What Happened To ‘Swamp People’ Star Big T?
Joseph “Big T” Richard wasn’t just another face or a substitute deckhand on Swamp People — he was part of what made the show click during its later years. He was introduced in Swamp People Season 9 as Daniel Edgar’s right-hand man, referred to as Big T, and brought comic relief, fierce loyalty, spot-on gator shots, and genuine heart to the swamp. His chemistry with Edgar was super strong, and fans quickly rallied behind him as a standout. But after Swamp People Season 11, Big T disappeared from the cast without any public farewell or official statement from the History Channel. That silence left fans wondering what happened — and the truth, as it turns out, is a long and painful road marked by serious health challenges and personal sacrifice.
In 2019, while still part of the cast, Big T was hospitalized for what seemed like a minor foot infection. It escalated quickly. The infection reached his bone, and he ended up requiring two surgeries and the insertion of a PICC line for home-administered IV antibiotics. He kept fans updated on his Facebook page, and even hosted a benefit event at Bubba’s Sports Bar in Breaux Bridge to help cover rising medical bills. His resilience was obvious, but the recovery was incomplete. One year later, in September 2020, another freak accident changed everything again — and this time, it was perhaps more serious.
The Glass-Breaking Incident That Derailed Everything for Big T
While taking a Pyrex dish out of the oven on September 13, 2020, Big T suffered an injury when he dropped the dish, and glass shattered and struck him. A piece of glass entered his foot — small enough to miss at first, but devastating enough to send his life into a tailspin. Despite cleaning the wound and continuing to work, the embedded shard caused an internal infection that went unnoticed until the damage was severe. By October 20, 2020, he was hospitalized again. He had just returned to a new job after the exit from Swamp People, and was trying to stabilize life for his family. That job lasted only 10 days before he was out of commission again. This was tragically followed up by one surgery, then another, and then a third.
The prognosis kept changing, always getting worse. The infection was aggressive and recovery meant being unable to walk stairs, and it put even his basic mobility at home in question. A GoFundMe was launched in late October 2020, and confirmed that he would need extended care in a facility for several weeks and was at serious risk of losing his home. “Miserable” was the word used to describe his emotional state back then — not just because of the pain, but because he feared for his family while being completely immobilized. The campaign painted a stark picture of a man who had fought to bounce back from one medical disaster, only to be blindsided by another. But for anyone concerned by all that I’ve shared so far, rest assured — Big T is doing okay and continues to post regularly on his Facebook profile (not fan page).
Big T’s Exit from ‘Swamp People’ and Vanishing from the Spotlight
Big T’s last appearance on Swamp People was in Season 11. There was no formal goodbye, but by all signs, it appears that his health simply wouldn’t allow him to keep up with the demanding life of a swamp hunter. Gator hunting requires not only physical endurance but constant motion, hours of standing, and raw exposure to tough environments. For someone recovering from foot surgeries, infections, and battling diabetes, returning to that grind wasn’t possible.
The abrupt halt to his television career was jarring. Fans had come to love his presence and were left with a void when he didn’t show up for the next season. While some suspected contract issues or creative changes, the truth was far simpler and sadder: he was fighting to survive—physically, emotionally, and financially. He had kids, bills, and a home to maintain, and while the show might’ve ended for him, life didn’t pause.
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“Y’all stay safe out there.”
Though his television presence vanished, Big T remained somewhat active on Facebook — both through his fan page and personal account. On September 25, 2020, shortly before the second round of surgeries, he considered selling shirts (merchandise) again, and it signals that he was looking for any way to make ends meet. His last post on his fan page on Facebook was on August 15, 2023, where he wrote: “If anyone needs Alligator lines made for this season let me know.” It was the first hint in years that he might still be tied to the hunting world, though likely in a limited, behind-the-scenes capacity.
There Have Only Been Clues from Facebook About What Big T Has Been Up To Since Then
A closer look at his personal Facebook timeline offers additional glimpses. On July 7, 2023, he posted a wholesome deer-hunting photo with a child — perhaps his son — posing beside a kill on the back of a truck. And on June 19, 2024, he changed his profile photo, showing himself alive and well, though he hasn’t said anything directly about his condition or current line of work. Instead, most of his recent posts lean toward inspirational quotes — the kind people share when dealing with internal battles that are hard to talk about. There are no updates about hunting, no photos from the swamp, no signs of a return to Swamp People.
Collider has reached out to Big T for comment, but as of now, he hasn’t responded. If he does, we’ll update with his side of the story. Until then, it’s clear that Joseph Richard is still out there—still fighting, still working in his own way, surrounded by friends and family—but no longer under the camera lights. But we know for a fact that the viewers who watched him on the show loved him and felt relatable with his presence in so many ways. So much so that there’s a comment every once in a while under his posts, letting him know that he’s still missed on the show, and Big T sure knows how to return the favor — he has nearly 5,000 friends on his Facebook profile and is clearly down to connecting with his fans!
Swamp People Season 16 finale is scheduled to air on April 24, 2025, on History Channel.
