10 YouTubers Who Made Videos When They Knew They Were Dying
10 YouTubers Who Made Videos When They Knew They Were Dying
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re exploring the most heartbreaking times when beloved YouTubers continued making and releasing videos despite having terminal illnesses.
TheKingOfChemo
In 2019, Iain Ward took part in a medical trial. As part of it, he had an MRI scan of his head. Unfortunately, it was discovered he had a cancer that typically has a life expectancy of five years. Despite that dreadful news, Ward was grateful that it was caught before he experienced symptoms, allowing him to pursue his dreams. Known online as “TheKingOfChemo,” he set about to break the record for raising the most money for charity. As such, Ward has taken part in fundraisers to collect cash, including cycling across the US and running the 2026 London Marathon dressed as a Teenage Ninja Turtle while carrying a 20-kilogram weight disguised as the shell.
Ollie Talks Airsoft
YouTube is wonderful if you have a niche hobby, as you’re able to find a like-minded community. For those who were passionate about airsoft, where players fire plastic projectiles at each other, there was Ollie White’s channel, “Ollie Talks Airsoft,” which reviewed and repaired equipment. Sadly, in 2024, he uploaded a video where he stated he’d been diagnosed with terminal bowel cancer and had been given a three-month life expectancy. Despite that, White continued releasing videos, both on airsoft and his treatment. Incredibly, he exceeded the time limit he was given. However, in 2025, it was announced that White had passed away. The airsoft community came together and, with the aid of "BadaBing Pictures," hosted a fundraiser in White’s memory.
PeeWeeToms
In 2015, Dan Thomas received the news that he had cancer. As well as dealing with treatments, he decided to create a blog and the YouTube channel, “PeeWeeToms,” to document his journey and his mental health struggles to help viewers who are going through something similar. Unfortunately, in 2018, shortly after announcing his secret wedding, Thomas confirmed that there was no more treatment available for him as the disease had metastasized, and he didn’t have long left. Despite that, he continued updating viewers, including when he went into hospice care. Shortly after, Thomas sadly passed away. In 2019, with help from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, Thomas’s ashes were scattered in the channel off his hometown of Weston-Super-Mare, England.
Jenny Appleford
When Jenny Appleford and her husband, Kyle, began uploading on their YouTube channel “The Apples” in 2015, they specialized in family and vegan content. However, in 2021, it all changed when she announced in a video that she had lung cancer, despite never having smoked. The channel’s usual content continued with the addition of Jenny’s treatment progress. Sadly, in 2023, she announced that the disease had progressed and was terminal, giving her up to a nine-month life expectancy. Yet Jenny continued vlogging, hoping to help and inspire others. One of her last videos featured Jenny livestreaming from her hospital bed in 2023. Shortly after, she passed away. Kyle kept the channel going in Jenny’s memory, vlogging about life as a widow and coping with grief.
Paul Harrell
Beginning his YouTube career in 2012, Paul produced firearm education content and survival tips, amassing a devoted following. In 2023, while he was uncomfortable talking about his personal life, he uploaded a video where he announced he’d been diagnosed with cancer. Paul continued making content during his treatment, even after needing a crutch following a broken hip. However, he did take a step back and had his brother, Roy, lead. In 2024, Paul released a video that shocked his subscribers. Recorded in December 2023, Paul announced that if you’re seeing this, it meant he'd passed away. Paul confessed that his cancer had spread, which had caused his hip injury. Following this sad news, Roy continues to run Paul’s channel.
Talia Castellano
Despite battling cancer at her young age, nothing held Castellano back. Inspired by a family friend, she began uploading makeup tutorials and her medical progress through her channel, “taliajoy18,” while undergoing various treatments. Castellano’s infectious personality led to her appearing on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” and becoming an honorary CoverGirl. However, while there was progress with treatment, the cancer kept returning. In 2013, Castellano uploaded an update video from her hospital room, where she spent the past four weeks. Unfortunately, it wasn’t good news as she spoke about her struggles and that she wasn’t planning on leaving the hospital anytime soon. Sadly, several months later, Castellano passed away. In her memory, fans helped complete her bucket list, showing their progress online.
Tanner Martin
Running the social media accounts “Tanner & Shay Martin” across several platforms, the married couple announced in 2020 that Tanner was diagnosed with colon cancer. The couple documented Tanner’s treatments online. Unfortunately, he received the news in 2023 that the disease was terminal and was given a life expectancy of between three and five years. Despite that, the Martins were desperate for a child, and they were successful. In 2024, their baby was born. Unfortunately, a couple of months later, a video of Tanner was released where he announced his own passing. Shay has continued the channel, even creating a podcast that discusses coping with grief. In 2026, while representing Fight Colorectal Cancer, she spoke to the US Congress about her experience with Tanner’s diagnosis.
Edd Gould
If you’re an OG YouTube watcher, then you’ll very likely be familiar with the channel “Eddsworld.” Originally uploading on Newsground and Deviant Art, the animated show’s creator, Edd Gould, would begin adding the show to YouTube in its infancy. With the help of his friends, including Thomas Ridgewell and Matt Hargreaves, “Eddsworld” became a cultural phenomenon, even being referenced in mainstream media. However, in 2011, the trio, with their trademark comedy intertwined with a serious topic, announced from Gould’s hospital bed that he’d been diagnosed with leukemia, having previously battled the disease in 2006. While undergoing treatment, Gould continued making and voicing “Eddsworld.” Unfortunately, in 2012, he passed away from the disease. Ridgewell continued creating “Eddsworld” before handing the responsibility to Hargreaves in 2016.
TotalBiscuit
Best known as TotalBiscuit but also as The Cynical Brit and TotalHalibut, John Bain took the plunge into online video game criticism when he lost his job during the 2007 to 2009 Great Recession. He quickly found success with his “WTF” explanation series and his feud with the developers of “Day One: Garry's Incident.” In 2014, Bain unfortunately announced he had bowel cancer, which he had a family history of. Despite treatment, in 2015, he confirmed the disease had metastasized. Because it was inoperable, Bain was given a two-to-three-year life expectancy. Yet he continued releasing videos. In 2018, Bain announced his retirement as he didn’t have long left. Shortly after, he sadly passed away, causing several video games to honor Bain’s legacy.
Technoblade
If you regularly viewed “Minecraft” content on YouTube over the past ten years, at some point, you found Technoblade’s channel and became a devoted fan. Known for his trolling – managing to convince people his name was “Dave” – and his friendly rivalry with Dream, Technoblade became one of the biggest influences in the “Minecraft” community. However, in 2021, he announced that he’d been diagnosed with cancer. Despite that, he continued making content. Unfortunately, in 2022, the video “so long nerds” was released on his channel. Featuring his father, he read out a statement from Alexander, Technoblade’s real name, confirming that he’d passed away. Technoblade’s fans, family, and friends have continued honoring his legacy, even getting his channel to over 20 million subscribers posthumously.
If you followed any of the channels we’ve mentioned in the video, feel free to post your memories of them below.