Duane Ollinger, the star of Discovery’s Mystery at Blind Frog Ranch, has died at the age of 68 after battling ALS.
Ollinger’s death was confirmed by his co-star and close friend Ryan Skinner, who shared the news Wednesday, June 3, in the Blind Frog Ranch Reddit community.
Skinner said Ollinger died around 2:30 p.m. in the ICU in Amarillo, Texas, after suffering respiratory failure from pneumonia while also battling ALS.
“I’m saddened to share that my close friend Duane Ollinger passed away today around 2:30 PM in the ICU in Amarillo, Texas, due to respiratory failure from pneumonia, while battling ALS disease,” Skinner wrote.
Skinner said he had recently learned that Ollinger’s health had taken a sudden turn after ongoing complications from multiple strokes over the last couple of years.
He also praised Ollinger’s girlfriend, Marylee, for remaining by his side until the end.
“His girlfriend, Marylee, stayed by his side through it all and made sure he was cared for right up to the end,” Skinner wrote.
Emery Smith, who has worked at Blind Frog Ranch since 2023 and appeared in an episode of the Discovery series, also confirmed Ollinger’s death in a Facebook post. Smith said Ollinger had suffered a respiratory arrest and described learning of his sudden passing while preparing to travel to see him.
“I was alerted Sunday of his deterioration in his health from his girlfriend Marylee and was hopping on a plane with Darla today when we received the alarming sudden death, text message a short moment ago,” Smith wrote.
Smith said Ollinger had endured multiple strokes in recent years, which had taken a major toll on him physically and emotionally.
Ollinger became known to viewers through Mystery at Blind Frog Ranch, which premiered on Discovery in 2021.
The series followed Ollinger, his son Chad, and a team of explorers as they searched for rumored hidden treasure and investigated strange activity on Blind Frog Ranch in Utah’s Uinta Basin.
Ollinger believed the property could hold ancient Aztec gold, and the show built a fan base around its mix of treasure hunting, mystery and unexplained phenomena.
Before becoming a television personality, Ollinger was a high-risk oil contractor who poured his resources into the Utah property and its mysteries.
The sixth season of Mystery at Blind Frog Ranch premiered shortly before his death. Because of Ollinger’s illness, treasure hunter Josh Feldman stepped into a leading role in the search.
A Discovery Channel spokesperson paid tribute to Ollinger in a statement to Entertainment Weekly.
“Duane Ollinger leaves behind a legacy of curiosity and determination,” the spokesperson said. “Through his work, he invited people along in his search for answers and the unknown. We share our condolences with his family, friends, and all who were part of his journey.”
Skinner remembered Ollinger as a man with humor, intelligence and a gift for lifting the mood even during difficult moments.
He said he would remember his friend for “his humor, his intelligence, and the way he could make light of any situation.”
“He cared deeply about his family and was always willing to help others,” Skinner wrote.
Skinner also described Ollinger as “a man of his word” and “a truly caring individual with a heart as big as Texas.”
Smith also honored Ollinger’s kindness and love for his family, writing that he was known for his “relentless humor” and generosity.
“He was extremely kind and always helped others in need and was very giving to all,” Smith wrote. “He loved his family tremendously and always put them first.”
For fans of Mystery at Blind Frog Ranch, Ollinger was more than a reality TV star. He was the determined face of a strange and fascinating search that blended adventure, legend and obsession.
His death leaves a major hole in the world of the show and in the lives of those who knew him personally.