Where is Captain Andy Hillstrand now? 'Deadliest Catch' star lives low-key life after Season 13 exit

Captain Andy Hillstrand remains out of the public eye after his exit from 'Deadliest Catch'
Andy Hillstrand left 'Deadliest Catch' after Season 13 (YouTube/Discovery)
Andy Hillstrand left 'Deadliest Catch' after Season 13 (YouTube/Discovery)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON: 'Deadliest Catch' fans can rejoice, as the trilling show returns for Season 19. Viewers will see several new generations of captains team up with popular skippers on the Bering Sea during Alaska's king crab and snow crab fishing season.

As the Discovery reality series introduces a new cast, fans of 'Deadliest Catch' may want to know about former Captain Andy Hillstrand. He was one of the show's main characters, but Andy left the show in 2020 shortly after his brother Jonathan Hillstrand bid adieu to the reality show. Since then, fans have asked numerous questions about his exit, including where he went.

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Why did Captain Andy Hillstrand leave 'Deadliest Catch'?

Captain Andy commanded his ship, Time Bandit, and his crew of burly sailors with aplomb. He always seemed prepared for anything the sea could throw at him. But after an explosive fallout with the producers of 'Deadliest Catch,' Andy was forced to abandon his ship. The two Hillstrand brothers, Andy and Jonathan, were working together on a spin-off special called 'Hillstranded.' However, Andy had disagreements with the show's producers which led him to leave the show. In an earlier interview with EW, he revealed that the circumstances of working on 'Deadliest Catch' were far from ideal. Andy shared, "It was a lot about our rights to do our own brand. There was a lot of misunderstanding. We thought Discovery had everything they needed, but then they came back and said they needed pickup shots, so our schedule was pretty much screwed." However, Andy also noted that several circumstances led to his decision to leave the series.

What happened to Captain Andy Hillstrand after the show?

Andy first appeared on the second season of 'Deadliest Catch" in 2006, along with his brother Johnathan. Both Hillstrand brothers served as co-captains on the family-owned ship FV Time Bandit. Andy was featured on the show for several seasons, traversing the waters of the Bering Sea. Fans have missed Andy since his last appearance in 'Deadliest Catch' Season 13, but after his exit from the Discovery show, Andy has kept his life completely private and out of the spotlight and currently lives near Seattle, reports Distractify. He enjoys his life to the fullest with his wife Sabrina, to whom he has been married for over 29 years. Andy has two beautiful grown daughters, Chelsey and Cassandra. Andy is the proud owner of Hillstrand Construction, a business he started from scratch. Andy is also not active on social media, but he has posted photos of dogs on his Twitter before. Given his past experience, however, it seems Andy will not be returning to 'Deadliest Catch.'



 

'Deadliest Catch' will premiere on Tuesday, April 18, at 8.pm ET/PT on Discovery Channel. You can catch the episode on the same day on Discovery+.

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