‘90 Day Fiancé’ Star Ben Rathbun Dies at 53

Ben Rathbun, who captured hearts on Season 5 of 90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days, passed away on Monday, May 19, 2025, at his home in Greencastle, Indiana.

The reality star was 55 years old and had been quietly fighting stage four stomach cancer since late last year. According to TMZ, his family was by his side when he took his final breaths, underscoring the private nature of his health struggles in recent months.

A Love Story That Defied the Odds

Rathbun first appeared on 90 Day Fiancé as a 52-year-old father of four who met his then-22-year-old future wife, Mahogany Roca, online. Viewers initially suspected catfishing, given their 30-year age gap, but the pair met face-to-face in Peru and quickly proved the skeptics wrong. They announced their engagement in 2022 via a YouTube video filmed during that trip, and later confirmed on the spin-off 90 Day Diaries that they had married earlier in the year.

Final Moments at Home

Despite undergoing treatment, Rathbun’s condition deteriorated, and he became too weak to continue chemotherapy. A close family source revealed that those final weeks were painful yet peaceful, spent surrounded by loved ones. The Instagram page shabootydotcom was among the first to break the news of his passing, echoed shortly thereafter by major outlets—including TMZ and The Express Tribune—solidifying the reality star’s impact beyond the small screen.

Legacy and Tributes

Tributes have poured in from 90 Day Fiancé alumni, fans, and friends who admired Rathbun’s earnestness and the authenticity of his relationship. On social media, many highlighted his willingness to put his heart—and his family—on display, noting that his story reminded viewers of the real-life stakes behind reality television. Co-stars and viewers alike praised his devotion to Mahogany, his humor, and his openness about faith and personal growth.

Remembering Ben Rathbun

Before finding fame on TLC, Rathbun served as the executive director of the Michigan Lupus Foundation, a role that spoke to his commitment to community and health advocacy. Outside of television, he loved sharing moments of his life with family, often posting candid reflections about fatherhood and the joys of simple pleasures. While the lens has now moved on, his journey—from online romance to national notoriety—remains a testament to the unexpected ways love can reshape a life.

Though Ben Rathbun’s life was cut short, his story will endure through the franchise that introduced him and the personal courage he displayed both on-screen and off. As fans mourn the loss of a memorable personality, his legacy lives on in every heartfelt conversation he inspired.

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