The captain of the Cornelia Marie was seemingly destined for a life at sea. Captain Phillip "Phil" Harris started the hard and intense work on fishing boats at the young age of seven, per an archive of the Cornelia Marie's official site. Ten years later, the fearless teen began his treacherous work crabbing aboard the F/V American Eagle. By 21, Phil was one of the youngest captains in the Bering Sea while running the F/V Golden Viking out of Seattle. In 1990, he purchased the iconic Cornelia Marie with his wife (who the ship was named after) that was heavily featured on the reality series.
Phil was a hardworking family man whose father initially taught the crab business. He continued the family business with his sons, Josh and Jake, on the "Deadliest Catch," where he passed on the life-saving skills his father taught him.
Many remember Phil as a man who loved his sons more than life itself and someone who had a deep love for connecting with people. Phil was the kind of person to take "Deadliest Catch" shirts to sick children in hospitals to brighten their days. Captain Phil would even selflessly save stranded fishers at sea. One year, he picked up a total of 22 stranded men (via the Cornelia Marie site). With such an extraordinary display of character, it's no surprise this bold and lovable fisherman captivated millions of viewers each week.
