‘Real Housewives’ Star Mary Cosby’s Son Robert Jr. Dies at 23
Robert Cosby Jr., the son of “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” star Mary Cosby, has died at just 23 years old. Salt Lake City police confirmed the death to Variety, saying they originally responded to an overdose call on Monday, but then it became a death investigation
Cosby Jr. has been a presence on the Bravo series, discussing his addiction to drugs with his mother on several episodes. During the show’s fifth season, Mary and Robert Jr. had a long, honest conversation about his drug usage that resonated with viewers. She asked him when he began taking drugs, and he told her he’d started using at 16, taking Xanax, Molly, acid and cocaine. He told her that it had gotten out of control, as she listened sympathetically and told him she’d help him. “I wanted to die at the time,” he told her. “Do you know how that would kill me?” Mary asked through tears. “I just felt like a stain,” he answered.
The scene — so raw and real — had a huge impact on Bravo viewers. In an interview with Vulture at the end of Season 5, Cosby said: “When I watched it, I bawled my eyeballs out. I was shocked that that’s what we delivered.” Cosby said that she’d gotten a tremendous amont of support from fans, including Rihanna, who reached out to her twice after the episode aired, including to say, “Merry Christmas, and I love you and Robert Jr.”
Robert Jr. entered treatment soon after that Season 5 scene, but his sobriety didn’t last. During the show’s recently concluded sixth season, Robert Jr. admitted that he was still using, though he was trying not to. During the filming of the Season 6 reunion, Mary Cosby said that Robert Jr. was in jail for violating a restraining order against his estranged wife. (Cosby had also expressed her disappointment with Robert Jr. getting secretly married during the run of the show.)
Cosby debuted as an original cast member on “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” in 2020. She did not shoot for the film’s third season, but returned for the fourth as a “friend of,” before returning to the main cast for its fifth season. The show just wrapped its sixth season.
TMZ first reported the news.
Watch a clip of Cosby Jr. and his mother on the show below.
Mary’s son is sharing his story on RHOSLC. #RealHousewivesOfSaltLakeCity #MaryCosby
Pat Saperstein and Kate Aurthur contributed to this story.
Cosby Jr. has been a presence on the Bravo series, discussing his addiction to drugs with his mother on several episodes. During the show’s fifth season, Mary and Robert Jr. had a long, honest conversation about his drug usage that resonated with viewers. She asked him when he began taking drugs, and he told her he’d started using at 16, taking Xanax, Molly, acid and cocaine. He told her that it had gotten out of control, as she listened sympathetically and told him she’d help him. “I wanted to die at the time,” he told her. “Do you know how that would kill me?” Mary asked through tears. “I just felt like a stain,” he answered.
The scene — so raw and real — had a huge impact on Bravo viewers. In an interview with Vulture at the end of Season 5, Cosby said: “When I watched it, I bawled my eyeballs out. I was shocked that that’s what we delivered.” Cosby said that she’d gotten a tremendous amont of support from fans, including Rihanna, who reached out to her twice after the episode aired, including to say, “Merry Christmas, and I love you and Robert Jr.”
Robert Jr. entered treatment soon after that Season 5 scene, but his sobriety didn’t last. During the show’s recently concluded sixth season, Robert Jr. admitted that he was still using, though he was trying not to. During the filming of the Season 6 reunion, Mary Cosby said that Robert Jr. was in jail for violating a restraining order against his estranged wife. (Cosby had also expressed her disappointment with Robert Jr. getting secretly married during the run of the show.)
Cosby debuted as an original cast member on “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” in 2020. She did not shoot for the film’s third season, but returned for the fourth as a “friend of,” before returning to the main cast for its fifth season. The show just wrapped its sixth season.
TMZ first reported the news.
Watch a clip of Cosby Jr. and his mother on the show below.
Mary’s son is sharing his story on RHOSLC. #RealHousewivesOfSaltLakeCity #MaryCosby
Pat Saperstein and Kate Aurthur contributed to this story.