Junior Edwards, one of the original cast members of the History Channel‘s Swamp People, has died, per a Facebook announcement posted by his grandson and co-star “Little” Willie Edwards.
“Rest easy pawpaw….i know your [sic] probably running your hoop nets or doing something crazy inside those pearly gates…you will be extremely missed pawpaw we love you more than anything!!! Until we meet again,” Edwards wrote alongside a photo of his father, Willie Edwards, and grandfather on a boat.
Though no cause of death was shared, a post from earlier this month indicated the grizzled alligator-hunting patriarch was experiencing health issues.
“Yall keep him in yalls thoughts and prayers please…we need a miracle,” “Little” Willie Edwards wrote in a July 6 post. “Get better for us papa we love you!!!”
Premiering on the History Channel in 2010, Swamp People featured Junior Edwards in Seasons 1 through 6 of the reality television series, which follows the day-to-day lives of alligator hunters living in the swamps of Louisiana’s Atchafalaya River Basin. Though he departed the show in 2015, he returned in 2021’s Season 12, and his tenure overall totals 100 episodes. The Season 16 Swamp People finale aired in April of this year, and the show is expected to return in 2026.
His death sparked tributes from co-stars like Ronnie Adams and his hunting partner/fan-favorite cast member Ashley “Deadeye” Jones.
“Praying for the Edward’s [sic] in this time of need!!! Rest in peace Junior!!!” wrote Adams in an Instagram post.
Jones added in a post alongside a photo of her with Junior Edwards: “The world lost a legend! Mr Junior Edwards passed away! Please be in prayer for the family! He was one of the greatest alligator hunters there is! He was real hardcore outdoorsman! I watched this man bring in MONSTER gators at Duffys Gas Station in Pierre Part LA. This was after a looooong day for both of us and you can tell it! Glad we took a second for a pic!”
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