Reality television star Tyler Duckworth, a two-time winner of MTV’s The Challenge, has died aged 44. His mother, Joni, confirmed his death on Facebook on Thursday, 13 August. She said the cause of death had not yet been determined.
According to People, police went to Duckworth’s residence at about 11:45am on Tuesday, 11 August, after neighbours reported water leaking through their ceiling. Officers found him dead in his bathroom. Police said there were no apparent signs of foul play or a suspicious death. The cause remains pending an autopsy and toxicology report, which could take 10–12 weeks.
Duckworth had appeared at a Challenge Mania event in Minneapolis on 31 July, where he reunited with fellow cast members and spoke about his appreciation for the show’s fans.
He began his reality television career on MTV’s The Real World: Key West in 2006 after graduating from Tufts University. He later competed in six seasons of The Challenge — The Duel, The Gauntlet III, Cutthroat, Rivals, All Stars 2 and All Stars 3. He won Cutthroat and Rivals.
Fellow Challenge figures Scott Yager and Derrick Kosinski paid tribute to Duckworth, remembering his energy, warmth and competitive spirit.
Duckworth later worked as a middle and high school teacher. In a 2021 interview with Entertainment Weekly, he said he returned to the franchise because he wanted to compete and test whether he still had what it took.
