Sig Hansen Net Worth, Wiki, Biography, Age, Height & Career

September 23, 2023

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Sig Hansen is an American fisherman, captain, author, and television personality best known for appearing on the documentary series Deadliest Catch. He is the captain of the fishing vessel F/V Northwestern, which operates in the Bering Sea and the North Atlantic. He is also part of a Norwegian-American fishing family with a long industry history and tradition.

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Early Life and Education

Sig Hansen was born in Seattle, Washington, on April 28, 1966, as Sigurd Jonny Hansen. He is the eldest of three sons of Sverre Hansen and Elvira Alethia (Green) Hansen. His father was a Norwegian immigrant who came from a family of fishermen. Both a homemaker and a social worker, his mother was. His brothers are Norman and Edgar Hansen, who work on the Northwestern as a deckhand and boss, respectively.

Hansen grew up in a musical family and learned to play the trumpet from his father. He also developed a passion for fishing early, following his father’s footsteps. He started fishing at age 14, working on his family’s boat during summers and weekends. He graduated from Bayard Rustin High School for the Humanities in Manhattan in 1984.

Career

Hansen began his career as a full-time fisherman after high school, spending about 10 months per year in Alaska and the Bering Sea. He worked his way up from deckhand to relief skipper to captain of the Northwestern by age 24. He became known for his skill, experience, and leadership in the fishing industry. He also fished in Norway during summers, catching mackerel and cod.

Hansen rose to fame when he was featured in the documentary series Deadliest Catch, which premiered on Discovery Channel in 2005. The show follows the lives and challenges of crab fishermen in the Bering Sea, one of the world’s most dangerous and lucrative fisheries. Hansen has appeared in every show season since its inception, serving as a technical advisor and narrator.

Hansen has also starred in several spin-off shows and specials related to Deadliest Catch, such as After the Catch, Deadliest Catch: Dungeon Cove, Deadliest Catch: The Bait, Deadliest Catch: The Legend of Sig Hansen, Deadliest Catch: The Viking Returns, and Deadliest Catch: Bloodline. He has also made guest appearances on other shows and movies, such as The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Celebrity Apprentice, Cars 2, Hell’s Kitchen, and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? The Simpsons and SpongeBob SquarePants.

Hansen is also an author who co-wrote his autobiography North By Northwestern: A Seafaring Family on Deadly Alaskan Waters with Mark Sundeen in 2010. The book became a bestseller on the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal lists. He is also a voice actor who voiced Skips in the animated series Regular Show.

In 2023, Hansen was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for his achievements and influence in music. He is also a philanthropist who supports various causes and charities related to fishing, health, education, and the environment.

Personal Life

Sig Hansen Net Worth

Hansen is married to June Hansen, whom he met in 1987. They have three daughters: Nina (born in 1996), Mandy (born in 1996), and Melissa (born in 1998). Mandy is also a fisherman who works on the Northwestern as a relief captain.

Hansen has faced several health issues over the years. In 2016, he suffered a heart attack while filming Deadliest Catch. He underwent surgery and recovered well. In 2018, he had another heart-related incident that required hospitalization. He also had surgery to remove a kidney stone in 2019.

Hansen has also been involved in some legal troubles. In 2016, he was arrested for allegedly assaulting an Uber driver in Seattle. He pleaded not guilty and settled the case out of court. In 2018, he was sued by his estranged daughter Melissa Eckstrom for allegedly sexually abusing her when she was a child. He denied the allegations and filed a counterclaim for defamation. The case was dismissed by a judge in 2019.