The Curse Of Oak Island Actors You May Not Know Are Dead

If you've been keeping up with the History Channel's hit reality series "The Curse of Oak Island," you already know the drill: Brothers Rick and Marty Lagina are constantly searching for a fabled treasure hoard in the vicinity of the titular Nova Scotian island. For 13 seasons and counting, the two ambitious treasure hunters have deciphered cryptic clues, chased centuries-old rumors, and erected digging sites across the island — but they haven't been on this journey alone.

Joining the Lagina siblings in their search has been a revolving door of colorful personalities, ranging from lifelong treasure hunters and passionate Oak Island residents to land surveyors and history enthusiasts. Unfortunately, some of those companions will never get to see the Oak Island treasure be discovered, as natural deaths and sudden tragedies have claimed several beloved cast and crew members since the series began. Here's a chronological look at the stars of "The Curse of Oak Island" who have passed away.

Long before "The Curse of Oak Island" even went into production, Fred Nolan was already a well-known figure on the island. As a pioneering land surveyor, he spent nearly five decades mapping the terrain after becoming fascinated by ancient Spanish maps. Although he famously feuded with fellow treasure hunter Dan Blankenship, Nolan put bad blood aside in Season 3 to join forces with him and the Lagina brothers as a key consultant on the show. 

Perhaps his most famous discovery was the landmark that became known as Nolan's Cross, a formation consisting of six boulders. One of the stones was buried, and when Nolan unearthed it, he found that it had markings resembling a human face and a sword, which suggested possible Templar links. Nolan died after a short illness in June 2016 at the age of 88, leaving behind an indelible mark on the island's survey history. He was survived by his wife, Ora, his son, Thomas, his brother, Frank, three nieces, a nephew, and two granddaughters.

The most tragic moment in the show's history, 16-year-old Drake Tester died unexpectedly in March 2017 due to complications from a lifelong seizure disorder. Drake was the son of cast member Craig Tester (Marty Lagina's longtime business partner) and stepbrother to fan-favorite searcher Jack Begley. While he wasn't a series regular, Drake made some brief appearances assisting the team between the second and fourth seasons of the show.

Remembered by his family and high school classmates for his infectious smile and energetic personality, Drake's unexpected death hit the close-knit crew hard, especially Craig, who took a temporary leave from the show. Viewers were informed of Drake's tragic passing during the Season 5 premiere, "Forever Family," in which Marty states that they will "miss Drake terribly" and the team vows to "get to the bottom" of the Oak Island mystery in his memory.

If you've been wondering why Dave Blankenship left "The Curse of Oak Island," it's because he felt that the show glossed over the significant contributions of his father, the late Dan Blankenship. A former Florida contractor who fought in Europe during World War II, Dan uprooted his life in the 1960s after coming across a Reader's Digest article about the island's secret treasure – the same article that Rick Lagina read as a 13-year-old boy, kickstarting his and Marty's own obsession.

Dan died at 95 years old in March 2019. He had spent over 50 years searching the island, drilling the infamous Borehole 10-X and braving dangerous expeditions to uncover the truth. He was a core patriarch and a major presence heavily featured on the show from Season 1 through Season 6. The cast and crew held an emotional memorial service at the site of Borehole 10-X during Season 7 to celebrate his legendary legacy.

Chris Donah was a teacher, baseball coach, and Oak Island enthusiast who made guest appearances in Season 6 and Season 7 of the History show. He first became interested in the mystery of Oak Island's supposed treasure around 2003. "It was before Facebook, so it was on forums," Donah told North Country Now. "I started reading and I learned a lot." He came into contact with a key researcher on the island, and that paved the way for him to meet with the show's producers in 2016.

Donah shared his astronomy-based theories with producers and even did some filming. While these segments never aired, he was asked to come back in 2018 and finally made his debut in the Season 6 episode "Seismic Matters," in which he puts forward his theory that constellations could help pinpoint the treasure. Donah died suddenly at his home in September 2021,shortly before his 55th birthday. The show paid tribute to his contributions at the end of a Season 9 episode a few months later.

A passionate researcher, author, and close friend of Rick Lagina, Zena Halpern became a central figure in some of the show's most intriguing storylines. Appearing as a recurring guest researcher in Season 4 and Season 5, the New York-based historian introduced the team to a 14th-century map allegedly created by the Knights Templar that pointed directly to Oak Island (the age of said map has been disputed by other historians). Halpern died in May 2018 at the age of 88, but even after her death, she continued to influence the show.

Not only did the team dedicate several Season 6 search efforts to Halpern, but Rick even traveled to her home during that season to explore her mountainous collection of research, which was gifted to him upon her passing. Among Halpern's papers, Rick came across a collection of maps and journal entries alleged to have been written by the 12th century Templar knight Ralph de Sudeley. While their authenticity has been questioned, Rick was convinced that "much of the information contained within" is genuine.

While he did make appearances in the companion series "The Curse of Oak Island: Drilling Down," Kevin Burns' influence was more behind the scenes. As the president and creator of Prometheus Entertainment and a veteran television producer who made shows like "Ancient Aliens" and "The Curse of Oak Island" possible, Burns was fundamental in bringing the Lagina brothers' real-life treasure hunt to millions of homes around the globe across the show's first eight seasons. 

Burns, who was also a producer of Netflix's "Lost in Space" reboot, died of cardiac arrest at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles in September 2020, shortly before Season 8 premiered. He was 65. The official Facebook page of "The Curse of Oak Island" honored Burns in a post that described him as a "creative visionary," a "legendary storyteller," and a "loyal friend." The tribute concluded with the message: "You showed us the world and beyond. Rest in peace."

If you're interested in diving into the mysteries of "The Curse of Oak Island," it's available on some of the best streaming services, such as Hulu, Prime Video, and Tubi. Alternatively, you can watch it on the official History Channel website, where you'll find plenty of other binge-worthy reality shows.