Gene Cheeseman left Gold Rush without much fanfare, but it wasn’t for the reason most viewers suspect. One of the less reality-focused reality shows aired by the Discovery Channel, Gold Rush follows various miners, prospecting families, and businesses who search the US, Canada, and the rest of the globe hoping to literally strike it rich. The series has led to numerous spinoffs, including Freddy Doge’s Mine Rescue, Parker’s Trail, White Water, and more. Those who appear on these shows often drop in and out, without much explanation.
In season 4, episode 2, “Learning Curve”, a new miner appeared on the series: Gene Cheeseman. Cheeseman first worked with Parker Schnabel’s crew before eventually moving to Tony Beets’ mining crew. He was a beloved and properly old-school miner who never seemed to like the camera that much. Cheeseman was also one of the most talented mechanics on the show and in the one spin-off he appeared in, Gold Rush: The Dirt. Despite his popularity, Gene Cheeseman up and disappeared from Gold Rush without much explanation.
It’s Unknown Why Gene Cheeseman Left Gold Rush (But He & Parker Schnabel Have Made Up)
Cheeseman Returned To Gold Rush In Season 10 For A Few Episodes
Gene Cheeseman was on Gold Rush for 72 episodes, from season 4 to season 7, and then reappeared for a few episodes in season 10, only to disappear once again. Both times Cheeseman left the show, after season 7 and after season 10, there was no explanation given for his departure. Cheesman had an antagonistic relationship with Parker Schnabel while he worked for him, and it eventually led to Cheeseman going to work for Tony Beets. Some fans speculated his beef with Schnabel was why he left the show, but then Cheeseman came back for season 10.
Schnabel himself quashed rumors that his and Cheeseman’s rivalry led to Cheeseman being removed from the series.
That season, Cheeseman came to assist a struggling Rick Ness in episode 12, “Million-Dollar Pay Day”, and stuck with him for a few more episodes before once again riding off into the sunset. Schnabel himself quashed rumors that his and Cheeseman’s rivalry led to Cheeseman being removed from the series. In a Facebook interview, Schnabel said,
“He [Gene] stops by now and then. When I go to see Tony, I stop in and talk to Gene usually. You know, Gene and I are fine, I think, from my point of view, we are. You’d have to ask him on that, but uh, we get along fine. We talk, you know. I think that we’ve both moved on, and we’re both doing fine from it, you know. I learned a hell of a lot from Gene and, uh, and I’ll always owe him for that. Yeah, Gene was a very good guy and a very good teacher, you know. My grandpa taught me a lot, but Gene taught me how to really move dirt, and, uh, since he left, we’ve been expanding on that, but he definitely planted the seed there.”
It seems that Cheeseman and Schnabel have buried the hatchet, or pickaxe, as it were.
