'90 Day Fiance's David Murphey dies at 66, family encourages tributes by donating to animal foundation

CLARK COUNTY, NEVADA: David Murphey, a beloved cast member from TLC’s '90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days', has died at the age of 66.

His family announced his death on Instagram on Wednesday, December 18, sharing that he died on December 11 after years of health struggles.

How did David Murphey die?

The cause of David Murphey's death has not yet been disclosed. The reality star had been candid about his health issues in recent years.

During a March 2023 Instagram live session, he shared updates on his struggles, explaining that his liver was not functioning properly and his gallbladder needed to be removed.

"I've been in and out of the hospital for almost three months," he revealed.

“They don’t know what it is. My liver’s not working right... I’ve got something going on with my pancreas too, and my kidneys,” he added.

Despite initial concerns about hepatitis, tests came back negative, leaving his condition undiagnosed.

David Murphey's 'fierce love for cats'

Speaking about David Murphey's life in a heartfelt post, his family wrote, “David was a veteran, small business owner, and software engineer.”

They also noted his recent retirement from the Clark County Treasurer’s Office in Nevada and highlighted his work with H&R Block and IGT.

“David will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and fans,” the post continued, adding that he is survived by his two sisters and his beloved cat, Gamera.

David’s family described his love for cats, encouraging fans to honor his memory by donating to The Animal Foundation in Las Vegas.

“As many knew, David had a fierce love for cats. He always made an effort to adopt and give them a loving home,” they shared.

Inside David Murphey’s journey on '90 Day Fiance' show

David Murphey gained widespread recognition after appearing on season 4 of '90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days' in 2020.

The show followed his journey to Ukraine to meet Lana, his online girlfriend of seven years.

Their story captivated audiences as Murphey made multiple trips before finally meeting her in person on his fifth attempt.

The couple became engaged during the show. However, the Murphey and Lana eventually called it off.

On '90 Day Diaries' in 2022, Murphey explained their breakup, citing differences in priorities, according to People.

“She didn’t get off the [dating] websites, so four months into our engagement, we just stopped communicating,” he shared at the time.