Married at First Sight's Ryan De Nino Dead at 40

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The reality TV world has lost one of their own. 

Ryan De Nino, who was best known for starring on season two of Married at First Sight in 2015, died in New Jersey, his sister Melissa DeNino confirmed. He was 40 years old. 

“Ryan was so damn funny and witty,” Melissa posted on Facebook Aug. 11. “He was fiercely loyal to those he loved. He had a huge heart, always.” 

“I can’t explain what it’s like to lose a sibling,” she continued. “Someone who’s been there from the beginning and shares the same memories. No matter what we were going through, I loved him immensely. Life as I know it will never be the same.”

Alongside the sweet tribute, Melissa included several photos of herself and Ryan through the years, including a throwback picture of her holding him as a baby. A second snap showed the siblings dressed up as a witch and vampire for Halloween as kids, while Melissa posted several more recent selfies of the two smiling and making silly faces.

While no additional information regarding Ryan’s cause of death has been shared, his family confirmed to TMZ that he died suddenly earlier this week in New Jersey. 

E! News has reached out to New Jersey authorities as well as reps for Married at First Sight for comment but has not heard back. 

Ryan made his TV debut on the matchmaking series, which previously aired on Lifetime before moving to Peacock. The businessman—then 29 years old—was paired with receptionist Jessica Castro and the two married after meeting for the very first time at the altar. 

Ryan De Nino/Instagram

The pair decided to stay married on the Decision Day episode of the series, with Jessica explaining at the time that she was not interested in getting a divorce. 

"I come from a family of long successful marriages," she said on the show. "The word 'divorce' just doesn't fall into my lifestyle."

But by the reunion episode, their relationship had hit the rocks, with Jessica accusing Ryan of cheating on Valentine’s Day.

“A week prior to that, we had a blow-up because he told me that he was gonna be busy. So, I didn’t see him,” she said during the reunion episode. "A few weeks later, I find a Valentine's Day card from another female at his apartment."

At the time, Ryan denied the accusation, arguing that he “can't control people from sending me cards.”

The couple divorced after their season ended.

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