Gold Rush Cast Deaths: Remembering the Stars We’ve Lost and Their Lasting Legacy.

From the frozen creeks of Alaska to the gold-laden valleys of the Yukon, Gold Rush has introduced fans to a cast of dreamers, risk-takers, and hardworking miners who chase fortune against impossible odds. As the series returns for Season 16, premiering Friday, November 7, 2024 on Discovery Channel, viewers are once again invited to step into the unpredictable world of modern-day gold mining.

But the search for gold isn’t just about machines and claims—it’s also about the people behind the diggers. Ahead of this new season’s launch, it’s fitting to pause and remember those cast and crew members whose lives ended too soon—figures whose contributions still echo beneath the roar of rock trucks and the rush of sluice water.

Here’s a look back at some of the Gold Rush-family members we’ve lost—and what happened to them.

Earle Foster

Role: Early seasons, owner of the Porcupine Creek claim
What happened: Earle Conning Foster was much more than just the claim owner featured in Gold Rush. Born in Richmond Beach, Washington on May 1, 1914, he spent his early life working in marine and airway communications and held the very first First‑Class Telegraph License issued in Alaska. During World War II, he served as a radio operator in the New Guinea and Okinawa campaigns, later working for RCA’s Marine KPH Station in Point Reyes, California. He was also known as an inventor, artist, and writer—traits that reflected a lifelong curiosity and creative mind.

On Gold Rush, Foster leased his Porcupine Creek claim to the Hoffman crew during Season 1, offering them a rare chance to strike gold on his land. In one episode, he arrived unexpectedly at the mine, accompanied by two experienced miners—Fred Hurt and Paul Bean—who had worked the claim years earlier. He examined the crew’s three months of results and found their total yield disappointingly small, worth roughly $500 for his 20% share. Calm but firm, Foster reminded them that they had only 40 days left before the season ended and that frozen pumps could end their operation overnight. As the claim owner, he even hinted he might not renew their lease if things didn’t improve. The moment underscored his practical approach and clear-eyed understanding of mining’s harsh economics.

When the Hoffman team later fell behind on lease payments, he sold the claim to “Dakota” Fred Hurt, shifting the show’s storyline in Season 2. His calm demeanor and business‑savvy approach earned him quiet respect among Alaskan miners.

Foster passed away on April 23, 2013, at the age of 86, reportedly from cardiac amyloidosis. Remembered by family as a world traveler and lifelong learner, his life bridged technology, adventure, and the frontier spirit that Gold Rush embodies.

James Harness

Role: Mechanic for the Hoffman crew
What happened: James Harness was the go‑to mechanic for Todd Hoffman’s crew during Seasons 1–2 of Gold Rush. Known for his technical genius, he kept the crew’s worn‑out machines running under punishing Alaskan conditions. In one memorable sequence, he spent hours wrestling a seized hydraulic bolt beneath a loader, gritting through pain from an old spinal injury. Eventually he had to admit defeat, telling the team, “It’s a fight I can’t win right now,” before leaving for Oregon to get medical care.

As the season wore on, tensions rose over his health and commitment. In a later scene, Todd confronted him directly, saying the team felt he hadn’t given his all. James defended himself passionately: he had sacrificed time with his dying sister‑in‑law and was still fighting to contribute despite chronic pain. “I committed the whole time to be away from my family… I’m doing this to better my life,” he told them. The exchange revealed both sides’ frustrations—Todd’s push for productivity and James’s struggle to live up to expectations while coping with his body’s limits. Soon afterward, he quietly left the operation.

Before joining the show, Harness had been a professional mechanic and fabricator. A devastating car accident years earlier left him with severe back injuries and lingering pain, leading to reliance on pain medication. Despite these obstacles, he remained dedicated to his craft and loved inventing mechanical solutions. He died on June 28, 2014, aged 57, from complications of a stroke. Fans and former crew members remembered him as a skilled, humble worker whose perseverance embodied the spirit of Gold Rush.

John Schnabel

Role: Patriarch of the Schnabel family, Parker’s grandfather
What happened: John Schnabel was one of the most beloved figures in Gold Rush history. Born on February 11, 1920, in Kansas, he moved to Alaska in 1939 at just 19 years old, where he built a life defined by hard work and adventure. A World War II veteran, sawmill owner, and civic leader in Haines, Alaska, he later bought the Big Nugget Mine in 1984, which became the heart of his family’s legacy on Gold Rush.
On the show, John served as Parker’s mentor and moral compass, guiding him through the early years of mining and often stepping in with calm advice when challenges arose. Fans remember him for his humor, optimism, and resilience—he even returned to mining after undergoing open-heart surgery at age 91, joking that “it keeps me young.” In one particularly emotional segment from the series, John explained that his doctors had advised him to begin chemotherapy, but he refused, saying, “Chemotherapy to me is suicide.” Knowing his time was limited, he decided to make one final trip to Smith Creek with Parker and his grandsons to mine together as a family. The moment showed three generations united in purpose, with John’s pride shining as they unearthed large, gleaming nuggets. The joy of that shared experience, and the satisfaction of seeing his family’s success, seemed to give him a renewed lease on life. John Schnabel passed away peacefully in his sleep on March 18, 2016, at the age of 96, leaving behind a legacy of perseverance, family devotion, and love for the Alaskan frontier.

In a later heartfelt tribute featured on the show, Parker reflected on his grandfather’s enduring influence, calling him “an amazing man” and “a huge inspiration.” The tribute highlighted how John’s mentorship shaped Parker’s character and ambition, showing how their shared vision and work ethic made them “two peas in a pod.” John spoke candidly about the balance between offering guidance and allowing his grandson to learn independently, saying, “Once you give your opinion, you back off and let them do their thing.” He encouraged Parker to stay patient and persistent: “Just keep working toward the better ground—eventually you’ll hit it.”

The tribute ended with Parker proudly presenting more than a thousand ounces of gold to his grandfather, who smiled with immense pride, saying, “I’m proud of him. He’s a hero. He never stopped having purpose or goals.” John closed the moment with a message that defined his legacy: “Never forget—you’ve got to try. Don’t ever give up.”

Jesse Goins

Role: Gold‑room operator on Gold Rush: Dave Turin’s Lost Mine
What happened: Jesse Goins was a valued member of Dave Turin’s crew, responsible for running the gold room where cleaned concentrates were weighed and sorted. His attention to detail and upbeat spirit made him an essential part of the team’s success. Colleagues often described him as the crew’s moral compass—a man who radiated positivity and treated everyone like family.

Early Life and Background: Born on February 23, 1960, in Dillon, Montana, Jesse was raised with strong values of faith, integrity, and hard work. Before joining Gold Rush, he had already earned the respect of local miners through years of small‑scale prospecting across Montana. He lived with his wife Rhenda Goins and their children—Anthony, Josh, and Kevin Goins—and was remembered as a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. Known for his humility and spiritual strength, Jesse often led early‑morning prayer and Bible study sessions with his fellow miners, deepening the crew’s sense of camaraderie and faith.

Path to Gold Rush: In 2018, Jesse met Dave Turin while working at Grasshopper Creek, a historically gold‑rich area in Montana. His expertise, discipline, and genuine personality impressed Turin, who invited him to join Dave Turin’s Lost Mine as the gold‑room operator. Jesse’s careful approach and positive attitude quickly made him one of the most respected and beloved members of the team.

Final Episode and Passing: On August 18, 2020, while filming at the Box Creek mine site in Colorado, Jesse achieved one of his proudest on‑camera moments—breaking a record for rock‑truck loads in a single shift. Later that day, he suddenly collapsed near the gold room. Fellow miner Nathan Clark found him unresponsive and immediately called a “no‑duff” emergency. Crew members performed CPR until medical help arrived, but Jesse was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital from a massive heart attack. He was 60 years old.

The devastating news was shared in the 2021 episode “Good Man Down,” where Dave Turin informed the team of Jesse’s passing and assured them they had done everything possible to save him. The episode captured the heartbreak and admiration of the entire crew, who dedicated the remainder of the season to his memory.

Crew members including KC Morgan and Nathan Clark called Jesse “the heart of the team”—a man of humility, faith, and humor who lifted spirits even in the hardest days. In his tribute, Dave Turin said, “Jesse is a man that I loved and respected… God had another plan.”

Fred “Dakota” Hurt

Role: Veteran miner, star of Gold Rush: White Water
What happened: Fred Hurt was a seasoned prospector and contractor from North Dakota whose decades of experience made him one of the most skilled miners in the Gold Rush franchise. Before joining television, he spent more than 25 years working in commercial diving and construction, later transitioning into gold mining across Alaska’s rugged creeks. He first appeared in Gold Rush during Season 2 when he and his team took over the Porcupine Creek claim from Todd Hoffman’s crew, quickly earning a reputation for precision and efficiency.

In 2018, Hurt returned to television alongside his son Dustin in the spin‑off series Gold Rush: White Water, where the pair led high‑risk underwater dredging operations in the icy torrents of McKinley Creek, Haines Borough, Alaska. Viewers recognized him for his strict work ethic, sharp judgment, and emphasis on safety in an environment known for flash floods and rockslides.

In March 2023, Hurt publicly announced that he had been diagnosed with stage 4 brain cancer, sharing that he would undergo treatment while spending time with his family. Just a few months later, on July 11, 2023, his death was confirmed by family members and Discovery Channel. He was 80 years old. According to his family’s statement, Hurt “went quickly and peacefully” surrounded by loved ones. After his passing, his son Dustin Hurt has continued mining operations featured on later seasons of Gold Rush: White Water. While his widow Jennifer Sheets Hurt remained largely out of the public eye, the family released a statement confirming that Fred died peacefully, surrounded by loved ones.