'Ultimate Survival Alaska' reality star found shot dead

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Police investigate death of 'Ultimate Survival Alaska' star

Body of 69-year-old Jimmy Gojdics found at his home with gunshot wounds

An outdoorsman and past character on National Geographic's reality show "Ultimate Survival Alaska" has been found shot dead, and Alaska State Troopers were investigating the case as a homicide.

Officers responded to 69-year-old Jimmy Gojdics' residence in Fox Sunday to find the victim with gunshot wounds, the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reported. Gojdics was transported to Fairbanks Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Gojdics sometimes spelled his last name Gaydos, the way it's pronounced and the name he was known as in "Ultimate Survival." National Geographic Channel's website says he had worked as a fisherman, horse wrangler, blacksmith, forest service firefighter, river guide and wilderness guide.

"Jimmy Gaydos... appeared on the second season of National Geographic Channel's series 'Ultimate Survival Alaska,' airing in 2014," a network rep said in a statement sent to FOX411. "Mr. Gaydos appeared in the first three episodes of the second season but sustained an injury that made it impossible for his team to continue in the competition. We were saddened to learn of Mr. Gaydos's untimely passing and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family at this difficult time."

Gojdics was originally from upstate New York, and had many friends in the Fairbanks area, according to one of the friends, Janine Carlson, who knew him for 12 years.

Carlson said Gojdics loved to travel, and spent winters in South America as much as he could.

"Everyone was his friend and he met someone everywhere," she said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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