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FILE – The Barstool Sports logo on a laptop arranged in New York, US, on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024. ( Gabby Jones/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Cody “Beef” Franke, a popular Barstool Sports personality, died suddenly over the weekend, according to multiple reports.
Franke died due to “a sudden medical issue,” the Fore Play podcast announced on Monday.
Dig deeper:
Franke was in the Dominican Republic attending a wedding before his death, according to a TMZ report.
What they’re saying:
Barstool Sports founder, Dave Portnoy, confirmed Franke’s death on X.
“Barstool lost a member of our family this weekend. Just tragic news. You will never find a nicer more genuine person than Beef. It’s hard to even process it right now. Just another cruel reminder that tomorrow is never promised and to live each day to its fullest,” the tweet read.
Who is Cody ‘Beef’ Franke?
The backstory:
Franke was originally from Chicago, Illinois, and spent several years as a PGA of America Golf Professional. He mainly worked at clubs in California and Wisconsin, according to a March 2025 PGA profile.
In December 2024, Franke announced he would be joining the Fore Play Golf Podcast as their new Head Golf Professional.
Franke began playing golf when he was just three years old, alongside his brother. He completed the PGA Golf Management program at Ferris State University in Michigan before getting his first full-time position at Desert Willow Golf Resort in Southern California.
The Source: Information for this article was taken from reporting by TMZ and People magazine. A biography about Franke’s career on the PGA website also contributed. This story was reported from San Jose.