What happened to Andy Bassich from Life Below Zero? His wife, net worth and controversies
Andy Bassich is a familiar name to those who watch the Life Below Zero documentary series. The series centres around subsistence hunters living in Alaska's remote areas. Bassich was recently under fire when fans voiced their disapproval of his treatment of his girlfriend, Denise Becker. Here is more about the Life Below Zero star.
Source: UGC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Profile summary
- Who is Andy Bassich?
- How does Andy Bassich make money?
- FAQs
- Andy Bassich discovered an interest in travelling around the world at age 22.
- He moved to Alaska (a secluded and icy-cold land) in 1980 to enjoy life.
- Andy never had children with his former wife, Kate whom he divorced in 2016 nor with his current girlfriend.
- The TV personality started dating his girlfriend, Denise Becker in 2017.
- He is not on social media.
Profile summary
| Full name | Andy Bassich |
| Gender | Male |
| Date of birth | 25 January 1958 |
| Zodiac sign | Aquarius |
| Age | 67 years (as of 2025) |
| Birthplace | Washington D.C, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Education | Kennedy High School |
| Occupation | Reality TV personality |
| TV Show | Life Below Zero on National Geographic |
| Height in feet and inches | 5' 10" |
| Height in meters | 1.81 meters |
| Sexuality | Straight |
| Marital status | Divorced |
| Ex-wife | Kate Rorke |
| Relationship status | Dating |
| Girlfriend | Denise Becker |
| Residence | Calico Bluff, Alaska, United States |
Who is Andy Bassich?
Andy Bassich is an American television personality famous for featuring in Life Below Zero on National Geographic. He comes from a humble background and was a carpenter and cabinet maker before becoming a TV star.
Source: Facebook
How old is Andy Bassich?
Andy Bassich's age is 67 years as of 2025. He was born on 25 January 1958, in Washington D.C., USA. He moved to Alaska in the 1980s and joined the Life Below Zero cast in 2013.
Educational background
Bassich graduated from Kennedy High School in 1976, where he studied fine arts.
Career history
From an early age, Andy wanted to explore nature. After completing high school, he travelled across the US and visited Alaska the same year his sister was getting married.
He returned and worked as a carpenter for quite a few years. After developing an interest in rearing dogs and hunting, Bassich moved to Alaska to become a musher. The TV star also worked in menial jobs, like being a riverboat captain on the Yukun River for over two decades.
Mushing helped Bassich secure a role on the Life Below Zero television show. His co-cast were Sue Aikens, Jessie Holmes, and Chip and Agnes Hailstone.
How did Andy Bassich hurt his hip?
Andy sustained an injury when he was moving a snow machine that was stuck in the snow. He sustained two infections, one in the muscle and the other in the bone, which nearly took his life.
Why did Andy Bassich leave the show?
Andy Bassich's injury made him leave the show to get better medical attention in Florida. Alaska's facilities could not effectively treat his hip, which had caused an infection on the muscle and in the bone. During an interview, he said;
I've been gone for six months due to a really bad hip injury. [I] couldn't get the treatment I needed in Alaska so I headed down to Florida to get the treatment I needed and spent the last six months with my girlfriend Denise.
He stayed away from the camera for some time after the treatment and returned to his home in Calico Bluff. Andy said he wanted to catch up with his dogs in the summer and put the house back in order, for it had been left unmanned and unguarded for six months.
Source: Getty Images
Who is Andy Bassich's wife?
Andy Bassich and Kate Rorke met in 2003 in Dawson City, Canada. They got married and set up a business in Calico Bluff, Alaska, where they also lived. Kate has children from her previous marriage.
Are Andy and Kate Bassich still together?
Andy Bassich and Kate announced their separation in 2015.
Why did Kate Rorke leave Andy Bassich?
Kate reportedly accused Andy of being physically and mentally abusive to her. According to Screen Rant, she said;
The hardest part is understanding why I stayed so long in an abusive relationship. I do know I love the land, I loved the lifestyle but I could not love the man he really is. I lived in a fairytale belief that someday he would become a kind, faithful, loving person. That fairytale was not to be mine.
What season did Kate leave Andy on Life Below Zero?
Kate left Nat Geo's Life Beyond Zero TV series in 2015 at season 10 after separating from Andy. She moved away and they finalized the divorce in 2016. Kate posted a video a few years later and said;
It's good to be home. The memories are good, the friends are good, and it's nice to be around people who have known me since the beginning of time it seems as we get older... You guys, you all got me here and you saved my life in a way, so love to you. Over and out.
Who is Andy and Kate Bassich's daughter?
Bassich does not have a daughter with his ex-wife. Kate Bassich's daughter is from her previous marriage before meeting Andy.
Who is Andy Bassich's new wife?
Andy Bassich is currently not married but dating Denise Becker. They began dating after his divorce. Denise is a Canadian trauma nurse. Denise grew up on a farm in northern Saskatchewan. She met Andy on a canoe trip as a trauma nurse for his hip treatment.
They traveled together to Florida for medical care, and then to Alaska since doing everything on crutches was challenging. As a result, he was able to produce new episodes of Life Below Zero.
Is Andy Bassich still with Denise?
Based on posts shared on Life Below Zero's Facebook page, they are still together. The two once shared their adventurous trip to Eagle town where they had to cross a river on their way to collect their mail.
Source: Facebook
Denise Becker's Life Below Zero
Denise Becker learns survival skills with her boyfriend Andy Bassich. Since Andy is more experienced in survival in Alaska, she follows her guidance. In the latest season, Denise and Andy were learning how to navigate the forest while anticipating the upcoming colder months.
Why did fans bash Andy for his treatment of Denise?
Life Below Zero fans were not pleased with how Andy Bassich treated his girlfriend Denise on the show. They argued that his treatment of women on the show was disrespectful. Fans found Andy's manner of speech and impatience with Denise displeasing.
They wrote on Reddit,
I can’t stand Andy...And last night’s episode just reinforced that. He’s bossy and sarcastic. He orders Denise around, tells what they’re going to work on, how they’re going to do it, and then tells her when they can stop for the day. And she seems like such a sweet woman!
That Andy is great when it comes to formidable projects but He’s the worse in true love and empathy…
They said that he also treated his ex-wife Kate just as bad,
Kate left him for a reason. Just sayin...
Kate's last season he was awful to her. I wasn't surprised when she didn't come back.
Is Andy Bassich still on Life Below Zero?
Bassich is still on the show. Life Below Zero is available on Disney+ with a subscription and free on National Geographic's YouTube channel.
How does Andy Bassich make money?
Bassich of Life Below Zero makes about $100,000 annually from the series. He also operates a survival camp with classroom and outdoor lessons on survival strategies, but how much money he makes from it is unknown.
His clients get around 20 days of exposure to the wilderness. They use dog sledges, travel by boat, and do other fun activities.
What is Andy Bassich's net worth?
The National Geographic television star is worth around $350,000. He has over 25 sledge dogs and lives around the river Yukon. A flood broke out in 2009 and made him lose some of his possessions.
Where is Andy Bassich now?
He is still living on the Yukon River near Eagle, Alaska with his girlfriend Denise. From the last season of Life Below Zero that premiered in October 2024, the couple were thriving in the tundra. They live with their 25 sled dogs.
Source: Instagram
Why was Life Below Zero cancelled?
Yes, Life Below Zero is getting cancelled after it's 23rd season that premiered in October 2024. The cast members including Chip Hailstone have confirmed that the show is coming to an end.
FAQs
- How old is Andy Bassich? He is 67 years as of 2025. He was born on 25 January 1958.
- Who is the new woman with Andy on Life Below Zero? Denise Becker is Andy Bassich's new girlfriend on the show Life Below Zero.
- Did Andy Bassich pass away? No, he is alive and living in his home in Yukon River, Alaska with his girlfriend Denise.
- Why did Andy Bassich build a new house? Andy did not build a new house rather a sauna. Andy and Denise braced the rain and built a sauna for relaxation.
- Does Andy Bassich own his land? Yes, Andy bought the land he currently lives at Yukon River near Eagle in Alaska.
Andy Bassich makes Life Below Zero the most interesting on National Geographic. He showcases the daily struggles of people in Alaska and the survival techniques they use in this sub-zero-degree environment. His talent in survival in the tundra impresses fans.
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