Captain Tony Lara’s Tragic Death Explained

Tony Lara was a captain on Deadliest Catch who tragically passed away after his short stint on the show. While there are plenty of faked moments in the Discovery Channel reality seriesDeadliest Catch, that doesn’t mean the core concept of the show is phony. These are real fishermen on the boats doing legitimately dangerous work to fish for king crabs in the unpredictable Bering Strait. This type of work attracts a certain kind of person willing to put themselves at risk for pay and for adventure.

It’s these unique and colorful characters who have made The Deadliest Catch outlast other similar shows in the “dangerous jobs” category of reality television. Since the series premiered in 2005, viewers have gotten to know the crews and the boats of Deadliest Catch, and each has their idiosyncrasies. With its distinctive light blue hull and yellow stripe, the F/V Cornelia Marie is a fan-favorite ship, and it first appeared in season 2 with Phil Harris at the helm before his passing. Sadly, he’s not the only captain of the Cornelia Maria to die too early.

Captain Tony Lara Led The Cornelia Marie During A Difficult Deadliest Catch Season 7

Lara Replaced Phil Harris After His Untimely Passing

Captain Tony Lara first appeared on Deadliest Catch in season 7, episode 9, “Sea Change”, as the new captain of the Cornelia Marie. He was there to replace Phil Harris after the beloved captain tragically passed away from an intracranial hemorrhage, the result of a stroke he had during filming for Deadliest Catch. A veteran crab fisherman, Lara was brought in by Phil’s son, Josh. Lara only appeared in six episodes of season 7, with his final appearance in the finale, episode 16, “Mohawks & Madness, Goodness & Gladness”.

Lara was a competent and strong hand during that tumultuous time on the show and Josh, likely still shaken by his father’s passing, needed someone who knew what they were doing to steer the boat and lead the crew. After season 7, the F/V Cornelia Maria passed back to Josh Harris and Casey McManus, who led the boat until the Cornelia Marie disappeared from Deadliest Catch after season 18.

Tony Lara Died From A Heart Attack In 2015 At The Age Of 50

Many Of His Former Co-Workers Celebrated Lara Online

After Tony Lara’s stint on Deadliest Catch, tragedy struck and Lara died at the age of 50 in Sturgis, South Dakota. According to CNN, and confirmed on the Deadliest CatchFacebook page, Lara passed away in August 2015 at a house he was staying in while attending the famed Sturgis, South Dakota motorcycle rally. The cause of death was not immediately revealed, but it was eventually confirmed that the pathologist who performed the autopsy observed scar tissue on Lara’s heart, consistent with the effects of a heart attack (via US Weekly).

Along with the kind message from the Discovery Channel, many friends posted online about Lara. In a since-deleted message on the Cornelia Marie‘s website, an unsigned message from the crew said,

“No conversation was cut short. No call unreturned. When the Cornelia Marie needed him, he was quick to respond with a ‘When and Where.’”

Josh Harris thanked Lara in a statement provided by Deadliest Catch‘s publicist, saying,

“Tony was always there for the Harris Family. He offered his support and his advice. He taught and he educated. At the end of the day, Tony made all of us just a little bit better.”

Another captain on Deadliest Catch, Keith Colburn of the F/V The Wizard, described Lara as a “Top notch chief, great capt.,& even better friend,” in an X post.

Despite only being on Deadliest Catch for a short time, Tony Lara managed to make a big impact on the lives of the people he worked with. They all seemed to have learned from him in one way or another, and he was there when his friends on the Cornelia Marie needed him most.

Deadliest Catch (2005)

Deadliest Catch is a reality television series that follows the dangerous lives of crab fishermen in the Bering Sea. Premiering in 2005, the show documents the perilous conditions crews face aboard their vessels during the Alaskan king crab and snow crab fishing seasons. The series provides a gritty, in-depth look at the challenges of one of the world’s most hazardous professions.

Cast

Mike Rowe

Release Date

March 15, 2005

Seasons

20

Creator(s)

Thom Beers

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