Who from Pawn Stars died?
Executive summary
Two individuals connected to Pawn Stars have died: Richard “The Old Man” Harrison, an original on-screen co-owner who died in 2018, and Adam Harrison, a son of Rick Harrison who died in 2024; Adam was not a regular cast member on the show and his death was treated by family and some outlets as a private matter [1] [2] [3]. Reporting about Adam’s cause evolved in the weeks after his death, with family spokespeople and later local reporting attributing it to an overdose — reporting that not all outlets initially confirmed [4] [5] [6].
1. Richard “The Old Man” Harrison — the on‑screen patriarch who died in 2018
Richard Benjamin Harrison, widely known on Pawn Stars as “The Old Man,” was a founding figure of the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop and one of the show’s original, on‑screen personalities; his death was publicly confirmed in 2018 and widely covered by industry outlets and the show’s network [1] [7]. Coverage repeatedly describes him as a co-owner of the shop since 1989 and a staple of Pawn Stars from the series’ 2009 debut until his death, with tributes emphasizing his blunt wit and role as a family patriarch on screen [8] [1]. The precise date and age cited across contemporary reports place his passing in 2018 at 77, and the network and family offered statements that were carried in mainstream press at the time [1] [7].
2. Adam Harrison — Rick Harrison’s son, death reported in 2024, not a regular cast member
Adam Harrison, one of Rick Harrison’s three sons, was found dead in January 2024; initial family and media statements described the death as sudden and noted it as a private family matter, with early reports identifying a suspected overdose and later local outlets reporting a fentanyl cause [6] [4] [5]. Multiple entertainment outlets covering the story made clear that Adam was not a recurring Pawn Stars cast member like his father or brother Corey, and that the show itself did not plan to address his passing on air beyond family social posts, according to reporting citing family representatives [3] [9]. Coverage after the fact varied in detail: some later summaries attributed an accidental overdose involving fentanyl and methamphetamine (an account in a 2025 compilation), while contemporaneous local reporting named fentanyl specifically — underscoring how cause‑of‑death reporting can shift as investigations and family statements emerge [10] [5].
3. What counts as a Pawn Stars death — on‑screen cast versus family and rumors
Public understanding of “who from Pawn Stars died” is complicated by the show’s mix of on‑screen cast, family members who are sometimes off‑camera, and frequent guest experts; the widely known, confirmed cast death is Richard Harrison’s, while Adam’s death is frequently mentioned because of his family connection but he was not a regular show cast member [1] [3]. The series and outlets have also been forced to correct or contextualize earlier misinformation over the years — for example, the program’s cast has been the target of death hoaxes (notably about Austin “Chumlee” Russell) and some outlets have flagged AI‑generated takeaways that can misstate facts, meaning readers should watch for corrections in later coverage [11] [9].
4. Sources, disagreements and limits in available reporting
Contemporary reporting from History‑adjacent outlets and major entertainment press documents Richard Harrison’s death firmly [1] [7], while the public record around Adam’s passing evolved: family reps and local news reported an overdose and later specified fentanyl, but several national outlets initially withheld specific cause details pending investigation or family comment [6] [4] [5]. Some later compilations (dating into 2025) give fuller toxicology narratives that earlier pieces did not; where provided sources disagree on detail, that reflects normal journalistic updates as investigations and official statements roll out, and this review does not assert beyond what those sources report [10].
5. Why the distinction matters — privacy, narrative and the show’s focus
The Harrison family’s decision to treat Adam’s death with relative privacy and the production’s choice not to spotlight it on Pawn Stars underscore a broader separation between the show’s public persona and the family’s private losses; outlets like TV Insider and TMZ were cited about the show’s plan not to address Adam’s passing beyond family posts [3]. Readers should therefore distinguish between on‑screen cast members (Richard Harrison’s passing is part of the show’s documented history) and relatives or peripheral figures whose deaths, while covered in the press, were not necessarily incorporated into the program’s narrative or official statements [1] [3].