If you spent any time at all watching truTV in the early 2010s, you know exactly who Bobby Brantley is. He was the guy with the trucker hat, the "don't mess with me" glare, and a knack for getting into some of the wildest physical altercations ever caught on camera. Alongside Ronnie and Amy Shirley, Bobby was the backbone of Lizard Lick Towing. He was the muscle, the comic relief, and often the one taking a flying leap over a fence to secure a repo.
But then, the cameras stopped. The show vanished. And for a long time, the internet went surprisingly quiet about him. Naturally, when a reality star disappears from the spotlight, the rumors start swirling. People start typing that dreaded question into search bars: is bobby brantley still alive?
The short answer? Yes, Bobby Brantley is alive and well in 2026.
However, if you've been seeing headlines about a "Bobby Brantley" passing away recently, you aren't imagining things. There’s a reason for the confusion, and it’s something that happens to a lot of celebrities with common names.
The Truth Behind the Death Rumors
Honestly, the internet is a mess when it comes to obituaries. Over the last couple of years, several men named Bobby Brantley have passed away, leading to a massive wave of "RIP" posts on social media that unintentionally target the reality star.
In April 2023, a Bobby Richard Brantley from Louisiana passed away at age 88. Then, in July 2023, the world lost Bobby "B-Ray" Brantley Jr., a young man from Texas. More recently, in early 2024, a veteran named Bobby Don Brantley passed in Tennessee. Each time one of these notices hits a local news site, the "Lizard Lick" fans see the name, skip the details, and start mourning the wrong guy.
👉 See also: Patricia Neal and Gary Cooper: The Affair That Nearly Broke Hollywood
Our Bobby—the North Carolina repo man—is actually doing just fine. He's just decided that he’s done with the circus of reality television.
Life After Lizard Lick Towing
Why did he leave? That’s the question everyone asks. If you remember the show's final seasons, things got pretty tense. Bobby eventually walked away from Lizard Lick Towing (the business and the show) to pursue his own path.
He didn't just sit around, though. For a while, he tried his hand at his own projects, including a show concept called Bad Dog Repo and his own YouTube channel. He even spent time working on his family farm and leaning into his roots in North Carolina.
Basically, Bobby realized that being a "character" on TV wasn't all it was cracked up to be. Reality TV is exhausting. You’ve got producers breathing down your neck, fake-but-not-fake fights, and a schedule that keeps you away from your actual family. By all accounts, Bobby just wanted to be a dad and a husband without a camera crew in his face.
Where is He Now in 2026?
Today, Bobby lives a much quieter life. He’s moved away from the repo world and focuses heavily on his family. You won’t find him on every social media platform—he’s actually quite private these days. While he occasionally pops up on Facebook or Instagram to share a photo of a fishing trip or a family gathering, he isn't chasing the "influencer" lifestyle.
✨ Don't miss: What Really Happened With the Death of John Candy: A Legacy of Laughter and Heartbreak
He’s also leaned heavily into his faith. If you follow his older updates, you'll see a man who has traded the brawls for Bible verses. He often talks about his journey toward a more peaceful life and how thankful he is to be out of the drama that defined his 30s and 40s.
What the Rest of the Crew is Up To
It’s hard to talk about Bobby without mentioning Ronnie and Amy Shirley. The "Lick" family has had a rough few years.
- Ronnie Shirley: Tragically, Ronnie lost his son, Alex, to a shooting in 2022. It was a devastating blow that changed the family's outlook on everything.
- Amy Shirley: She remains active on social media, often sharing updates about her powerlifting and her family’s healing process.
While the "Big Three" of the show aren't necessarily working together on camera anymore, the bond they formed during those chaotic years in Wendell, NC, is still something fans look back on fondly.
Why the "Death" Searches Keep Trending
Search engines love a good mystery. Because Bobby doesn't have a verified Blue Checkmark account posting every hour, the algorithm assumes "no news is bad news." When people can't find a recent photo, they assume the worst.
Also, let’s be real: Lizard Lick Towing was a physical show. Bobby took a lot of hits. He was punched, kicked, and thrown around more than most professional wrestlers. It’s natural for fans to worry about the long-term health of someone who spent years doing high-impact stunts (even if some were "enhanced" for TV).
🔗 Read more: Is There Actually a Wife of Tiger Shroff? Sorting Fact from Viral Fiction
But rest assured, he's survived the repo world and the reality TV world. He’s just enjoying the quiet life in the South.
How to Keep Up With Bobby
If you’re looking for a way to support him or just see what he’s doing, your best bet is his official social media pages, though they aren't updated daily.
- YouTube: He has an official channel (@BobbybrantleyBB), though he hasn't posted a "show" style video in quite some time.
- Facebook: This is where you’ll find the most authentic "Bobby" updates—usually just him being a regular guy in North Carolina.
The biggest takeaway here is that not every celebrity wants to be famous forever. Bobby Brantley got his taste of stardom, made his mark on pop culture, and then did something many people find impossible: he walked away. He chose peace over ratings.
Next Steps for Fans:
If you want to verify things for yourself, avoid the clickbait "celebrity death" sites that use AI-generated scripts. Instead, check the local North Carolina community groups or his direct Facebook page. You'll see that he’s still the same Bobby—just a little older, a lot wiser, and far away from the tow truck.