Tyler Duckworth, the two-time winner of MTV’s The Challenge and former Real World: Key West star, has died. He was 44.
His mother, Toni, announced his death on Facebook Thursday. “My son, Tyler, passed away earlier this week. Cause of death has yet to be determined,” she wrote, adding that she would share a follow-up post when a cause of death was made available.
The Grand Forks Police Department told People that officers were sent to his residence on Tuesday after a neighbor reported water coming through the ceiling from his apartment. Duckworth was found dead in his bathroom, with police telling the outlet an investigation is pending “there. doesn’t appear to be any signs of foul play or suspicious death.”
Duckworth joined the MTV family as a castmember on The Real World: Key West in 2006. From there, he appeared on six seasons of The Challenge. His first stint was on The Duel (2006-07), and he also competed on The Gauntlet III (2008); Cutthroat (2010); Rivals (2011); and the second and third seasons of the All Stars spinoff across 2021 and 2022.
He won his first season of the show on Cutthroat, alongside his teammates Brad Fiorenza, Dunbar Merrill and Tori Fiorenza. Duckworth also won Rivals with his teammate Johnny Devenanzio; Evelyn Smith and Paula Meronek also won that installment.
In early August, Duckworth shared an Instagram post after attending a Challenge Mania event alongside a few Challenge alumni. “So proud to represent my hometown of Minneapolis along with these other challenge legends. The fans are what keep us coming out! Hearing your stories of courage, inspiration & joy that you’ve got being a fan of the franchise is humbling each and every time. Also, pretty sure we nailed the cast photo for the lost season of The Real World: Minneapolis!! Thank you Minneapolis,” he wrote.
Fellow Challenge contestant and Big Brother player Paulie Calafiore, who appeared in Duckworth’s August post, penned a tribute on Instagram, resharing photos from the fan event.
“Life is crazy. RIP Mighty Duckworth! You were so vibrant 2 weeks ago, it’s so wild to imagine your vibrant energy no longer here,” he wrote. “Sending prayers and love to your family and friends. The Challenge fam lost a legend.”
