Yesterday, Bachelor Nation was devastated by news that Season 8 contestant Michael Nance died suddenly at the age of just 31.
Nance was found dead Monday around 2 a.m.
Police in Austin, Texas are still investigating the reality star’s cause of death, but before his brief brush with fame, he faced real struggles.
Michael joined Emily Maynard’s season of The Bachelorette looking for love. He didn’t end up with Emily, but he was universally popular.
Despite being eliminated in Bermuda in the fourth week of the season, Nance endeared himself to the cast members he starred with.
Emily herself expressed her condolences after hearing the sad news that The Bachelorette family had lost one of their own.
“So sad waking up to the news about Michael Nance. Such a kind heart with so much talent,” she wrote on Twitter Tuesday.
“Sending prayers and love to his family and friends.”
Nance, an aspiring musician based in Houston, Texas, had been giving guitar lessons to the blind before he went on the ABC series.
He studied biomedical science at Texas A&M University, graduating in 2008, and has a personal YouTube channel dedicated to his music.
Michael went on to work as a rehab counselor, working to help men in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction, according to Linkedin.
His last occupation, according to the professional networking site, was a sales rep at Zimmer Biomet, a public medical device company.
Nance admitted to being a recovering addict himself.
“I was addicted to prescription drugs,” he said on his Bachelorette season. “It’s a vicious cycle … I’m almost two years sober now.”
Nance posted the above photo on his Instagram, March of this year, with the caption, “You are,” in order to show the perils of addiction.
As of 2016, it appears he had found love with a Newport Beach woman, but his relationship status upon his death remains unclear.
What is quite clear is how deeply his loss is felt.
Chris Bukwoski, a former franchise fixture and friend, wrote, “Extremely difficult learning the news of Michael Nance’s passing.”
“He was a gentle man with a huge heart.”
“He’ll be missed but not forgotten.”
Arie Luyendyk Jr., the runner-up during that same season, penned a touching message of his own to followers about the loss of Nance.
Arie writes: “I will always remember my friend Michael Nance for his kind and fragile soul. Addiction is a terrible disease, may he finally find peace.”
(It’s not clear if addiction played a role in his death.)
Sean Lowe, who went on to become The Bachelor after their Bachelorette season, also weighed in on the tragic news of this week.
“My heart breaks to hear about the passing of my friend Michael Nance. He was a sweet man with a kind soul,” said Lowe.
“Everybody loved him on The Bachelorette.”
Another co-star, Tony Pieper, remembers, “My fondest memories of Michael were when he would sing and play guitar in The Bachelor house.”
“You could tell it was his happy and joyous place,” Tony said, adding that Nance “had such a big heart and was such a genuine guy.”
“We lost a good one in Michael.”
Nance appears to be as beloved as many member of the Bachelor Nation family, even if he wasn’t among the best known to fans.
Considering that the show thrives on feuds among fellow competitors, Michael was universally respected and beloved by his.
Fellow cast member Kalon McMahon recalls him fondly, saying, “He was one of the nicest, most genuine guys in the house.”
“We kept in touch after the show and I’m just really sad,” McMahon, a fellow Texan, added. “His music was amazing. He was amazing.”
“He was a gentle giant.”
So sad that such a bright light has left us so soon. Our condolences go out to his family and friends during this most difficult period.
