The Tragic Death Of Below Deck Mediterranean's Mark Howard

Captain Mark Howard of Bravo's "Below Deck Mediterranean" has died, TMZ reported on October 29. A source close to the family told TMZ that Mark died suddenly at his home in Florida.

Mark was the star and captain on the first season of "Below Deck Mediterranean" in 2016. The "Below Deck" spin-off followed the crew of a yacht as they traversed across the Mediterranean, chronicling the drama between them, as well as with their wealthy clients, per TV Line. According to Distractify, Mark's motto was "the guest is always right," and this attitude trickled down to his entire crew. Mark was also a hobby pilot, flying helicopters when he was not charting the sea, as the outlet noted.

For Season 2, Mark was replaced with Captain Sandy Yawn, who still stars on the show. A fan on Reddit shared their theory as to why Mark was thrown overboard. "He was a good captain, that was the problem, no drama with him," the fan wrote. "It's reality TV."

Mark Howard was beloved by his crew members, as evidenced by their expressed fondness for him. Fellow "Below Deck Mediterranean" cast member Tiffany Jones tweeted, "RIP Captain Mark Howard. You were a joy to be around."

Prior to Mark's death, Chief Stew Hannah Ferrier told Bravo's The Daily Dish that she kept in touch with him. "Captain Mark and I, we send a message maybe once a year, just to touch base," she said (via Distractify). "I really like him." She also revealed that Mark had always been extremely private. "I don't really think I knew what he was up to when I was working with him, let alone three years later," she said. "He was like the opposite of [Captain Sandy]. He kind of drove the boat and stayed in his cabin, so it was lovely." Mark doesn't appear to have been an avid social media user either. His Instagram was last updated in 2016 and seemed to have only been used to promote the show.

"Below Deck Mediterranean" star Captain Mark Howard's death is under investigation, according to police reports. Us Weekly confirmed that Mark's wife, Susan Howard, found the reality star dead in their home on October 27. According to the police reports, "blood droplets" were "on the floor" appearing "suspicious in nature." Mark's body was found in the upstairs area of the couple's home underneath fallen boxes and against a shelf. TMZ also noted that Mark's wife was out of town for a dog show before returning to find her husband dead, once the star did not come downstairs to greet her. The report continued, noting that blood was "coming from the area of the right side of his face." Police suspect Mark's death occurred days prior to the discovery of his body.

"Our thoughts and sincerest sympathies are with the family and friends of the respected Captain Mark Howard," the Bravo Network said in a statement (via Deadline). "As the captain of the first season of 'Below Deck Med,' he will always be remembered for his many contributions and mentorship and will forever remain part of the Bravo family."

Other members of the Bravo family spoke out after news of Captain Mark's death hit the press, with chief stewardess Hannah Ferrier posting an Instagram tribute. "Rest In Peace my friend," she wrote. "You were a great captain, friend and colleague. Always the gentleman. You will be missed."

Captain Mark Howard will surely be missed by fans of the hit Bravo series "Below Deck Mediterranean." The Bravo network wrapped Season 6 of the reality series with a reunion episode hosted by Andy Cohen prior to Mark's death, leaving fans shocked to hear of the tragic news just as their beloved show celebrates a seventh finale (via PageSix).

"RIP Captain Mark Howard," wrote one fan in the Instagram comments of "Below Deck." "Season 1 of below deck med was the first time watching below deck and now I can't stop watching, thank you captain." Another shared a similar sentiment, writing, "Rest In Peace Captain Mark...one of the cast members that made me fall in love with the show." Fans continued to pour in their love via Twitter and Instagram, with one noting they are "so very sorry for the loss of Captain Mark."

"Such a sad loss for Below Deck and all of us fans," they added. "May God continue to bless his family in this difficult time." But "Below Deck" fans will likely always remember Captain Mark's legacy thanks to some of his famous advice on-set: "Be honest, work hard, and pay attention to senior crew members."

Our hearts go out to his family. RIP.