Barstool Sports personality and former golf pro Cody “Beef” Franke has died after a “sudden medical issue.”
“Barstool lost a member of our family this weekend. Just tragic news,” founder and owner Dave Portnoy said on social media. “You will never find a nicer more genuine person than Beef. It’s hard to even process it right now. Just another cruel reminder that tomorrow is never promised and to live each day to its fullest. #Ripbeef”
Dan “Big Cat” Katz, another Barstool host, said during a Monday recording that Franke was at a wedding in the Dominican Republic when the incident occured.
Still one of my favorite videos of all time. Beef was all class. pic.twitter.com/q8Vtl1ki69
— Riggs (@RiggsBarstool) October 27, 2025
Franke, 31, was a native of Lake Villa, Illinois. He was also a golf pro at courses in California and Wisconsin who made viral videos prior to joining Barstool earlier this year. He was a frequent guest on several of the media company’s shows, including the golf-centric “Fore Play” podcast.
“Cody made so many people laugh, he made so many people smile, and he simply made so many people better,” the podcast said in a social media statement.
“Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with Cody’s entire family and loved ones.
“Rest in peace to the classiest man we knew.”
