( CNN ) -- Capt . Phil Harris of the Discovery Channel show `` The Deadliest Catch '' died Tuesday of complications from a stroke suffered late last month . He was 53 . Harris , the tattooed and gruff captain of the Cornelia Marie , was a fan favorite in the reality show about crab fishing off Alaska . `` Discovery mourns the loss of dear friend and colleague Captain Phil Harris . He was more than someone on our television screen . Phil was a devoted father and loyal friend to all who knew him , '' a statement from the network said . `` We will miss his straightforward honesty , wicked sense of humor and enormous heart . '' Harris suffered a massive stroke on January 29 while his crew offloaded crab at St. Paul Island , Alaska . `` It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to our dad -- Captain Phil Harris , '' said a statement from his sons , Jake and Josh Harris . `` Dad has always been a fighter and continued to be until the end . ''
Dr . Phil Harris was a fan favorite in a show about crab fishing off Alaska . Harris , 53 , suffered a stroke late last month . He 's remembered as a man of ` ` straightforward honesty , wicked sense of humor ''