Captain Phil Harris showing off an Alaska King Crab on the deck of his ship the Cornelia Marie
On February 9th, 2010 the world lost a man who showed great bravery in his final hours of life. He did not rub elbows with kings and people in high places. He did not appear on a list of one of the world’s most important people, nor was he on any list of millionaires in the world. Contrary to his title of “Captain” he was not in the military when he died. Yet the bravery of Captain Phil Harris, crab fisherman on the Bering Sea, lives on in the minds of his family, crew, film crew and the viewers of a reality show, “Deadliest Catch.”
Captain Harris was captain for more than 20 years of a fishing vessel named Cornelia Marie. He was divorced and had two sons, Josh and Jake who went to work with him on the ship when they were old enough to learn to be crab fishermen. Working on a crabber is grueling, dangerous work. That’s why the show earned the name it carries.
The theme song for “Deadliest Catch” by Bon Jovi
Facebook Comment
A couple days ago, on my Facebook feed I saw a post asking people to vote for their favorite reality show performer between Captain Harris and Gordon Ramsay, chef on “Master Chef.” I always liked Phil Harris for his down-to-earth, diamond-in-the-rough ways. He was blunt in his way of speaking, and said things exactly as he meant them. With Phil Harris, what you saw was what you got. There were no “airs” about him. He loved fishing and he loved driving anything that would go fast, particularly motorcycles. The manner of his passing and the courage he showed in his final hours not only brought me to tears, but increased my admiration for him. I voted on the Facebook poll and commented the following:
“Captain Phil Harris was the greatest TV personality of all time. How many other TV reality show stars have you seen, as they are dying, still worrying about their sons welfare? None. That’s why he’s the greatest, hands down!”
The comment has so far gathered 112 “likes” overnight. I believe I know why; it raised attention because many other people feel the same. I have nothing against the talented, but obnoxious Mr. Ramsay as I’m sure his show is entertaining. But for me, the bravery shown by Phil Harris as he knew he was living his last hours, worrying about his sons welfare and how they would get along without him was one of the most heart-rending things I’ve ever seen. It was real, it was no act, he actually died. The filming was done hours before he died, but the episode was not shown until July 20, 2010, giving his family and friends and crew of “Deadliest Catch,” the chance to mourn in privacy.
Captain Phil Harris, tough guy
with a soft heart
“It Needs An Ending”
The part of this you may not know is that the night before Captain Harris passed away, he wrote on a napkin to the cameramen who had followed him but were going to stop filming, “You’ve got to finish the story. It needs an ending.” He knew that viewers would want to know what had happened to him. That to me, takes great courage and love for people, to consider them when you’re dying. He could have let it just be announced on the show after he was gone, but he knew that wouldn’t help the show’s viewers to accept his passing. He cared about his kids, and the feelings of his crew. But to be concerned about the feelings of viewers of the show, people for the most part he had never met, was an act unknown in the annals of television history.
Pulmonary Embolism
His health problems began in 2008, when he was thrown from his bunk during a storm. He thought he had broken his ribs, and coughed up blood for some time until his sons and crew convinced him to seek medical help. The film crew was enlisted to follow his condition. After examination showed he had suffered a pulmonary embolism, which in itself is often fatal, he was given treatment and pulled through, but was unable to fish for almost a year. He managed to return for the opilio crab season in 2009. He was a chain smoker, which was shown on the series, and that probably further contributed to his health woes.
Massive Stroke
Captain Harris suffered a massive stroke in January of 2010 while offloading crab at St. Paul Island, Alaska. He was airlifted to Anchorage for surgery and placed in an induced coma to reduce the swelling in his brain. Waking from the coma, he was squeezing hands, talking and showing other signs of improvement, but an intracranial hemorrhage finally took his life. Many people believe he was given those last few days to speak to his boys of his concern for them. It was Season 6 of “Deadliest Catch.” Captain Harris was cremated, and half his ashes buried in an ornate Harley Davidson motorcycle gas tank, as a tip of the hat to his love for speed, with the remains of his mother. The rest of his ashes were scattered at sea where he loved to be.
His sons issued a press statement as follows:
“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. For us and the crew, he was someone who never backed down. We will remember and celebrate that strength. Thanks to everyone for their thoughts and prayers.”
If you’d like to know more about Captain Phil Harris, the Cornelia Marie and crab fishing on the Bering Sea, here’s some things you might like. The first two are books; one by Josh and Jake about their Dad, the other by author Larry Erickson writing about the Captains, and featuring stories told by Captain Harris:
Captain Phil Harris: The Legendary Crab Fisherman, Our Hero, Our Dad
The Deadliest Catch: Desperate Hours by Larry Erickson (2008) Paperback
This is a great tribute piece. But not only that I love how you cover the feelings and the actions of the man in a way that captures the moment. 🙂
Alrady, thanks for the visit and the kind words. He was a good man who cared for his sons. He is sorely missed by viewers of the show, including this author.
A wonderful tribute to Phil. He was a favorite and it was so sad losing him.
His boys are a concern for us all who got to know them via Phil and their work on the Cornelia Marie.
So glad Josh was able to get back to it and seems to be doing well. Very concerned for Jake and praying
he will make it out of the mess of life back to reality and back w/Josh again on the boat.
We like the Hilstrands a lot. They’re a bit of a crazy lot, aren’t they? But fun.
I hope that new dad Jake hasn’t made a really big mistake by captaining Elliot’s boat!
Elliot isn’t stable and could go through rehab only to boot him off of his boat when he wants to take the
wheel back. Jake has come a long way with Sig & Edgar’s guidance & I hope he’ll be ok.
Love this show. It’s more than just an entertaining nite of tv…it is in fact, the lives of some pretty good
men and their families who you want to see succeed. Who you only want the best for.
Thanks Nancy, for this great write!
Thank you lin, yes, I’m concerned about Jake Harris. I’m so hoping he can eventually come through his struggle into a brighter, better life. I love the Hilstrands too. Actually I just love the entire show, Wild Bill, Keith Colburn, all of them. It was really heartwarming to see Jake Anderson with his new baby son, wasn’t it? I hope for him that everything works out. If Elliot returns and takes charge, that’s going to leave Jake in a bad place. Sig may not take him back, but I think he would want to, because I think he sees some of himself in Jake. I’m not sure how far he will go with him now that he’s walked away from the Northwestern twice. Jake surely will come out on top, whatever happens, because he’s smart and a good worker. Oh and, the night they showed the episode where Phil’s death was announced, I cried like it was a family member. I just loved that guy and he’s a great loss to all of his fans! Thanks for dropping by, appreciate your comments!
@wordsmiths.yuku.com/ or linstuff@gmail.com, This show is one of my favorites, and Phil was a special man. My family and I cried the night we found out he had passed away. It was like losing a member of our family. As you said, it is more than just an entertaining night of TV…it’s “the lives of some pretty good men and their families who you want to see succeed.” My Dad was a hardworking truck driver, and I see flashes of him in these men who lay it all on the line for their families. Thanks for the visit and the comment, it’s really appreciated.
I’ve never seen this TV show, but after reading what you wrote, I will be looking for it on Hulu. He sounds like a wonderful father so I’d like to know him better through the episodes he left behind.
Linda, these guys are not refined gentlemen, but they are hardworking, hardliving people, who take care of their own. The crab boat owners who fish the Bering Sea are like brothers to each other, they argue and even fight, but they always stick together. Captain Phil Harris was a man of many contradictions, but none of those affected his love for his sons and his love for the sea and fishing. He never had anything that he didn’t work for, and that’s what he expected of others. Hope you enjoy the series. BTW, my favorite Captain has always been Sig Hansen, with Phil Harris running a very close second!
Nancy, what a moving tribute to a person whose life made such a difference in yours. It’s heartwarming to see how many others agreed with you that this rather “ordinary” human being was truly extraordinary and deserving of recognition long after his last breath.
Kathryn, he was truly a “great” man, in a world where so many use that euphemism without really meaning it. He was great because he put on no airs, he was simply himself, take it or leave it. But he loved his kids, his country, the sea and fishing. He also loved the people he worked with and around everyday, though he would never have said it to them. It wasn’t his way, but everyone who knew him and were friends with him knew his feelings for them, from his deeds. Thanks for the visit, my friend. 😀
What an amazing story! They say that truth is stranger than fiction, and it’s usually more interesting, too. I’ve never seen the show, but I admire the dedication that Captain Phil Harris showed, even in his last days. Great tribute!
Susan, thanks for the visit. He was an amazing person, a diamond in the rough as they say. But his heart was softer than any diamond. He loved his boys, no matter their faults and mistakes, which I totally got. The concern he showed for everyone he was leaving behind was remarkable.
Nancy, this is, indeed, a beautiful and moving tribute to this remarkable, brave and caring man. My husband has been a fan of The Deadliest Catch for many years and Captain Phil’s passing hit him hard.
Margaret, it hit so many of us hard. It was almost as though a member of the family passed. We had grown to love his gruffness and his heart of gold. It really moved me that he was so concerned for others, even though he KNEW he was dying. He loved his boys too, even with all their faults and mistakes, just like the rest of us do, so I identified with that. Thanks for the visit!
A beautiful tribute Nancy for a memorable man. Very moving indeed. Brings tears to my eyes. I remember this too; my hubby and I watch Deadliest Catch quite often.
Thank you Barbara, we never miss it. These guys may be a rough bunch but they’re a slice of American life I’m grateful we get to view. All of them, in my book, are special people, but Captain Phil was just the best!