Andy Bassich: From Carpenter to TV Star, Where is Life Below Zero Star Andy Bassich Now? What Happened to Andy Bassich that Caused Him to Leave the Show for 6 Months?

If you’ve been following Life Below Zero’s stars living in the remote areas of Alaska, you’re probably familiar with Andy Bassich.

Originally a carpenter, Andy moved to Alaska in the early 1980s and has been enjoying the off-grid lifestyle since then.

He quickly became a fan favorite after appearing on the show, thanks to his ability to fix and build things.

However, Andy went off the screen for six months in 2018, which sparked up a lot of questions. The fans’ curiosity surged when he returned to the show on a pair of crutches.

So what happened to Andy Bassich? And what does his life look like now?

A Brief Overview of Andy Bassich’s Life

Andy Bassich was born on the 15th of January in 1958, making him 66 years old at the time of writing. He was born in Washington D.C., but in the early 1980s, he decided to pursue the life of wilderness and moved to Alaska.

Before moving to Alaska, Andy Bassich was living a humble life as a carpenter and cabinet maker. As it turns out, his crafting skills would later come in handy when he’s living off the grid.

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Andy also studied fine arts at Kennedy High School, where he graduated in 1976. That was the last stop in his education journey, though, as he didn’t pursue any further education fields.

Andy Bassich on Life Below Zero

Starting in 2013, Andy Bassich started appearing on Life Below Zero, a documentary television series that portrays the daily lives of people living off the grid in remote areas of Alaska.

The show’s main idea is to show how fishing, hunting, and primal activities can be enough to survive in the wilderness. It originally aired on the National Geographic Channel and is now available on Disney+ for a subscription.

As it appears on the show, Andy Bassich switches his living place from a remote cabin out on the river to a home in Eagle’s community. He’s frequently shown taking care of a team of sled dogs, which he uses for transportation.

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For nearly two decades, Andy has served as the captain of the Yukon Queen tour boat, which took tours between Eagle and Dawson City during the summer. Unsurprisingly, that means Andy spent a big chunk of his life in the Yukon River.

While on the show, Andy showed exceptional skills in fishing and gardening. He’d occasionally appear collecting fall chum salmon from his fish wheel, before splitting the fish and hanging them on the drying rack.

Because of his long time living in Alaska, he’s been involved in plenty of research projects in the area, mostly related to climate change and subsistence.

What Happened to Andy Bassich?

At some point in 2018, Andy Bassich stopped appearing on Life Below Zero. Having been a main cast member since 2013, his fans started questioning the reason for his disappearance and whether he’ll be returning.

Six months later, Andy appeared back on the show, but this time, he was on a couple of crutches.

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As it turns out, he had sustained a hip injury while trying to get a snow machine out of its stuck position in the snow. The injury caused a muscle infection and a bone infection, which was nearly fatal.

Because medical facilities are limited in Alaska, Andy had to leave for Florida to get proper treatment. According to him, he spent six months in Florida with his girlfriend, Denise.

After he received the medical attention he needed, he returned to his home in Calico Bluff, staying away from the camera for some time. According to him, he wanted to take care of the house that’s been unmanned for six months, and he wanted to catch up with his dogs.

After that six-month break, Andy returned to the show, but his appearances were limited.

Is Andy Bassich in a Relationship?

Andy Bassich was married to Kate Rorke, who was also featured on Life Below Zero. The couple met in 2003 when they were both in the same group of tourists, and they married three years later.

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In 2015, Andy and Kate got a divorce, and she left the show and went on to live in Canada. According to Kate, the reason for their divorce was emotional abuse. However, no one knows the details of their marriage, which lasted nearly a decade.

After getting divorced, Andy went on to date Denise Becker, and the last we know is that they’re still together.