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Poker Pro Chad Brown Loses His Battle With Cancer

Actor Turned Poker Pro Passes Away At Age 52

by Julio Rodriguez  |  Published: Jul 02, 2014  |  

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Just days after hearing the confirmation of the accidental drowning death of poker pro Johannes Strassmann, the poker world was hit with yet another devastating blow. Chad Brown, a poker player who made a name for himself with numerous televised final table appearances during the height of the poker boom, lost his battle with cancer.

Brown was diagnosed with in 2011 with liposarcoma, a rare form of cancer. After chemotherapy, numerous surgeries and radiation treatments, the 52-year-old remained upbeat about his condition and refused to let it affect always infectious positive attitude.

“I’ve had tremendous support from family and friends who have been in the know from the get-go on every aspect of my illness," Brown said in a blog post in February. "Anyone wondering if I’m going through a hard time, the answer is no. This is just part of life and I’m okay with everything. I accept it. And right now I’m just looking forward to the next hand.”

Chad and his BraceletBrown was recently transferred to hospice care in New York and was visited by many of his close friends in the poker community during his final days. On Saturday at the World Series of Poker, tournament director Jack Effel ceremoniously presented Brown with an honorary WSOP bracelet.

“Sometimes there are special people that come around and transcend [the] traditional score card,” said Effel. “A person who stands for something. Like integrity, honor and friendship. A person who is positive, warm and respectful. A person who always made the game better just by being around the table. A person, like Chad Brown.”

The bracelet was rushed to New York and given to Brown shortly before his death.

You can watch the bracelet ceremony in its entirety below.

Brown was born and raised in New York and moved to Los Angeles in the 90’s where he got work as an actor, appearing in the film Basket Case 2 and even starring as a host on the game show Caesars Challenge.

Brown then transitioned into a professional poker career, where he earned a lot of screen time at televised WSOP and WSOP Circuit final tables. In 2005 and 2007, he came very close to winning a WSOP bracelet. Also in 2007, he finished runner-up in the NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship. In 2009, he won the Gulf Coast Poker Championship. In total, he earned over $3.3 million on the live tournament circuit.

Here’s what some of the poker community had to say about Brown’s passing.

 
 
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