By: 
Captain Phil Harris of 128-foot F/V Cornelia Marie dies at the age of 53 today, February 9, 2010, in Alaska. Phil Harris co-owned the Cornelia Marie, a crab fishing boat featured in Discovery Channel series Deadliest Catch.
Harris left the Cornelia Marie in Season 4 because of health issue while at sea. He returned in Season 5 but he suffered a massive stroke and was delivered to St. Paul Island, Alaska and flown to Anchorage for surgery. And on Tuesday, he passed away.
This is what Harris’ sons, Jake and Josh, stated on the ‘Cornelia Marie’ website:
“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.”
Jake and Josh Harris, Capt. Phil Harris’ sons
Discovery Network also expressed their deepest condolences to Harris’ family. They said that Harris is a good father and good friend.
Thousands of fans mourns and shared their feelings on the Cornelia Marie website. Right now the website is currently down due to the huge number of visitors accessing the site.
IMAGE CREDIT: corneliamarie.com
RIP Capt. Phil. You will be dearly missed. You are now at peace with our Lord and he will watch over your family, to guide and protect them.
Rich
Me and my husband watch you guys all the time. We are very sad and we are your biggest fans. We love you guys and god bless everyone one of you. We will always remember phill in our hearts as he was one of our favorite captains on deadliest catch. Year after year we watch you guys and it hits home everytime we see somebody pass on the show. We want to send our condolences to the cornelia crew expecially josh and jake and the harris family. RIP Phill. To the rest of the fishing vessels out at sea let god keep you safe and always keep your eyes on the lord.
We’ll all miss Capt Phil. Jake & Josh you were very lucky to get to work with your dad. My dad passed at 62. I worked with him for the last 5 years of his life. I wouldn’t take a million dollars for those 5 years. God bless stay strong make your dad even more proud.
Dear jake and josh.Deadlaist catch wont be the same without your dad there.I always told people if i had a chance to go fishing on a crab boat that i would want to be on the cornelia marie.your dad will be missed greatly.my thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family.stay strong and god bless.
Capt. Phil,
Your boat was my favorite on the deadliest catch, can’t imagine watching the next season with out you. Rest in peace, we miss you.
RIP Captain Phil, You were my favorite. My sympathies Jake, and Josh. He will be missed.
I will miss him.
Capt.Phil, one of the greats, one great loss. jake and josh your father was a person i admired for his determination when things went wrong and when it was rough. Phil will be missed by those of us who sit at home and watch you on tv. gods speed Phil.
a great show and a great man will be sadly missed i always loved the boat that phil captained
this season will be hard to watch without a tear in the eyes
my sympathy goes out to jake and josh
god bless all
Captain Phil ,you will be missed. You were my favorite my thoughts and prayers go out to the family and crew of the Cornelia Marie. We will miss seeing you this season on the catch , You will always be remembered. Forever in our hearts.
To the Harris family
Your father was the toughest of the tough and a fair man.As you follow in his footsteps i know that you will make him,your family,and the rest of the fleet proud.
RIP Captain and Godspeed
REST IN PEACE CAPTAIN PHIL…OUR PRAYERS ARE WITH YOUR FAMILY…
ALWAYS IN OUR HARTS….
THE DEEPEST CONDOLENCES TO YOUR FAMILY…ALWAYS IN OUR HARTS…
RIP Phil…. The show and boat will not be the same. Condolences to Jake and Josh and crew and family… Sadly missed
Rest in Peace Big Phill… you’ll be miss..
Capt.Phil Harris will sorely be missed and I agree,the Show and Boat won’t be the same,and to the family STAY STRONG AND CARRY ON,YOU KNOW YOUR DAD WILL BE WITH YOU AN THE CREW IN SPIRIT
Will miss you on the next series but you wll be watching over all boats
Jake and Josh; Just a word to let you know both Louise and I loved your Dad and the special part he played in Deadliest Catch these past several years. Having suffered a massive heart attack, I know the feelings he must have had . Like my Dad, Phil passed at age 53.
We both know he’s with our Creator; he earned it, and espite the drama of your various disputes, he was thoroughly human, only wanting the best for you guys and at the same time demanding that you give your best. No less is required by the Sea with which all of you have struggled.
If and only if you can, quit smoking. I did not until I was 55 – in our late 70s now – and have a shorter life expectancy than I might expect otherwise. And make your captaincy aboard Cornelia Marie always be something for which he will smile with pride. He’s in a kinder gentler place for sure. We’ll miss him a LOT!
God Bless & keep the faith! John and Louise
DEAR JAKE AND JOSH I LIVE IN NORTH WALES UK AND AM A BIG FAN AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY IM REALLY SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR DAD AS YOU KNOW HE WAS A TOP TOP BLOKE EVEN THOUGH I NEVER MET HIM I FEEL I HAVE LOST A FRIEND. I HOPE YOU BOTH WILL CARRY ON WITH THE BOAT AS YOU BOTH ARE TOP TOP BLOKES TOO. R.I.P PHIL WE ALL MISS YOU IN THE UK.
Hi Jake and Josh,
I live in the UK and have been an avid fan of ‘Deadliest Catch’ ever since it was first shown on TV. I can agree with the presenters when they say it’s the most dangerous job in the world, you can’t beat mother nature. Your father was my favourite due to the fact that he was who he was, it was easy to see that he has been a hard worker all his life and well deserved every penny he earned to bring food to the table of millions of people. I was deeply shocked when I heard the sad news and he was taken way too early, may he rest in peace and you can carry on your crab seasons knowing full well that the experienced hands of you father will be hovering over your vessel and hopefully bringing you fruitful harvests.
God bless you all and thank you for what you do.
Jake and Josh.I live in md and i loved to watch your dad and your crew catch crabs.The show wont be the same without phil,I know the feeling of losing a father i lost mine in 1998 and i think of him daily.I worked on the water myself for 25 years i caught blue cabs here in md.I always wanted to go to dutch harbor just to go on a boat and say that i crabed in the bering sea,that would really be one goal i would love to do above all others.Well stay strong and think of the good things you all did together with your dad it will make you feel better.God Bless Take Care. Tim
im sorry,,,,,i loved your daddy very much…Hes with spirit a breath of fresh air…….and i got your back boys…..grandma………by the way if there was any man on earth that would of made my best partner….it would of been your dad….
ps…you can connect….helen rogers……….facebook……….
I was very sorry to hear of your loss he was a very loving dad and we enjoyed watching you all, he was the Captain we loved most , God Bless you
RIP captain Phil I was so sadened to hear this news. For me it was like losing a friend. watching the programme made me fell are was part of the family For Josh and Jake it is not easy to say farewell to your dad but remember the good times and all the things you were able to share during your time together. He will always be with you in your heart and in your thoughts
It saddens me to hear of phils passing.he was a great captain, and a wonderful father, and a superior fisherman.I will miss seeing him on tv I prey for the family,and wish them well in the future God bless you all.
just got to say what a top man capt phil harris was the show will not be the same without him .take care josh and jake rip phil still crab fishing in heaven i bet
Rest in Peace Captain Phil Harris. We will miss watching you on Deadliest Catch. A prayer goes out to your sons and family. God bless your family and we will see you up there some day.
My deepest condolences to Captain Phil Harris’ family. He will be truly missed.
Wishing you Gods’ blessings, calm seas and full pots in Heavens’ crab grounds! Thanks for sharing your livelihood with us! Keep an eye your boys.
Sorry for your loss Cornelia Marie crew and Harris family. I enjoy watching you all. I hope and pray for the best for you, Harris family and crew. Again I am sorry. R.I.P. Phil Harris, you will be missed.
I’ll miss Phit too but he smoked like a chimney! What did he expect to happen? These guys work their butts off but don’t take care of themselves – it doesn’ make sense to me. If he really cared about his family he should have thrown the cigarettes overboard. Too bad,
I just found out that Phil passed away, my deepest sympathies and prayers go out to the Harris family…He will be greatly missed. God Bless
it broke my heart to hear the sad news that phil harris has passed. he was my favorite on the show of deadlest catch. i will miss him deeply. my thoughts and prayers go to jake and josh. know he will be with you always in whatever you do.
I loved phil and the corelia marie and am so sorry for the loss i have never shed a tear for a person on tv but i did for phil he will alawys be in my heart
To Josh, Jake and your entire family.
I was saddened to hear about the loss of your Dad.
I have watched the show since it started. I have always admired the strength and courage of your Dad and everyone that works the crab fishing business.
You were very fortunate to spend time with your Dad.
I lost my Dad when I was young and never got to spend time I wanted with him. There is never a day that goes by,I do not think of him or say a prayer for him. He will always be with me in my mind and heart.
My deepest condolences go out to you and your family.
I watch the show every Tuesday Night on the discovery channel. i started crying my eyes out to learn Phil passes away! I love you guy and truly considered you a part of my family!!
Mourning the loss of captain phill harris never knew he really had passed. My thoughts prayers and best wishes go out to his family and incredible fishing crew if I had the chance to do it I would in rememberance of him r.I.p phill you will always be loved and missed
Dear Harris family, I will keep you in my prayers. Jake, do not let the events of your last day with your dad on the Cornelia Marie burden you, let them give you all the determination you need to suceed in all you want to do in your life………my daughter is a slow learner and has still not quit crying when we watch the program. She loved your dad most of all…..
Dottie Crosby and Gina in Pavo, Georgia
Buon viaggio Phil, veglia sulla tua famiglia
I just read the news about the death of Phil and I am very saddened. I was so happy when he recovered and felt he was doing everything right and would move forward a healthier man……..I am so sad this was not the case. Phil was the reason I watched the show, what a great sincere, honest man, to say you will be missed is an understatement, I felt like you were an Uncle in my family. Keep on crabbin upstairs, and we will all look for you if we are lucky enough to arrive in the same place. My sympathy goes out to his sons Jake and Josh and all his family. The memories you have of your father will keep him alive in your hearts forever.
Capt. Phil…you will be surely missed. Your sons will continue your legacy no doubt. To the nay sayeers that affiliated your death with bad habits and poor health…..what if you jogged every day of your life..one morning..you were run over and killed by an innocent driver? Dang, guess you should not have learned to drive, or walk on the sidewalk? Should we hold lawsuits against those people that put our lives in danger????
me and my dad always looked forward to watching the show and we heard about his passing i aculy cryed we will miss phil his ense of homur his way of getting to the point and getting the job done or breaking up a fight we will truly miss him as well as everyone else take care boys.
I loved to watch Phil! Things will not be the same!! Phil u will be sincerely missed by all of ur family and friends!! Jake and Josh My prayers r with you!!
I just watched the Deadliest Catch where Phil suffered his stroke. I had not previously heard of his passing. My thoughts and prayers go out to your family Josh and Jake. This news was difficult for me and I only know him through the show. I can’t begin to imagine the pain you are feeling.
Phil will be greatly missed. God Bless your family.
The show is not going to be the same without Phil Harris….We watch the show faithfully, every Tuesday night. I hope you will update on what’s going on with Josh and Jake. Our thoughts and prayers go with them.
Jake & Josh. I am very sorry to here about Phil, he is the model Captain of “The Dealiest Catch”, which I have been watching from the 1st season. I was alway a big fan, and will continue to be, of the Cornelia Marie. Your dad will live on, RIP.
I just recently found out your dad passed away, my thoughts and prayers are with your family. I always loved watching your dad on the deadlest catch he was a great guy! I will miss watching him every week he was my favorite guy on the show . may God watch over you boys when your at sea… because i know deep in my heart your dad will be watching over you also..
Our thoughts and prayers are with Jake and Josh, the rest of Phil’s family, and all of Phil’s fishing and Discovery family. We all know God is letting Phil be the Big Crab Fisherman in Heaven. Like many other “Deadliest Catch” fans have said, we will miss watching Phil in the wheelhouse. Phil was definitely one of the good guys and one of the favorites on “Deadliest Catch” and even though many of us only know him through TV, we feel we had made a friend. Phil and Each of you on “Deadliest Catch” that work the Bering Sea have made the rest of us realize how easy our jobs really are. We have a whole new appreciation whenever we buy and eat crab and other Alaskan seafood. All of you are like family to us. To put the good and bad of your lives under the microscope to let the rest of the world watch says what great courage, determination, and a passion each of you have. Phil was an inspiration to all. Jake and Josh, Phil taught you well and he will be an Angel on your shoulders, and you both will make him proud. God Bless All of you.