Andy Bassich wiki-bio, age, net worth, wife, divorce, new girlfriend.

Andy Bassich is not just a TV personality, but a survivor. He is one of the stars of the popular documentary series Life Below Zero, which followed the lives of people braving the harsh conditions of Alaska. Andy has spent over 40 years in the remote wilderness, relying on his skills as a musher, hunter, and carpenter.

He’s faced wild animals, subzero temperatures, and countless challenges—but never gave up on his dream of living off the land. Alongside these external struggles, Andy has also endured personal trials, including a divorce, a serious hip injury, and a near-fatal infection. Through it all, he’s persevered.

Today, Andy shares his life in Calico Bluff with his partner Denise Becker, a former trauma nurse who shares his deep love for the outdoors and sled dogs.

In this article, we’ll explore Andy’s journey—from his early days in Washington, D.C., to life in the Alaskan bush. We’ll also look at his net worth, his time on TV, his dog mushing school, and what lies ahead for this remarkable adventurer.

Who indeed is Andy Bassich?

Andy Bassich is a reality television personality, carpenter, hunter, trapper, fisherman, musher, and outdoorsman. He rose to fame following numerous television appearances in the National Geography show “Life Below Zero.” He is an American of Caucasian ethnicity. His birth sign is Aquarius and shares the personality traits of being rebellious, unique, charismatic, and spontaneous with other people born under the same zodiac sign.

Early Life

Andy Bassich was born on January 25, 1958, in Washington D.C., United States. The birthday makes him 65 years old. He grew up in Wheaton, Maryland where he also attended school. Andy was interested in fine arts during childhood. He would visit museums and places that would captivate his imagination. He attended John F. Kennedy High and graduated in 1976. However, he opted not to pursue Fine arts or College and chose to travel around the country. He also had the urge to visit Alaska sooner but his sister’s marriage commitment pulled him back to his hometown where he worked as a carpenter and cabinet maker for some years. And as a grown-up Andy has shared about his early experience while also revealing that he did not miss the hustle and bustle of the urban or suburban lifestyle of Washington. Reminiscing one of his cherished memory Andy said:

“When I was a kid, I used to ride my bike down Rock Creek Parkway and go to the Smithsonian and things like that when I was 12, 13 years old, on my own.”

Moving to Alaska

Andy decided to follow his dream after working as a carpenter in his hometown until he was 22 years old. He traveled to Alaska in 1980 and spent the early two years in Anchorage. He made his move to Eagle, Alaska in 1984 and the first thing he did was buy a dog named Muzzle for a truckload of wood. He lived in a cabin home by the Yukon River. Adapting to the new surroundings, Andy learned trapping and mushing from a local trapper. He also acquired a Coast Guard Merchant Marine Captain License and worked as a riverboat captain for 20 years.

Life Below Zero

Although originally from Washington, Andy learned the ways of outdoorsmen. He is the first generational survivalist in the family. Over the years, Andy indulged in the act of survival gathering and growing food of his own, with no heating system depending on wood as the fire source, hunting, fishing, and trapping different animals like moose, black bear, caribou, wolf, and salmon. Andy also raised sled dogs for mushing and trapping support. He also ran a mushing school.

Acknowledging Andy’s rugged lifestyle and self-reliance, Life Below Zero showrunners approached him to join the reality series. Although Andy had decades of experience surviving Alaska’s extreme wilderness, he had never appeared on television before. Still, he accepted the opportunity without hesitation and made his debut in the very first episode—Season 1, Episode 1, titled “End of the Road”—which premiered on May 19, 2013.

Andy went on to become one of the show’s longest-running cast members, appearing in 179 episodes until the series concluded with Season 23 in 2025. His storylines frequently focused on maintaining his homestead, training and running sled dogs, and enduring the challenges of life along the Yukon River.

Over the years, Life Below Zero evolved and parted ways with several notable cast members, including Kate Rorke, Glenn Villeneuve, and Salitan couple: Eric and Martha Mae. While the show introduced new faces and maintained strong viewership for years, it eventually concluded with Season 23 in 2025. Cast members such as Sue Aikens, James Franzo, Ricko Dewilde, Chip Hailstone, and Agnes Hailstone. remained until the end, continuing to portray the unforgiving realities of life in the Alaskan frontier. are

Net Worth

Andy has spent decades raising sled dogs, hunting, and fishing to sustain himself and his team in the Alaskan wilderness. Rather than depending on industrial food systems, he relies on his skills and work ethic to feed both himself and his animals. Despite his remote lifestyle, Andy has earned a solid income through his appearances on Life Below Zero and related ventures.

As of 2025, Andy Bassich’s estimated net worth ranges between $500,000 and $800,000, with the majority of his earnings coming from his long-standing role on the reality TV show. His self-sufficient lifestyle, combined with media exposure and hands-on work, has made him both financially secure and respected among Alaskan survivalists.

Personal Life

Meeting and Marriage to Kate Rorke

Andy was married to Kate Rorke, a native of Canada. While there is no information on Andy’s past affairs, Kate was previously married and had children from the relationship. Her youngest born was a daughter.

The pair met in Dawson City back in 2003 when Andy was working as a riverboat Captain and Kate was a tourist. The pair soon hit it off. Kate started living with Andy in a Cabin home and shared a self-sufficient lifestyle by the Yukon River at Calico Buff which is 12 miles from Eagle, Alaska. The pair together raised many sled dogs and mushing School.

In their time as a married couple, the pair tackled many hardships and adversity of nature however on one particular occasion the pair needed rescue for survival.

In 2009, during the ice-breaking period which is the most pivotal time for hunters and food collectors, Andy Bassich and his wife were hit by one of the most dangerous floods in the history of Eagle, Alaska. The couple and their 21 sled dogs were rescued by a chopper.

Divorce & Children

Andy and Kate did not give birth to any children during their time of togetherness. After over a decade of relationships, the crack in the marriage began to appear. Allegedly, Kate suffered verbal and emotional abuse. Also, their family dispute made it to the TV show “Life Below Zero.” From time to time, fans showed their discontent with Andy’s behavior towards Kate Bassich.

Even though the pair tried to reconcile the marriage it did not work. Kate left her home in Calico Bluff, Alaska in January 2015. The divorce was finalized in 2016. Following the divorce, both individuals had their own set of troubles as Andy was left alone to survive and make a living in Alaska while Kate had no home and had to live with her friends. She now lives in her hometown Carbonear, NL, Canada.

Kate runs the blog alaskayukonadventure.blogspot.com which she began in 2010. During the early days, she used to share her Alaskan lifestyle, but since the divorce, she has taken her time off from writing. Her last post was titled “Truth” posted on October 10, 2016, which has a picture illustrating raising awareness for an abusive relationship

Moving on after Divorce

After the divorce, Andy lived alone in Calico Bluff. In the winter of 2018, he suffered a serious hip injury while trying to move a snow machine that had gotten stuck. The injury led to a severe infection that spread to muscle and bone, requiring urgent medical attention. Andy was airlifted to Fairbanks and later traveled to Florida for long-term treatment. During this time, he was cared for by Denise Becker, a nurse who would soon become his life partner.

Andy met Denise around 2016 during a Boy Scout canoe expedition along the Yukon River. Denise was one of the adult leaders accompanying the group, and the trip included a stop at Andy’s homestead. She was immediately drawn to the raw and self-reliant lifestyle he had built. They stayed in touch after the trip, and not long after, Denise returned for a solo visit. What began as a brief stay turned into a permanent move to Calico Bluff.

Denise, a Canadian-born nurse, was raised on a homestead in northern Saskatchewan. Her upbringing instilled a strong work ethic and prepared her well for bush life. After helping Andy recover from his injury, she became fully immersed in their daily routine—cutting firewood, hauling water, feeding sled dogs, and cooking with limited resources. She also played a role in improving their home, including finishing the porch and organizing supplies.

While Denise occasionally travels to Florida to maintain her nursing credentials and visit family, her life is now firmly rooted in Alaska. She and Andy manage a team of nine active sled dogs and continue to adapt to the challenges of climate change, including the collapse of Yukon River salmon runs that once sustained their dog team.

As of 2025, Andy and Denise have lived together for nearly nine years. Though they are not married and do not have children, their relationship is grounded in mutual respect, independence, and a shared commitment to living off the land.

Andy Bassich Wiki Bio: Quick Facts

Full Name	Andy Bassich
Date of Birth	January 25, 1958
Place of Birth	Washington, D.C., USA
Current Residence	Calico Bluff, Yukon River, Alaska
Nationality	American
Profession	TV Personality, Musher, Hunter, Carpenter
Famous For	Life Below Zero (2013–2025)
Years Active	2013–2025 (TV career)
Number of Episodes	179 episodes on Life Below Zero
Partner	Denise Becker (2016–present)
Previous Spouse	Kate Rorke (Divorced)
Children	None
Net Worth (2025)	Estimated $500,000–$800,000
Occupation Before TV	Carpenter; Yukon River boat operator
Lifestyle	Off-grid survivalist and dog musher
Education	Trained as a carpenter (details undisclosed)
Health Issues	Severe hip injury and infection in 2018
Recovery Location	Florida (supported by Denise Becker)
Other Skills	Hunting, fishing, trapping, bushcraft
Known For	Resilience, bush lifestyle, DIY homesteading