Where Are the Below Deck Season 1 Cast Members Now?
Discover where the OG cast — including C.J. LeBeau, Adrienne Gang, and David Bradberry — are today.
When Below Deck first set sail in July 2013, now one knew how big of a hit it would be. Today, the original show is part of a major franchise including Below Deck Mediterranean, Below Deck Sailing Yacht, Below Deck Adventure, and Below Deck Down Under — and we still can't get enough of the seafaring drama.
That's to say, while there have been many iconic cast members over the years, we'd be remiss to forget the OGs.
"We live together and work together, and when you're in such close quarters it gets stressful. It gets frustrating," said chief stew Adrienne Gang in Season 1, Episode 1, perfectly summarizing the relationship of her cast (and the groups who would follow).
Ahead, find out what your favorite Below Deck Season 1 cast members — including Adrienne, Captain Lee Rosbach, Aleks Taldykin, Ben Robinson, C.J. LeBleau, Kat Held, Samantha Orme, Eddie Lucas, and David Bradberry — have been up to in the 10-plus years since the season ended.
Where is Captain Lee Rosbach of Below Deck now?
To no one's surprise, the Stud of the Sea stayed on Below Deck through Season 10. While he didn't return for Season 11, Lee is still doing what he does best — captaining and saying his piece.
Off the water and off the set, he loves spending time with his wife, Mary Anne.
Where is Below Deck's Season 1 first officer Aleks Taldykin now?
First Officer Aleks made one of the most remarkable cross-franchise Bravo cameos when he showed up on Season 4 of Vanderpump Rules for a date with Kristen Doute. These days, the Los Angeles native is still in the yachting industry, running a company called Elite Yacht Management.
He's also recently become a father.
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"As I turned 38 today, reflecting on life, wanted to share the best birthday gift we could have ever asked for. Our son Krew Taldykin," he shared via Instagram in March 2024. "He’s already breaking hearts out on the streets, and will be driving yachts in no time."
(Kristen commented a couple of crying face emojis on the announcement, naturally.)
Where is Below Deck's Chef Ben Robinson now?
Chef Ben has made quite a few appearances in the Below Deck franchise over the years, sticking it out on the OG series until Season 4. He then transitioned to Below Deck Med, helping Captain Sandy Yawn out after a team situation turned sour in the galley.
Today, the chef is still cooking his delicacies and traveling the world. He runs a successful catering business and is available for private events, private instruction, and guest appearances. He also launched a knife and a hot sauce in 2022.
Where is Below Deck Season 1 chief stew Adrienne Gang now?
While Adrienne's tough work ethic didn't always mesh with her team, the first ever Below Deck chief stew certainly knew what she was doing.
In fact, she still works in the industry, serving as culinary director of Blue Oceans Yachting and running a Below Deck-themed podcast called Gangplank Report. In 2018, she married chiropractor Dr. Andrew Danks.
Where is Below Deck Season 1 second engineer C.J. LeBeau now?
You might remember C.J. as the engineer who was running around shirtless in Episode 2, much to Captain Lee's chagrin. If you recall further, he didn't last long, exciting the show after he was caught taking a swim and having a drink with third stew Samantha.
RELATED: Look Back at Every Below Deck Mediterranean Chef From All Seasons
We haven't heard much from him since.
Where is Below Deck second stew Kat Held now?
Kat stuck around for Season 2 of Below Deck, but told The Daily Dish in 2015 that she eventually left yachting behind entirely. After realizing she wanted to try something new, she began bartending in Newport and went back to school.
In January 2020, she appeared on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen alongside other franchise favorites to celebrate Below Deck's 100th episode.
Where is Below Deck Season 1 third stew Samantha Orme now?
Samantha, who went by Sam, came to Below Deck with some unique experiences: Her family owned an 80-foot catamaran. Working on a boat was a little different than enjoying one, however.
"Working on a mega-yacht is not for me," she eventually shared during a Season 1 confessional. "I had bigger hopes for what this would entail."
These days, Sam is married and has two adorable daughters, of whom she shares the cutest photos on her Instagram.
Where is Below Deck Season 1 first deckhand Eddie Lucas now?
After working as a deckhand in Season 1, Eddie transitioned to bosun work in Season 2 and 3. During his third go around, Captain Lee had to take Eddie aside after the then-bosun admitted to cheating on his girlfriend with a fellow crew member.
In January 2023, news broke that Eddie had climbed the ranks even further and was captaining a tugboat named Lynne Moran.
“A lot of it was just hard work, keeping your mouth shut, being quiet. You know that whole ‘squeaky wheel gets the grease’? Well, the squeaky wheel also gets replaced. So just keep your head down and your nose to the grindstone and work hard. And do the right thing. That’s treating people with respect," he told The Baltimore Banner. "I think that’s huge, and in my industry, the hierarchy is important. You’ve got to respect it. You don’t want to start arguments until you get to be a captain. Now, I can be a pain in the ass.”
The now-captain also has an adorable dog: Bert.
Where is second deckhand David Bradberry from Below Deck now?
"I've got the least amount of experience and probably the lowest amount of credentials, but give me a challenge and I'll meet it," shared David Bradberry in Episode 1.
While David got engaged during Season 1, he and his longtime partner Trevor Knight are no longer together.
He returned in Season 3 when Captain Lee found himself shorthanded, appearing in Episodes 11-13.
He's since appeared in a number of LGBTQ-themed movies and shorts, according to IMDb.
