[Geckothan]

 

[RogerWaters]

I just started watching Deadliest Catch halfway though this last season, but Phil had quickly become one of my favorites. My condolences to his family.

 

[23skidoo]

Here's the CNN report:

http://www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/TV/02/10/obit.captain.phil.deadliest.catch/index.html?hpt=T2

Awfully sad news. He was very much a character (along with all the other captains) and it was interesting to watch him groom his two sons to take over the ship. I would imagine the next season of Deadliest Catch will be a somber affair.

As I mentioned in the other thread on Phil, Deadliest Catch is the only reality show of this type I actually watch. I imagine the other captains like Sig and the Hillstrands are probably feeling pretty low right now, too. I definitely feel sorry for Phil's two sons.

RIP Phil

Alex

 

[Christopher]

Oh, I thought this was about the Jack Benny Show castmember and musical director who played Baloo in Disney's The Jungle Book. I was going to say I didn't know he was still alive. Of course, he died nearly 15 years ago.

 

[Scout101]

Sucks, but not a shock. The guy was a health train-wreck! Chain smoking while a doctor tells you you had heart and lung problems, and getting right back on it. Needed to quit fishing and focus on getting healthy, but having grown up in a fishing town myself (lobsters in Maine), I know that's just not how these guys operate...

 

[Cayla]

Phil was one of my favorite captains on the show. This is very sad.

 

[auntiehill]

Very sad news indeed.

 

[barnaclelapse]

That's too bad. It makes me wish I'd watched more of the show. Fans I know have told me he was a pretty badass dude.

 

[LitmusDragon]

My condolences to his family. He was definitely my favorite captain on the show.

When he had that trouble a couple of years ago I hoped that he would change his ways but I imagine that lifestyle is a hard one to give up.

 

[Tom Servo]

Shit.

 

[Sakrysta]

 

[the 4th hanson bro]

He was doing what he loved right up until the end. I'm sure if he had the choice between fishing and not fishing, he'd have chosen fishing every time.

I heard an interview with him where he said the first year he was on a crab boat full time he made $130K at age 17, bought a house, porsche and hooker all for cash.

 

[Bears Discover Fire]

This sucks. RIP.

I mostly catch this show when I'm visiting my mom (it's one of her faves) and I'm dreading telling her that her favorite captain has died.

 

[Unicron]

I just saw the link on Yahoo News. Very sad.