Beloved TV Star Passes Away At 45

Rob “Rabbit” Pitts, the star of Netflix’s hit automobile repair series “Tex Mex Motors,” has died at 45, the New York Post reports.

Pitts passed away after a difficult battle with stomach cancer. In a heartbreaking final video on his popular YouTube channel, the automotive champion celebrates his life well lived in a montage of photographs that include cast members from the two-season show. A final statement haunts the images as Pitts tells his fans why he has been so silent on social media as of late. “You haven’t heard much from me lately,” he explains, “and I know some of you are wondering what I’ve been up to” Pitts said he started feeling “off” after last November’s SEMA Show in Las Vegas and began rapidly losing weight. During filming, the 45-year-old admitted, “I started to lose my appetite, and had more and more acid reflux-like symptoms.”

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After several rounds of visiting his doctor to treat the symptoms, Pitts was diagnosed with stomach cancer in March. In his video, titled “This is Goodbye. (RIP 7/27/79 – 8/25/24),” he asked his fans not to feel sad for him. “I have a lot to live for and life has been going my way… I accomplished my dream of buying my own store, finishing season 2 of Netflix, and marrying the love of my life.” He signs off, “Until next time… –Rabbit.”

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The Netflix star’s videographer, Jeff, confirmed news of his death and told fans he was there in his friend’s final moments. “Hey everyone, this is Jeff (Rob’s Videographer). I am with him now in Hospice. He just passed at 21:45 on 08/25/2024. I will be sure to preserve the channel. He will be missed and we will never forget him!️” he wrote in the comments section of Pitts’s video.

Pitts and Marcos “Scooter” Carrera co-founded “Tex Mex Motors” in June 2023, chronicling their love of cars as they hunt for vintage gems in Mexico and transport them back to the United States. Pitts, a native of Greenville, South Carolina, performed renovations on his newfound toys at his own shop in El Paso, Texas. Over the course of two seasons, Pitts, Carrera, and their colleagues Jaime Hjelm and Wesley Zachary performed jaw-dropping restorations of classic cars.

Carrera left his own tribute to his friend on Instagram. “It’s with a heavy heart that I write about the passing of my cast member & friend ROB ‘RABBIT’ PITTS. Rest In Peace Brother, I’m going to really miss you!!!” he wrote, adding in a follow-up post, “THANK YOU RABBIT FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP/CAR ADVICE/FRIENDSHIP/SARCASM/JOKES. REST IN PEACE MY FRIEND!! TILL WE MEET AGAIN!! THIS IS NOT GOOD BYE BUT SEE YOU LATER!!! I AM GOING TO MISS YOU, THOUGH!!”

In a joint statement, Pitts’s wife Randi Foraker and his mother Kim Pitts thanked the millions of fans who helped their loved one make his dream come true. “Since Robby’s passing, the outpouring of support for the family has been incredible,” they shared in a statement to TMZ. “We are not surprised that his stories touched so many — we had no idea of the depth of each connection he made. We wish to thank his friends and fans for keeping these memories alive and showing the impact of the work he did that always came from his heart.”

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