The reality star passed away after battling various illnesses for some time. Murphey struggled with health issues affecting his kidneys, pancreas, and other organs before his death, which occurred a month after his birthday.
On December 18, 2024, David James Murphey’s family shared the heartbreaking news on his Instagram account, that he had died a few days earlier. The “90 Day Fiancé” star and Las Vegas, Nevada, resident was 66 years old.
In their post, the family disclosed that he had died at home on December 11, 2024, following years of health struggles. Sources revealed that Murphey had been diagnosed with liver cancer more than a year ago, which had significantly impacted his health.
Additionally, he faced other medical challenges, although the exact cause of his death remains unclear at this writing. Insiders reported that the reality star underwent over 13 surgeries in 2023 and was preparing for another procedure before he passed away.
Despite his declining health, Murphey continued visiting family and friends during the week leading up to his death. However, sources described him as “very frail and unwell.” By then, he had lost significant weight and frequently complained of feeling ill.
The television personality was candid about his health challenges, as seen in an Instagram post from March 2023. In a video clip, he admitted that he hadn’t posted in months due to his ongoing medical issues.
David James Murphey giving a life update in a post uploaded on March 28, 2023 | Source: Instagram/davidjmurphey
He explained that he remained in Las Vegas because it was where he could access his medical care. He had been in and out of the hospital for three months at that point.
The star revealed that he was dealing with the same health problems he experienced when he was hospitalized in November 2022. Despite undergoing numerous tests, doctors struggled to determine the cause of his illness and initially misdiagnosed him with acute hepatitis.
David James Murphey giving a life update in a post uploaded on March 28, 2023 | Source: Instagram/davidjmurphey
“My liver’s not working right. I think right now I’m finally getting a little bit of color back,” Murphey said, “I turned bright yellow after the second [gall] stone hit, and I’ve been trying to make it go away.”
The star explained that his gall bladder “has to come out,” but doctors were hesitant to perform the surgery until his liver function improved. He even canceled a procedure and rescheduled it because the hospital required him to arrive at 5 a.m. with an adult who could accompany him home afterward, but he didn’t have local friends who could help him in that way anymore.
David James Murphey giving a life update in a post uploaded on March 28, 2023 | Source: Instagram/davidjmurphey
Murphey also mentioned receiving two COVID-19 vaccines, partly because he couldn’t film the reality show without them. He revealed additional health concerns with his pancreas and kidneys.
At the time, doctors were unsure if he had cancer. His health issues forced him to cancel trips, including one to Europe. The only medication he was taking was blood thinners for two blood clots in his lungs.
According to his Facebook account, Murphey passed away just one month after celebrating his birthday on November 11, 2024. The star, who had appeared in various “90 Day” franchise shows since 2020, first experimented with Instagram in February 2020, posting a photo with his cat.
On “90 Day Fiancé: B90 Strikes Back!” Murphey believed he had found love when he proposed to a Ukrainian woman named Lana. He went down on one knee at the airport before leaving Ukraine to return to the U.S.
Murphey had met Lana online through a dating site seven years earlier, maintaining a long-distance relationship until they finally met in person in 2020.
After spending a week with her in Kyiv, Ukraine, he shared a heartwarming Instagram photo of the two posing together. Unfortunately, the couple never married and separated after their appearance on the TLC show.
Murphey’s family described him as a software engineer, small business owner, and veteran. They shared that he had recently retired from Nevada’s Clark County Treasurer’s Office. He also worked for IGT and H&R Block.
His family stated, “His time on the show allowed him to connect with viewers, see the world, and share his experiences with his thousands of followers on Instagram. He will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and fans.”
A passionate cat lover, the reality star often adopted cats from The Animal Foundation in Las Vegas. His family encouraged those wishing to honor his memory to donate to the foundation in his name.
Murphey is survived by two sisters and his beloved cat, Gamera. His family has requested privacy as they mourn their loss.
