James Harness Gold Rush - H 2014
DiscoveryGold Rush star James Harness has died at age 57.
A spokesperson from the Discovery Channel confirmed the news to The Hollywood Reporter on Thursday, but a cause of death has not yet been released.
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Harness, who suffered from severe back pain following a car accident, was a mechanic on the first two seasons of the reality show. However, he was forced to leave after Season 2 because the debilitating pain limited his ability to work.
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The reality series, which first aired in 2010, follows a group of miners who traveled from Sandy, Oregon, to Porcupine Creek, Alaska, in search of gold. It has since expanded to other regions of the world, including South America, and will enter its fifth season in the fall.
Gold Rush creator Todd Hoffman tweeted his remorse on Thursday, writing “RIP.”
RIP James Harness.
— Todd Hoffman (@goldrushtodd) July 3, 2014
