What Happened to Lenny Lekanoff from Deadliest Catch? Age, Bio & Life After the Wizard

What happened to Lenny from Deadliest Catch? Where did he go—and how old is he now? These are the questions fans often ask when they think back to the early seasons of the show. Lenny Lekanoff wasn’t the loudest voice on deck, but for years, he was a constant presence aboard the F/V Wizard—quietly keeping things running from below deck while the cameras captured the chaos above. As Chief Engineer, his job wasn’t glamorous, but it was crucial—and that’s what made him memorable.

After Season 11 aired in 2015, Lenny quietly stepped away from the show. While no dramatic on-screen farewell was given, his departure marked the close of a consistent chapter for the Wizard. So what happened to him? Lenny didn’t vanish—he simply returned to a more private life. He now lives in Olympia, Washington, where he enjoys a slower pace, spending time with his wife Chris, their daughter, and extended family. His legacy lives on in the respect he earned from the crew and the engine room he kept humming through some of the Bering Sea’s roughest seasons.

Early Life and Background

Lenny Lekanoff was born on September 16, 1959, in Unalaska, Alaska—part of the remote Aleutian Islands chain. He is of Russian Aleut heritage, and his family has deep roots on the island going back over a century. Raised in a close-knit community, Lenny grew up in a devout Russian Orthodox household. His father, Nikolai Lekanoff, has served as the caretaker of the Church of the Holy Ascension—one of the oldest churches in the United States—for more than four decades.

Lenny is one of ten siblings, and like many in Unalaska, his early life was shaped by traditional subsistence practices, including smoking and drying salmon. Opportunities to fish professionally came early, and Lenny eventually built a full-time career on the waters of the Bering Sea and Aleutian region. His connection to both the culture and the sea has remained central to his life.

Career on the F/V Wizard

Lenny became part of the Wizard’s crew after a previous vessel he worked on exited the fishery under the government-run buyback program. Already an experienced crabber, he joined the F/V Wizard as Chief Engineer and quickly became a vital part of the crew. His responsibilities extended across the ship’s systems—from the engine room to the forepeak—and he still pulled full shifts on deck when needed.

Throughout his time aboard, Lenny took on some of the vessel’s most complex technical challenges. During one pre-season stretch, he spent eight weeks rebuilding the main and auxiliary engines—work that would be tested immediately as the Wizard returned to the Bering Sea. Despite his soft-spoken nature, he proved time and again that he could handle the pressures of crab fishing.

While he maintained a professional focus, Lenny also played a strong role in the social fabric of the crew. He often admitted a preference for Monte Colburn’s more relaxed leadership style, noting that Monte let him get away with a bit more “sass” than Captain Keith typically tolerated. Still, he expressed high regard for both captains and their experience, making it clear that he valued being part of the team.

Captain Keith and Monte Colburn often praised Lenny for his quiet capability, and his ability to keep the vessel running smoothly through mechanical setbacks, storms, and long seasons helped secure the Wizard’s reputation as one of the fleet’s most dependable boats.

A 2017 article by Men’s Journal offered rare insight into life aboard the Wizard during one particularly brutal winter run. Copeland described Lenny, then 53 and already a seven-year veteran, as the oldest member of the crew whose every movement on deck was efficient and measured—using the ship’s motion to his advantage and setting a tone of professionalism and stamina. His gestures and rhythm stood out, a reflection of decades spent surviving one of the toughest jobs on the planet.

Appearances on Deadliest Catch

Lenny joined Deadliest Catch when the F/V Wizard made its debut in Season 3 (2007), and he stayed with the show through Season 11 (2015), appearing in more than 50 episodes. He was usually credited as the Chief Engineer—and sometimes also as a deckhand—depending on what the job demanded that day. He wasn’t someone who looked for camera time, but when things got rough, you’d often find him working quietly below deck, making sure everything kept running.

He showed up in some of the most challenging moments—engine failures during rough seas, long rebuilds before the season even started, and those high-pressure stretches when every second counted. Viewers came to recognize him for his calm, steady approach. He didn’t rush, didn’t panic—just fixed what needed fixing and moved on to the next problem.

After Season 11, Lenny stepped away from the series. There wasn’t a big farewell, but fans noticed. His departure felt like the end of an era—one more sign of how the early foundation of the Wizard had quietly shifted over time. His impact remains visible in the vessel’s legacy and in the high standard of work he helped maintain.

Personal Life and Family

Outside of fishing, Lenny lives a grounded life rooted in family and tradition. He is married to his wife, Chris, and they have a daughter. In recent years, he has made his home in Olympia, Washington. Though now based in the Pacific Northwest, his ties to Unalaska remain strong, and his extended family continues to be an important part of the community there. The Lekanoff name is well-known in the region, representing a long-standing connection to the sea, the land, and the Russian Aleut heritage.

Despite the long stretches at sea during his career, Lenny has always prioritized time with his family. Recent social media posts show him enjoying holidays with his wife’s family in Oregon, and traveling to Anchorage to reconnect with familiar places and people. His ability to balance a demanding maritime career with a deep commitment to home life speaks to the values he was raised with—and continues to live by.