Zeke Tenhoff in the Headlines: Inside His Marriage to Alexis, Baby Boden, and Life Beyond Bering Sea Gold

For more than ten years, Zeke Tenhoff has been one of the most recognizable—and unpredictable—personalities on Discovery’s Bering Sea Gold. Born and raised in Alaska, Zeke grew up surrounded by the rugged challenges of frontier life, which seemed to shape his daring approach to mining. When the show first introduced him, he was not just another diver chasing pay dirt; he was an inventor and risk‑taker who built The Clark, a homemade dredge that quickly became a fixture in Nome’s harbor. His willingness to experiment, to try methods that others might dismiss as reckless, gave viewers some of the series’ most memorable moments. Later, he unveiled The Black Swan, a more ambitious dredge that showcased both his mechanical creativity and his determination to refine his craft. Along the way, Zeke’s journey was marked by financial setbacks, rivalries, and personal struggles—but also moments of brilliance that reminded audiences why he remained central to the story of Nome’s modern gold rush. His career has been a rollercoaster, but one constant has been his relentless drive to prove that innovation and grit can survive even in the harshest waters.

Yet, the waters of the Bering Sea are only part of Zeke’s story. Away from the dredges and the glare of television cameras, his life has quietly taken on a deeper meaning—fatherhood. In May 2022, Zeke’s future with Alexis Alamillo was celebrated publicly when his sister‑in‑law posted with excitement that the two were getting married, writing with affection, “My adorable little sister and her very sweet partner are getting married… Oh Zeke, welcome to the family!” The joy didn’t stop there. By mid‑2023, family members were counting down the weeks to the couple’s first child, sharing updates after every check‑up.

One July 2023 post described Alexis at 41 weeks along, noting with relief and humor that “everything is perfect! He’s running right on time for fitting into this family.” These candid, heartfelt notes from loved ones reveal just how eagerly Boden’s arrival was anticipated. By early August 2023, Boden, Zeke and Alexis’s son, was born—greeted with heartfelt congratulations from family. His grandmother Robin wrote with joy, “Baby boy arrived too. Congratulations Alexis and Zeke. You two are fantastico!”

As Boden grew, the family’s love for him shone through social media updates. A post from April 2024 shows Boden in the arms of his aunt, with the caption: “Boden charming aunt Lania! He’s such an amazing little man!” These glimpses reveal a more personal side of Zeke, not just as a daring miner but as a devoted father and husband. From the excitement of baby showers to family celebrations, his life off-screen has become anchored in love and responsibility. Alexis even appeared alongside him in Bering Sea Gold Season 18, Episode 6 (“Perfect Disharmony,” 2024), credited on-screen as Zeke’s wife, Lexi—offering fans a rare glimpse of their partnership beyond social media updates.

Outside the show, Alexis brings her own impressive background: she has worked as a rigger with Cirque du Soleil, held stagehand and electrician roles with IATSE, and contributed her talents to large-scale productions including the Burning Man Project, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, and Alaska Center for the Performing Arts. She also works with Sevigny Studio Alaskan Art and previously served as Flying Director at ZFX Flying Effects. A University of Colorado Boulder graduate in Theatre Design, Alexis blends artistry and technical expertise, making her not only Zeke’s life partner but also a creative force in her own right.

Even before marriage and motherhood brought new responsibilities, Alexis faced moments that tested her resilience. Back in June 2021, when she was still Zeke’s girlfriend, one particularly dramatic moment came when Alexis was briefly reported missing while hiking near Nome with her dog. The Nome Police Department issued a locate notice, urging the public to help, and Zeke himself took to local Facebook groups asking for assistance, writing that his girlfriend Lexi and her dog had been gone for nearly 20 hours and that he was trying to organize search efforts on foot. Thankfully, the case was resolved quickly and she was located safe. The incident underscored both the unpredictability of life in Alaska and the resilience of their family in facing challenges together.

Today, Zeke balances two worlds: the unpredictable, high-stakes grind of gold dredging beneath the icy Bering Sea and the quiet joys of raising his son at home. Fatherhood has added a new dimension to his journey, transforming the image of a free-spirited adventurer into that of a man building a lasting legacy—not just with gold, but with family.