{
  "id": 2870053,
  "title": "The Curse Of Oak Island Actors You May Not Know Are Dead",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/23/the-curse-of-oak-island-actors-you-may-not-know-are-dead",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-23T21:12:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "TVLine",
    "slug": "tvline",
    "url": "https://www.tvline.com/2239871/the-curse-of-oak-island-dead-actors/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The History Channel reality series The Curse of Oak Island has featured a number of actors over its 13 seasons. Some of these actors have passed away, leaving behind a rich legacy on the show. Notable deceased actors include Fred Nolan, a pioneering land surveyor who spent decades mapping the island and discovered Nolan's Cross. Another tragic loss was 16-year-old Drake Tester, who died unexpectedly in 2017 due to a lifelong seizure disorder. His death was deeply felt by the close-knit crew, especially Marty Lagina who mourned his loss during the show's Season 5 premiere. Dan Blankenship, a former Florida contractor and WWII veteran, also passed away in 2019 after dedicating over 50 years to searching the island. His contributions were mourned by the cast and crew, who held a memorial service in his honor. Chris Donah, a teacher and Oak Island enthusiast, appeared in Seasons 6 and 7 and proposed astronomy-based theories about the treasure. He tragically died in September 2021. Additionally, Zena Halpern, a passionate researcher and author, appeared as a recurring guest in Seasons 4 and 5. She introduced the team to a 14th-century map allegedly created by the Knights Templar and inspired several search efforts. Halpern died in 2018, but her influence continued to be felt on the show.",
  "summary": "From early key figures to memorable guest researchers, we've lost several people from History's \"The Curse of Oak Island\" over the years.",
  "key_points": [
    "Fred Nolan, pioneering land surveyor, discovered Nolan's Cross",
    "Drake Tester, 16-year-old actor, died in 2017 from seizure disorder",
    "Dan Blankenship, WWII veteran, passed away in 2019 after 50 years of searching"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}