Who Wants to Be a Millionaire star Tim Janus died on Wednesday, September 16, at the age of 49. The reality star and professional eater’s cause of death was complications related to a long battle with cancer. Alongside WWTBAM, on which he won $100,000, he was the largest winner in the history of Cash Cab and appeared as a contestant on Amazing Race in 2018. Tim was also known as Eater X, and had a 12-year career as a professional eater from 2006 to 2018, reaching No. 2 in the world. His trademark was a face-painted Viking mask, which he wore while competing.
His publicist confirmed his death in an obituary shared on the Major League Eating website on Sunday, September 20. In the tribute Crazy Legs Conti, Janus’s former roommate and a former world oyster-eating champion, said: “Tim followed his own passions and dreams without regard for the pressures or expectations of society.”
His obituary noted that his trademark painted Viking mask was inspired by his childhood love of professional wrestling and said: “At contests, Janus would appear transformed into the mysterious masked competitor, bringing an element of theatre to a sport whose leading participants increasingly understood that personality and spectacle mattered alongside athletic performance.”
It continued, giving an insight into the star’s personality, revealing: “Away from the table, friends knew someone considerably more complicated than the character. Janus was intelligent, restless, funny and relentlessly interested in the world around him. His interests could be unconventional, but his enthusiasm for them was genuine. He had little concern for whether the things that fascinated him were things that were supposed to fascinate him.”
When he was inducted into the Major League Eating Hall of Fame in 2016, he said: “I tell people that I learned a lot about life by eating hot dogs, and I mean it. If you care about something and work hard at it, it makes you better.”
At the time of his diagnosis, Tim had been planning a new chapter in his life after he was accepted into the United States Foreign Service. He received an assignment, but his plans to serve abroad were disrupted by his illness.
Tim Janus comeptitive eating trademark was a hand painted viking mask on his face (Image: Getty)
Tributes flooded in for the beloved star. Taking to Facebook, one fan penned: “I was very sad to see this news. May Tim’s memory be a blessing and may the buffets be abundant on the other side.”
Another added, “Oh no…he was one of my favourite competitors in the Hot Dog contest. Truly a standout personality. Rest in peace, Tim.”
A third chimed in: “A sad day…… Just found out, one of my favourite people, Eater X Tim Janus, has passed…. Besides being a fantastic top 5 competitive eater, also the world burping champion and was a super smart, intelligent guy….One fun, and great guy to be around – the world has lost a bright, wonderful light filled with joy and craziness, but mostly, Tim was a terrific human being. I was lucky to get to know him, and have him be part of my life journey….RIP Tim you will never be forgotten, and thanks for all the fun memories!!”
Meanwhile, a fourth shared: “What a life he led. I only had the pleasure of knowing Tim for just two days, but he made a big impression on me. Glad that you’re pain has ended. The ‘Tournament of Ten’ wasn’t long enough. RIP Tim Janus.”