Bachelor Nation Tragedies: ‘Bachelor’ and ‘Bachelorette’ Cast Members Who Have Died
These Bachelor Nation stories didn’t end in happily ever after.
Over the years, a number of people who’ve appeared on The Bachelor and The Bachelorette have died. The most recent tragedy involved season 21 cast member Hailey Merkt, who died on July 26 of leukemia. She’s one of at least 10 Bachelor Nation alums to pass away after appearing in the franchise.
Hailey Merkt
Merkt, 31, appeared on Nick Viall’s season of The Bachelor, which aired in 2016. She went home in week 2.
“It is with broken hearts we share that our beloved Hailey has passed away after a courageous fight for her life,” read a post on Merkt’s Instagram.
On his The Viall Files podcast, Viall called Merkt’s death “very sad.”
“I didn’t really get to know her very well at all, but I very much vividly remember her, and I remember her to be very sweet and kind,” he said.
Tyler Gwodz
Tyler Gwodz was a contestant on Hannah Brown’s season of The Bachelorette. He and Brown went on one solo date, but Gwodz vanished from the show soon after with no explanation. Gwodz later told Refinery29 that he left the show of his own accord.
In January 2020, Gwodz died of a drug overdose in Florida. He was 29.
Eric Hill
Eric Hill appeared on Andi Dorfman’s season of The Bachelorette, which aired in 2014. Dorfman sent the self-described “adventurer” home early in the season.
Not long after Hill finished filming for the show, but before the episodes aired, he died at age 31 in a paragliding accident. Rather than edit Hill out of the season, The Bachelorette addressed his death in the season premiere.
Clint Arlis
Clint Arlis was part of The Bachelorette Season 11, which aired in 2015. Kaitlyn Bristowe sent him home in episode 3. In January 2022, he was found dead in his parents’ home outside of Chicago. The cause was suicide.
Though Bristowe admitted that she and Arliss didn’t part on good terms, she said in a social media video that she was “so sorry” to hear of his death (via People). “It’s such a huge loss, and I’m honestly just beside myself with this news,” she said.
Michael Nance
In 2012, Michael Nance competed for Emily Maynard’s affection on The Bachelorette Season 8. He died in 2017. The cause was multiple drug toxicity, People reported.
During his time on The Bachelorette, Nance spoke about his addiction to prescription painkillers.
“It’s a vicious cycle and it ate away at me for a long time,” he said. “I’m almost two years sober, now, and it’s not that easy — you have to completely change your way of living.”
Cristy Caserta
Cristy Caserta was a cast member on Brad Womack’s season of The Bachelor in 2011. She died suddenly in September 2018 at age 38. The cause was an enlarged heart and an overactive thyroid, Us Weekly reported.
Erin Storm
Erin Storm appeared on The Bachelor Season 12 with Matt Grant. She was eliminated in week 3.
In March 2016, Storm, who was a pilot, died in a small airplane crash in California.
Gia Allemand
Gia Allemand appeared on The Bachelor in 2010, when she was the second-to-last woman eliminated by Jake Pavelka. She also appeared on the spinoff series Bachelor Pad. She later started dating NBA player Ryan Anderson.
In August 2013, Allemand died by suicide following an argument with Anderson. She was 29.
Alexa ‘Lex’ McAllister
Alexa “Lex” McAllister also competed on The Bachelor Season 14 in 2010. She was eliminated in week 1.
McAllister died by suicide in February 2016. She was 31.
Julien Hug
Julien Hug competed to win Jillian Harris’ heart on The Bachelorette Season 5 in 2009. He was eliminated in week 2.
Hug was found dead in a remote area of Riverside County, Calif. in 2010. His family later revealed that he was suffering from “acute depression” and had died by suicide, Extra reported.
How to get help: In the U.S., call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Or text HOME to 741-741 to speak with a trained crisis counselor at the free Crisis Text Line.
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