Johnny ‘Bananas’ Devenanzio Shares Tribute to Late “Real World” Costar Tyler Duckworth, Calling Him ‘the Brother I Never Had’

“Rest easy, Tyler,” Devenanzio wrote in an Instagram post shared on Sunday, Aug. 16

NEED TO KNOW

• Johnny “Bananas” Devenanzio paid tribute to his late friend and former Real World costar Tyler Duckworth with an emotional Instagram video, calling him “the brother I never had”
• Duckworth, 44, was found dead in his Grand Forks, N.D., apartment on Aug. 11
• Devenanzio and Duckworth first met on The Real World: Key West in 2006 and later competed together on several seasons of The Challenge, ultimately winning Rivals as partners in 2011

Johnny “Bananas” Devenanzio is remembering his late friend and former Real World costar Tyler Duckworth, who died in his home in North Dakota on Aug. 11 at the age of 44.

On Sunday, Aug. 16, Devenanzio shared a touching tribute to the reality star, posting a video on Instagram of himself playing Zach Bryan’s “Pink Skies” on acoustic guitar alongside a montage of photos of the pair throughout the years.

“You were more than a friend. More than a roommate. You were the brother I never had,” he wrote in the caption. “Rest easy, Tyler. You’ll always be family ❤️.”

Devenanzio, 44, concluded the caption with the numbers “147:3,” a reference to the Bible verse “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”

Devenanzio and Duckworth’s friendship stretched back two decades, beginning when they were cast as roommates on MTV’s The Real World: Key West in 2006. 

The show’s 17th season marked both men’s introduction to reality television and also featured Paula Meronek, Janelle Casanave, Svetlana Shusterman, Zach Mann and Jose Tapia.

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Their relationship would go on to become a memorable part of The Challenge franchise — first as competitors and eventually as championship partners. Later in 2006, both men appeared on The Challenge: The Duel. They also competed together again on The Gauntlet III and 2010’s Cutthroat.

That history ultimately landed the two on the same team for 2011’s aptly named The Challenge: Rivals, which paired up former competitors. Despite their previous clashes, Devenanzio and Duckworth worked together to win the season.

In total, Duckworth competed on six seasons of The Challenge: The Duel, The Gauntlet III, Cutthroat, Rivals, All Stars 2 and All Stars 3. His 2022 appearance on All Stars 3 would ultimately be his last in the franchise.

Devenanzio’s emotional tribute comes days after Duckworth’s mother, Joni, confirmed on Thursday, Aug. 13, that her son had died earlier in the week.

The Grand Forks Police Department (GFPD) told PEOPLE that Duckworth was found dead at his Grand Forks, N.D., apartment on Tuesday, Aug. 11.

Police visited the residence after receiving a report from Duckworth’s downstairs neighbors that water was coming through the ceiling, per the GFPD.

Authorities entered The Challenge star’s apartment and confirmed the water was coming from his bathtub. That was also where his body was found.

Police said it was not clear how long he had been deceased, but that he had been seen the day before. 

Duckworth’s cause of death has not yet been determined, and authorities previously told PEOPLE there were no apparent signs of foul play.

Just weeks before his death, Duckworth reunited with several fellow franchise veterans at a Challenge Mania event in Minneapolis on July 31. 

He later celebrated the gathering on Instagram, writing that he was “so proud” to represent his hometown alongside other Challenge alums and thanking fans for continuing to support the franchise.