The beloved star of "Swamp People," Junior Edwards, has tragically passed away, as announced by his grandson, "Lil" Willie Edwards, in an emotional Facebook post on July 26th. The exact age of Junior remains unclear.
Kicking off his heart-wrenching tribute, Willie penned, "Rest easy pawpaw," and went on to say, "I just know you're probably out there setting up your hoop nets or pulling off some crazy stunts behind those pearly gates." He further added, "You'll be sorely missed, pawpaw. Our love for you knows no bounds!!! Until we meet again."
On Instagram, another prominent figure from "Swamp People," Ashley "Deadeye" Jones, paid her respects to Junior by posting a selfie alongside him. She captioned it, "The world has lost a true legend!" She continued, "Mr. Junior Edwards has passed away. Please keep his family in your prayers!" Extolling his virtues, she added, "He was one of the finest alligator hunters to have ever lived!" She reminisced, "He was a real hardcore outdoorsman! I once witnessed him bring in MONSTER gators at Duffys Gas Station in Pierre Part, LA. We'd both had a long day, and it really showed! I'm glad we took a moment for that picture!"
The date of Junior's passing, along with other details—including the cause of his death—has been kept under wraps. However, earlier this month, the History Channel star's grandson revealed that Junior had been battling poor health.
On July 6th, Willie took to social media to share, "For those of you who don't know... my grandpa has been facing some health challenges." He pleaded, "Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers... we're desperate for a miracle. Get better for us, papa. We love you so much!!!"
"Swamp People," a History Channel documentary series that has been running for 14 years, chronicles the lives of the Landry family—descendants of French Canadian refugees who settled in Louisiana and make a living by hunting alligators.
Junior was a mainstay on "Swamp People" from 2010 to 2015, appearing alongside his son, Willie Edwards, and his grandson. He made a triumphant return to the show during its 12th season in 2021, playfully announcing on Facebook, "Surprise… look who's back."
