‘Ink Master’ winner Scott Marshall dead at 41
There’s some very sad news coming out today for all fans of Spike TV’s “Ink Master.” Scott Marshall, the famed artist who won both season 4 and the “Master vs. Master” showdown special, is dead at the age of 41. The cause of death is not entirely clear, but TMZ (who first posted the story) reports that it may have had something to do with his heart. Marshall’s body was found by police officers on Sunday after he stayed the night in a hotel, and early suggestions are that he passed away during his sleep.
We imagine that numerous tributes for Scott are going to be coming out over the course of the day, but a representative for the show (which recently wrapped its sixth season with a live special) said the following to the website:
“He was a great competitor and talented artist. Our deepest condolences go out to the Marshall family and friends.”
“Ink Master” host in Dave Navarro was one of the first to comment on Marshall’s passing through social media, and we imagine more tributes for him will come over time. Reality TV is a complicated form of entertainment; while Scott may not have realized it while he was in the process of filming this show, his artwork and strong personality was generating tens of thousands of fans and supporters. It is not a scripted show where you have those walls between your character and who you really are; aside from editing, this is a what-you-see-is-what-you-get form of entertainment. People watch you and oftentimes, they feel like they know you. That is why for someone like Scott, he may have forged a more personal connection to his fans than many others in the TV industry. That is what makes reporting on this news all the more difficult for us.
Our thoughts go out to Scott’s family, friends and fans during this time of grieving.
https://twitter.com/DaveNavarro/status/659079736153366528