Who has died on Little People, Big World? Latest tragedy comes after string of losses over the years

Matt Roloff from Little People, Big World suffers a major tragedy on the show next week, as highlighted in the preview for the latest episode. But the death is the latest in a long list of heartbreaking losses to hit the cast over the years.

Matt’s latest major loss came earlier this year when his father, Ron Roloff, passed away in the summer of 2022 at 84.

Ron, affectionately known as “Papa,” made several appearances on LPBW alongside his wife, now widow, Peggy, AKA Hunny. The tragedy hasn’t yet played out on camera, but that is the reason why Matt was seen crying in the preview for next week’s episode.

Father of four Matt also previously lost his brother, who passed away before the show’s inception.

The 61-year-old detailed the loss in his memoir, Against Tall Odds: Being a David in a Goliath World. He shared that his brother, Josh, suffered from “severe heart and lung problems” from a young age, and doctors weren’t certain he would survive his first day of life. Sadly, Josh lost his life in 1999 at age 34.

LPBW matriarch Amy has also suffered a few losses of her own since her time on the show.

Little People, Big World Amy’s losses over the years

In 2019, Amy’s beloved mom, Patricia Knight, passed away at 86. At the time, Amy shared a statement with People, telling the publication, “I am so sad about my mom’s passing but comforted by all the memories I have and that she lived a happy, long life with my father.”

Amy experienced another tough loss in August 2021 when her beloved dog and companion, Felix, died just days before her wedding to Chris Marek. Amy admitted she was “devastated” and didn’t have time to grieve her pup with all of the wedding festivities going on.

Isabel Roloff, the wife of Matt and Amy’s youngest child Jacob, has also experienced significant losses in her life. Isabel’s brother passed away at the age of 25 after he tragically fell from a freight train in 2012. Isabel faced even more tragedy in 2014 when she lost her mom, Toni Garreton, to breast cancer.

Tori and Zach mourn the loss of a pet and a pregnancy

Tori and Zach Roloff shared some sad news when their family pet, Sully, died in 2017 after being diagnosed with liver cancer.

“Losing sully has been incredibly hard on both zach and I and I think we’re both just waiting for the loneliness to subside,” Tori wrote following Sully’s passing.

In March 2021, Tori and Zach faced their biggest loss when Tori’s third pregnancy ended in miscarriage. Admittedly “sad, angry, and scared,” Tori wrote in a touching Instagram post, “We were so excited when we found out we were expecting baby #3, and we couldn’t wait to share. We went in for our first ultrasound at 8 weeks and found out that we lost our sweet baby two weeks earlier.”

LPBW has graced TLC’s airwaves since 2006 and remains a hit show, which is now in its 24th season.

Matt and Amy Roloff changed how people viewed little people with their show, sharing their family’s unique dynamic and allowing viewers to follow along with their ups and downs.

Little People, Big World airs on Tuesdays at 9/8c on TLC and Discovery+.