CAPT. PHIL HARRIS FROM THE DEADLIEST CATCH DIES @ AGE 53!

Captain Phil Harris, the cantankerous, chain-smoking crabbing boat boss who became a household name on Discovery's hit series "The Deadliest Catch," died Tuesday.

He was 53.

Harris had suffered a stroke Jan. 30 while in port off-loading his ship the F/V Cornelia Marie in Alaska. He had been hospitalized ever since.

"He was more than someone on our television screen," Discovery officials said in a statement. "Phil was a devoted father and loyal friend to all who knew him. We will miss his straightforward honesty, wicked sense of humor and enormous heart."

Harris was one of the star players in the series which follows crab fishermen working the deadly waters off of Alaska. The job has been called the most dangerous in the world because of the high rate of injury to the participants who gamble life and limb for a lucrative haul on the seas.

Harris was known for barking orders from his perch at the wheel of the Cornelia Marie, and for the ever present cigarette.

Among his crew were sons Jake and Josh Harris.

"It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to our dad - Captain Phil Harris," the brothers said in a joint statement last night. "Dad has always been a fighter and continued to be until the end. For us and the crew, he was someone who never backed down. We will remember and celebrate that strength. Thanks to everyone for their thoughts and prayers."

Fans of the show last night flooded Discovery's "Deadliest Catch" web site as news got out that Harris had died.

"Thank you, Phil, for bringing humor to my screen every week. You were my favorite captain, and the Cornelia Marie was my favorite boat," wrote a poster, txstchmandy. "You will be missed. But I know your spirit will always stay with your boat, and you're in your children and crews' hearts. I hope this isn't the end for the Cornelia Marie on DC. But I know it's not the end for crab fishing.'

Others posted heartfelt messages that the show wouldn't be the same without Harris.

"I'm so sad for the family," wrote gapeach1952. "I thought he was doing better. OK I'm sad for me too, I'll miss you Phil Harris."

In their statement, Discovery officials said they shared "our tremendous sadness over this loss with the millions of viewers who followed Phil's every move. We send our thoughts and prayers to Phil's sons Josh and Jake and the Cornelia Marie crew."