RIP Tim “Eater X” Janus
update Sept 26 Entertainment Tonight has an obituary
update Patch.com has an obituary.
The Major League Eating home page reports that Tim “Eater X” Janus passed away on September 16 following a long battle with cancer. He would have been 50 on December 31. Janus is the sole member of the Major League Eating Hall of Fame.
In a 2024 Time Magazine article, Tim Janus said he retired from competitive eating in 2016 due to concerns about his health, but said he was currently healthy.
Tim Janus, a 47-year old ex-competitive eater who Metz has studied in scientific research, quit the sport in 2016 after 11 years “out of an abundance of caution” partly based on Metz’s findings about the risks. He was also concerned about the harms of throwing up following competition, a practice that he describes as widespread. “When you’re eating that much food, you can’t digest it all,” he says. “Your stomach is too full to move things along. Throwing up after the contest is a necessary part of the sport.”
Janus tried to collaborate with other pro eaters to share and track their health to better understand the effects of competing, but he couldn’t rally their interest. He’s now a foreign service officer in Mexico City in good health. Most of his former competitors say they’re healthy, too, but he “didn’t want to continue and realize I made a mistake.”
Janus was one three protagonists (along with Takeru Kobayshi and Ian Hickman) in MTV’s 2006 documentary, “True Life: I’m a competitive eater”, which can be viewed online. He was also featured in Jason Fagone’s book, “Horsemen of the Esophagus” (Google Books sample)
The final competitive eating activity for Janus was serving as a commentator on Netflix’ “Unfinished Beef: Chestnut vs. Kobayashi” in September 2024.
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Sean Nichols said (Registered October 14, 2013)
September 21, 2026 @ 3:34 am
Hope he is in a better place. Cancer is never a fun fight. Always wanted to meet him one day.
Anonymous said
September 21, 2026 @ 6:25 am
Raina – came up in my feed! I can’t UNSEE this! UGGGGH!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhGOv5aqllc
Rhonda Evans said
September 21, 2026 @ 7:20 am
May God bless his soul and comfort his family, friends, and loved ones during this very difficult time.
Anonymous said
September 21, 2026 @ 8:25 am
This is very sad news to say the least I was getting ready to have breakfast but after reading this news I completely lost my appetite Tim was a good kid a decent human being as well I got along with Tim until things soured between us but that’s on me because I was to blame and take full responsibility If he were alive today I would apologize to him for negative things I said about him in past He was on my podcast 20 yrs ago and his millionaire appearance was legendary I remember back in 2004 he reached out to competitive eating community in an attempt to help his mom who needed a kidney transplant I was pleased to hear his mom is alive and well 22 yrs later Thoughts and prayers to his family
Anonymous said
September 21, 2026 @ 9:58 am
So that’s 4 competitive eaters to kick bucket in 11 yrs Torres low potassium which I find hard to swallow Juliet dropped dead with no cause of death reported Hardy 911 related and now Tim So far no mention of type of cancer he died from
Anonymous said
September 21, 2026 @ 9:59 am
I guess this is the first loss among those who have eaten 50 or more hotdogs at Nathan’s?
Anonymous said
September 21, 2026 @ 10:01 am
Rhonda Evan’s ? Holy shit
Anonymous said
September 21, 2026 @ 11:42 am
I highly doubt that his involvement as a competitive eater contributed to his death 10 yrs removed from the sport is enough time for body to recover Look at 80s porn star Jerry Butler who won Nathan’s finals in 1980 with 9 hot dogs He died of cancer in 2018 38 yrs later and he was a physical fitness freak till the day he died
Anonymous said
September 21, 2026 @ 1:05 pm
I never met the guy. Got involved in CE a few years after he retired. He seemed like a very likeable guy based on the videos I saw of him though, and his character came of as genuine and truly unique. Sad that he passed, RIP Eater X.
beautifulbrian said
September 21, 2026 @ 1:07 pm
ii will be there for wake when they post location
nathanbiller said (Registered January 29, 2007)
September 21, 2026 @ 1:40 pm
One of the kindest souls you could ever meet – truly heartbreaking
Anonymous said
September 21, 2026 @ 2:19 pm
So tragic, he was one of the greatest ambassadors to the sport. You will be missed Tim.
Larellmarie said (Registered May 9, 2010)
September 21, 2026 @ 3:30 pm
Omgosh, this is so very sad. He was such an incredibly nice person.
The Grim Reaper said
September 21, 2026 @ 6:05 pm
Okay, the fun & games are over, you eating schmucks are gonna start dropping like flies. I had to take X just to show you it could be anyone. Next on my list are three turds who should have never been born: the fat disgusting lying coward jew – there’s an especially hot place in hell reserved for him, the two-faced Mele (the only think she’s connected to is the toilet). And I’m gonna make sure the bloated scalper suffers mightily. He’s gonna be begging for death before I’m through with him.
anonymous said
September 21, 2026 @ 6:36 pm
i dont ever remember janus ever eating one drop of food going out socially or with buddies . Alcohol yes He only ate when he was eating competitively He would just observe others eating No lie
Anonymous said
September 21, 2026 @ 7:13 pm
Is there going to be free food at the wake?
Anonymous said
September 21, 2026 @ 7:42 pm
Expect Rose to show up at the wake with a shopping bag to stuff leftovers in knowing free food like sandwiches or maybe buffet is provided by the family at no cost
anonymous said
September 21, 2026 @ 9:46 pm
Jewish funerals dont provide shit to the mourners the day of the funeral. I can personally vouch for that. Usually hard boiled eggs and bagels but thats not a guarantee . When the family of the deceased holds 5day shiva, people that show up at the family home are supposed to but not required ,to bring cookies pastries or deli food platters for the family of deceased as well as mourners who show.
anonymous said
September 21, 2026 @ 9:55 pm
Chesnut is a prime candidate for developing stomach liver or colon cancer considering his lifestyle and his age which is not far from 50 . Eaters in their 20s and 30s are not at immediate risk for developing those cancers but thats not a guarantee. The eaters in their 40s and up must be think to themself whos to say im not next
Steakbellie said (Registered August 11, 2006)
September 21, 2026 @ 10:33 pm
Tim was the finest of humans. This is just so sad
anonymous said
September 21, 2026 @ 11:21 pm
Janus next to last qualify win at Nathans came with an interesting story attached to it Conti Janus Seiken Wild Bill and Brian Dudlight were the only real competition in the event at citifield in queens rest of the field was a joke . Janus pulled out at last minute to look out for his buddy Conti whom he thought would easily beat wild bill and seiken Then Brian Dud shows up which threw a monkey wrench in Conti plan There was conversation between Conti and Rich Shea which delayed the contest Now question was will Janus change his mind and re enter . Brian Dud now had his reservations about competing realize now that Janus might change his mind and screw Brians chance of making it to finals Brian was overheard mumbling under his breath “cmon tim make up your mind” Brian dud would easily beat conti myers and Seiken but the stumbling block was Janus So finally Conti realized he wasnt beating Brian dud so he decided not to enter altogether and told Janus to kick his ass To say that Conti was pissed would be an understatement . final totals Janus 35 Brian Dud 28 Wild Bill Seiken tied with 17 Tim easily won following year at citifield competed in chilli and called it a career in 2015 not 2016
LA Beast said
September 22, 2026 @ 10:06 am
Rest easy Tim. A quiet man, gentle soul & ferocious competitor at the table. A true honor to have gotten to know you through competitive eating. You may be gone, but Never forgotten.
LA Beast said
September 22, 2026 @ 10:32 am
Final thought: Tim once produced a video to see if you could get drunk off of O’doulz non alcoholic beer ???? which still has like .05%alc. Total genius idea of the time!! A pioneer no matter what he did for sure. Rest easy Tim!!
anonymous said
September 22, 2026 @ 10:49 am
Tim Janus was not a household name same can be said about all competitive eaters with exception of chestnut which is why his death will not make headlines in major news periodicals like NY Post & Daily News . More than likely the turnout at his wake will not feature a star stud turnout I would expect Tim immediate family to show along with Conti , Conti mom , Sheas , Booker Barklay possibly Larell Ed Jarvis and this beautifulbrian guy who says he might show. Would be nice if Ryan Nerz and Mike Castallano would show but that remains to be seen
anonymous said
September 22, 2026 @ 11:24 am
Funny how OJ Rifkin refuses to promote Sickens youtube page or any media coverage which involves him since july 2016 Contest results were included but that was because it was unavoidable BTW this is not Mr Sicken just a fan
Blizzz said (Registered July 16, 2008)
September 22, 2026 @ 5:13 pm
This is awful news. He was and still is one of my favorites to ever do it. RIP Tim.
anonymous said
September 22, 2026 @ 5:18 pm
wonder how many freeloaders will just show for food then leave
ojrifkin said (Registered July 27, 2005)
September 22, 2026 @ 8:45 pm
Here is Tim’s non-alcohol beer stunt
https://deadspin.com/will-drinking-28-non-alcoholic-beers-in-an-hour-make-me-1210108551/
DIo Fa said
September 23, 2026 @ 4:23 am
God is evil if he would kill Tim & let the lowest of the Earth like Scumkein, Cunti, Menscalper, Booger, LA Bitch, & the rest of those awful people live. Not even to mention the Sheas, who are the devil’s disciples.
Anonymous said
September 23, 2026 @ 5:49 am
Better question will OJ Rifkin finally come out of hiding and show up at the wake?
Super Paul Bonebreaker Bigmouth Barlow said
September 23, 2026 @ 9:41 am
Tim Janus was not only a great competitive eater, he was one of the funniest, smartest dudes you’ll ever meet!! He won $100,000 on “Who wants to be a Millionaire”, and was the world burping champion…. Quite the interesting, crazy resume. Some of you remember him and Joey Chestnut on ” The Amazing Race” where Tim was constantly having to get Joey to run faster!! I was planning to go see him again, but had not talked with him in over a year… Did not know he had cancer…..if you ever met Tim, consider yourself lucky – he made my life a little better every time I got to see him….RIP
anonymous said
September 23, 2026 @ 9:52 am
Boone wanted to kill him because he began dancing in front of him while at same time beating his ass in hotdogs. Then Boone became insane jealous when the girls ignored Boone advances and ran over to Tim Those were days
anonymous said
September 23, 2026 @ 9:58 am
Dio get some help man Serious seek a shrink or lay off heroine you are beyond gone
anonymous said
September 24, 2026 @ 9:24 am
this jason fangone who wrote the horseman book could be a very nasty son of a bitch . He came across as a good guy at the beginning asking ifoce eaters for interviews. Many declined including myself because of strict instructions from sheas not to talk to him. As time went by i asked if his offer was still on table. He basically became very hostile and used some profanity as well
Anonymous said
September 24, 2026 @ 4:22 pm
sorry to hear of this chaps passing, such a shame. he sounds like a good man and still relatively young.
Its a shame some people can’t reach the basic level of human dignity and show some respect in this thread.
many blessings to him and his family.
Anonymous said
September 24, 2026 @ 6:13 pm
I hope his cancer wasn’t related to or caused by his competitive eating career.
Anonymous said
September 24, 2026 @ 6:14 pm
At least those two underage pathetic idiots posted their assinine comments in a thread other than Tim Janus thread Amazing the kind of siickos this sport attracts
anonymous said
September 25, 2026 @ 5:24 am
Tim was quite the comedian playin trans gender eater helen Haggerty
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTllZU9npaM
Anonymous said
September 25, 2026 @ 2:47 pm
Saddened by the depth of immature comments on such a thread. The constant hate is unwelcome in other conversations, but I would hope that in a bereavement conversation some sense of dignity would prevail. Unfortunately my hopes have not been met.
anonymous said
September 25, 2026 @ 8:18 pm
its expected even in death there are still heartless scumbags who continue to post here
anonymous said
September 26, 2026 @ 3:21 am
i dont think tim death was related to competitive eating Matter fact i guarantee it
anonymous said
September 26, 2026 @ 7:03 am
i wonder if US fail and Bob shit will show at wake Shit was good friends with Janus but US fail was not Janus reported fail to george shea after he caught fail cheatin at a crawfish eating contest in AC where Janus finished a surprisungly 7th
anonymous said
September 26, 2026 @ 12:56 pm
Anyone who shows up at the wake stuffing free food in a bag and then leave without paying respects should be ashamed of themselves . If thats the case it should be invite only and not freeloaders off the street,
Anonymous said
September 26, 2026 @ 6:36 pm
3:21 – do you know which kind of cancer he had?
anonymous said
September 26, 2026 @ 8:31 pm
who knows? Says he had long battle that means prostate colon or pancreatic. you can live a few yrs with those . Brain, liver stomach lucky to survive a few months if your lucky However some have survived brain cancer if caught early and they are able to remove tumor
Anonymous said
September 27, 2026 @ 4:16 am
the pancreas sits directly behind the stomach and is part of the digestive system. who is to say years of digestive stress and extreme stomach stretching from competitive eating weren’t risk factors
Anonymous said
September 27, 2026 @ 7:00 am
My cousin got married in 2006 She gave birth to a girl a year later 2 yrs later she was diagnosed with colon and liver cancer at age 33 She was able to receive a liver transplant which saved her life She had to go through grueling chemo for months even after the transplant Have not been in contact with her in quite some time but last check she’s 51 and doing ok
anonymous said
September 27, 2026 @ 8:45 am
i have to agree with 416
anonymous said
September 27, 2026 @ 9:19 am
Just recieved word (thrugh a FB comment) that Mr Shmelkin will not be able to earn revenue on th Janus transgender YT video due to the fact its deemed as content not suitable for advertising The video can still be visible to the public but no $$$ earned
anonymous said
September 27, 2026 @ 9:27 am
ET got it wrong as usual He started in 2004 not 2006
anonymous said
September 27, 2026 @ 9:40 pm
listen up you got these fat obese fucks out there way over 400 lbs stuff face with chinese food ice cream steak hotdogs and those are just snacks before the main course yet they live into their 80s Of course they can barely walk have diabetic disease and heart condition but never diagnosed with cabcer,Then you got chain smokers who never get diagnosed with lung cancer and manage to live till 90 One woman in my building who smoked until she dropped dead at 92 only because she had alzheimers so go figure check put this gorgeous beauty
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qO9lkG37x0
anonymous said
September 28, 2026 @ 4:46 am
919 this goes out to the mr shmelkin haters who would probably take great pleasure in knowing that in the last six months hi highest earned video was $1.18 cents white house subs a deli in AC NJ a few months ago but was actually a re upload from aug 2011 if you go throuth the archives . 1:40 I believe he posted the trans gender video for entertainment and not monetary gains His last video on YT was 2020 until he decided to come back in Jan 2026 Happy?
Anonymous said
September 28, 2026 @ 10:18 am
Tim Janus deserves respect for his life and mourning for his too early death. Condolences to his family and friends. To all others who are posting here with disrespectful comments and beyond, you should be ashamed of yourselves.
anonymous said
September 28, 2026 @ 10:36 am
1013 i agree and if anyone thinks they will go to the wake expecting free food or go doggy bag they should be thrown out head first
rabbi abromovitz said
September 28, 2026 @ 11:25 am
ooy vay ooy vay argue over “fressers” who vant free non kosher food is a shanda
Anonymous said
September 28, 2026 @ 1:13 pm
9:40 and 4:46, your comments are based upo suppositions. Unless you know the true information stop commenting.
anonymous said
October 1, 2026 @ 7:33 am
back in the day people were not dying of cancer. and most lived well into their late 80s and when thet eventually passed, the cause of death was natural causes or they died peacefully in their sleep. When you put on television most of the
time you saw a chocolate milk bosco commercial.\, twinkies ring ding, funny bones etc . Happy times fun times Now every other commercial on tv or radio is prostate cancer breast cancer colon cancer Very very depressing and sickening Then you got those who argue “well we need commercials of that nature to make people aware of deadly consequences if you dont get screened for early detection ” Early detection my ass once you got it sad to say its a death sentence and there is no such thing as early detection . Doctors these days seem to get off on telling you you have terminal cancer and there is nothing we can do for you at the present time, The only thing these commercials accomplish is instilling fear while at same time questioning your own mortality “whos to say im not next” ? Then you want topoint fingers at competitive eating contributing to Janus death. He hasnt competed in 10 yrs Cancer could have arisen from a defective gene it was heretic and cancer might run in his family. Many have reported that he hardly ate anything except when he competed
Anonymous said
October 1, 2026 @ 12:31 pm
Of all of the comments only perhaps five are condolences. That speaks to the quality of posters. Back in the day, stop commenting BS you know nothing.
anonymous said
October 1, 2026 @ 12:57 pm
1231 you know nothing but pure hate for BS get a life you fool and stop loitering on this site like you been for past 20 yrs hoping for a BS comment to belittle ? Are you going to the wake NO so STFU
anonymous said
October 1, 2026 @ 1:32 pm
i bet 1231 shows at the wake for free food then makes a quick exit LMFAAAAAAAO
anonymous said
October 1, 2026 @ 3:45 pm
1231 but this comment gets a free pass as long as its not BS and you know damn well who posted it. You are a phoney fuckin hater bottom line
DIo Fa said
September 23, 2026 @ 4:23 am
God is evil if he would kill Tim & let the lowest of the Earth like Scumkein, Cunti, Menscalper, Booger, LA Bitch, & the rest of those awful people live. Not even to mention the Sheas, who are the devil’s disciples.
anonymous said
October 1, 2026 @ 4:10 pm
OJ you must really hate this sicken guy you never promote anything from his YT channel or mention him period. Like he really needs to be hyped by you .Seems hes doing quite well with 19k subs I guess the only way he gets a mention is if he competes with IFOCE then you have no choice to post his results
Anonymous said
October 1, 2026 @ 6:09 pm
anyone know when/where the wake takes place?
anomymous said
October 2, 2026 @ 2:48 am
why are you going?
Anonymous said
October 2, 2026 @ 6:51 am
Usually a wake takes place with visiting hours a day or two before the funeral. The time for that has already passed. A Celebration of Life can come anytime after burial or cremation.
anonymous said
October 2, 2026 @ 11:22 am
on the IFOCE site no mention of attending wake just says there will be a celebration of life in oct with no time or date
anonymous said
October 2, 2026 @ 12:40 pm
so if they had wake already was the free food at the wake and not part of the celebration of life? If so you can count me out
Anonymous said
October 2, 2026 @ 3:35 pm
any update on the celebration of life?
Anonymous said
October 2, 2026 @ 5:07 pm
I wonder if Dave Goldstein will be at celebration of life? He held it in for Janus after janus caught him cheating in a crawfish eating contest in nj after Goldstein was declared the winner
anonymous said
October 3, 2026 @ 9:13 am
why the hell would goldstein attend the celebration of life he was never close with tim i doubt they ever spoke except when tim got all the contestants in the crawfish contest to convince the mc to overturn golstein first place finish
anonymous said
October 3, 2026 @ 12:00 pm
just my opinion i think goldstein was a shitty competitive eater with major league eating Most of the time he cheated never made the nathans finals In all the mle contests he competed in he never placed in the money except for the crawfish contest when he won $1600 but that victory had ???? all over it. He won $500 in a curly fry contest that was it His biggest score was wingbowl when he won an acura automobile 13 yrs ago worth 40k I bet he junked the car in recent years
Anonymous said
October 4, 2026 @ 11:31 pm
At least Goldstein could eat more than 11 hotdogs
anonymous said
October 5, 2026 @ 4:06 am
says the hair club for men client 1130 who was caught talking to himself on numerous occasions You made your point