Phil Harris passed yesterday

Joeaksa · 02-10-2010, 04:10 AM

Captain of the Cornelia Marie on Deadlist Catch passed away yesterday.

Sad to see but he did not slow down when he had health issues a year ago. Hope he has good weather, good fishing and tailwinds on his journey West. RIP Phil.

~~~~~

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Phil Harris, the fishing boat captain whose adventures off the Alaska coast were captured on the television show "Deadliest Catch", has died, the Discovery Channel said Tuesday night. He was 53.

Harris suffered what his family described as a massive stroke on Jan. 29 while the fishing vessel he captained, Cornelia Marie, was in port at St. Paul Island, Alaska. The fisherman was flown to Anchorage for surgery.

The reality show, which has filmed five seasons, has been one of the Discovery Channel's most popular and depicts the crab fishing industry in the dangerous waters off Alaska.

"It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to our dad - Captain Phil Harris. Dad has always been a fighter and continued to be until the end," sons Josh and Jake Harris said in a statement released by the network. "For us and the crew, he was someone who never backed down."

In a statement, Discovery Channel senior vice president Elizabeth Hillman says, "Phil was a devoted father and loyal friend to all who knew him."

"We will miss his straightforward honesty, wicked sense of humor and enormous heart," she said.

Discovery Channel: 'Deadliest Catch' captain dies

cwiert · cwiert's Garage

i used to watch that show regularly, but last year i stopped. I mean, how many times can you watch them catch the same crab, the same storms, the same ice. But yeah, Phil seemed to do whatever he wanted, despite his heath issues. At least he went on his own terms.

stomachmonkey · 02-10-2010, 04:50 AM

Liked him. Seemed like a decent, honest hard working guy.

VINMAN · 02-10-2010, 05:36 AM

RIP Capt. Phil.

legion · 02-10-2010, 05:41 AM

He had such crazy hair. Too bad he killed that girl.

pete3799 · pete3799's Garage

One of my favorites as well.
R.I.P. Phil.

911Freak · 02-10-2010, 06:28 AM

RIP Phil

He certainly lived/went on his own terms..
I've never met anyone who could put away the red bulls and cigarettes like Cpt Phil.

Brillo · Brillo's Garage

RIP Captain Phil

HardDrive · 02-10-2010, 08:43 AM

He was a solid guy that loved his sons. RIP.

I still love the show.

fingpilot · 02-10-2010, 10:32 AM

Have seen a lot of command 'types' over the years, coming up thru the ranks. Phil would have been considerd 'old school'. Everything was 'hard time'. Drank hard, smoked hard, ran on adrenaline, he carried everything on his shoulders, and nothing ever let up. Ran as taught a ship as he could, probably just like his father would have as well. Look at his sons, they knew they were loved, but they will run just like dad.

Don't see many of these 'types' anymore, they usually keel over mid-50's.

Phil was 53.

Gone West, but not forgotten.

syncroid · 02-10-2010, 11:28 AM

Love the show. I am sure he will be missed by many. The Red Bull, cigarettes, copious ammounts of booze, and little to no sleep at times didn't help him too much.
RIP Captain Phil

onlycafe · 02-10-2010, 02:03 PM

i always liked this phil harris.

Phil Harris was on the Jack Benny Show since 1934, playing the jive-talking hipster bandleader of questionable repute.

Joeaksa · 02-10-2010, 02:51 PM

Also loved watching him and the rest of the gang at the after season get-togethers with the Discovery people. Last one was in San Diego at a local dive.

Will miss him and might just have a shot or two in his honor tonight... facing West.