Reality star Tyler Duckworth has died at the age of 44. Announcing his death on Facebook, Duckworth’s mother Joni wrote: “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 was best known for competing on MTV’s The Real World: Key West in 2006 and went on to compete in six seasons of The Challenge, winning Cutthroat and Rivals.
He was found dead inside his North Dakota home on Tuesday (August 11). A neighbour reported that water was leaking through Duckworth’s ceiling, leading police to visit his residence, according to PEOPLE. Authorities reportedly found the TV star dead in his bathroom. While the case remains under investigation, officials have said there were no signs of foul play or anything suggesting that Duckworth’s death was suspicious.
His cause of death is currently unknown, but is “pending the results of an autopsy” which can take between 10-12 weeks for results. It is not clear how long Duckworth had been dead before his body was discovered, though police believe that he was seen the day before.
The reality star’s death comes nearly two weeks after he appeared at The Challenge Mania event alongside his former co-stars in Minneapolis on July 31.
Posting about the event on Instagram, Duckworth shared photos alongside his fellow The Challenge alums Rachel Robinson, Brad Fiorenza, Tina Barta and Mark Long.
He penned in the caption: “@challengemaniapodcast always knows how to bring the BEST of the BEST together. So proud to represent my hometown of Minneapolis along with these other challenge legends.
“The fans are what keep us coming out! Hearing your stories of courage, inspiration & joy that you’ve got being a fan of the franchise is humbling each and every time. Also, pretty sure we nailed the cast photo for the lost season of The Real World: Minneapolis!! Thank you Minneapolis! Thank you @scottofyager. It was REAL!!”
Paying tribute to Duckworth following the tragic news, Scott Yager, co-host of the Challenge Mania podcast described him as “truly one of a kind” who lit up every room.
He told PEOPLE: “We are incredibly blessed to have spent some time with him just a few days ago in Minneapolis at Challenge Mania on July 31. His appearance was a welcomed surprise to the crowd and cast alike that he and I coordinated just a few days prior.
“Like he did every day, he put a smile on everyone’s face and lit up the room with his infectious energy and incredible stories. We loved him very much and he will be greatly missed by the whole Challenge fandom and community around the world. He was truly one of a kind.”
Duckworth appeared on MTV’s The Real World: Key West shortly after graduating from Tufts University before competing in six seasons of The Challenge, where alumni from The Real World and Road Rules compete against each other in tasks to win a cash prize.
“I won two in a row and won against pretty stacked casts, but that was 11 years ago. And this sounds really sappy, but when you’ve already won, especially two in a row, for me it was more about: I just want to compete. I want to see if I still have it, if I can jump off crazy-high things or if I can do puzzles,” he told Entertainment Weekly in 2021 while discussing his return to the franchise for All Stars 2.