Papa Jim was an internet sensation who appeared in many of Danny Duncan’s YouTube videos, performing wild stunts and pranks that defied his age. He passed away at the age of 92 in May 2022, leaving behind a legacy of laughter and entertainment. But who was Papa Jim and how did he become a viral star? And more importantly, was he related to Danny Duncan?
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How Papa Jim met Danny Duncan
Papa Jim was not actually Danny Duncan’s grandfather, as many fans assumed. He was the grandfather of David Tomchinsky, a close friend of Duncan who works as an executive assistant and social media manager for his brand. Duncan met Papa Jim through Tomchinsky and they instantly hit it off.
According to HITC, Duncan said in a video:
“I met Papa Jim through David, my friend who works for me. He’s David’s grandpa. And I just started hanging out with him because he’s funny and he’s cool.”
Duncan started featuring Papa Jim in his videos, where he would do things like skinny dipping, quad biking, driving a boat, and even getting a tattoo. Papa Jim became a fan favorite for his adventurous spirit and hilarious personality.
How Papa Jim became an internet legend
Papa Jim had a huge impact on Duncan’s YouTube channel, which has over 6.5 million subscribers. His videos with Papa Jim often got millions of views and thousands of comments from fans who loved their chemistry and antics.
Some of the most popular videos with Papa Jim include:
- “Surprising My Friend With His Dream Car!”
- “Teaching My Grandpa How To Swim!”
- “Papa Jim Gets A Tattoo!”
- “Papa Jim Gets Arrested!”
- “Papa Jim’s 90th Birthday!”
Papa Jim also had his own merchandise line, featuring shirts, hats, stickers, and posters with his catchphrases like “Bum Bum Bum” and “You Don’t Drive A Boat, You Conn It”. He also had his own Instagram account with over 300k followers.
Papa Jim inspired many people with his zest for life and his willingness to try new things. He proved that age is just a number and that you can have fun at any stage of your life.
How Papa Jim died
Papa Jim passed away on May 12, 2022, at the age of 92. The cause of his death has not been revealed by his family or by Duncan. Duncan announced his passing on Instagram, where he posted a series of photos with Papa Jim and wrote:
“Thank you for all the laughs and unforgettable memories. I love you papa Jim. RIP.”
The post received over 2 million likes and thousands of comments from fans who expressed their condolences and gratitude for Papa Jim.
Papa Jim had previously been the victim of a death hoax in February 2021, when Duncan posted a photo with him and captioned it “Miss you Papa”. Many fans thought that Papa Jim had died, but Duncan later clarified that he was just out of town and missing him.
How fans reacted to Papa Jim’s death
Papa Jim’s death sparked an outpouring of grief and tributes from fans across the world. Many people shared their favorite memories of Papa Jim and thanked him for making them laugh and smile.
Some of the tweets from fans include:
“Rest easy Papa Jim. Imma miss you so much. You inspired so many of the youth. You will always be our Papa Jim. Rest easy. Love You BummmmMummmBummm….” – @y0urcousinvinny
“Today, I heard some sad news that Papa Jim has died, my condolences goes out to @DannyDuncan69 and his family. His smile lit up the room for everyone. A legend has passed away, we will always love you PJ.” – @ColeEnglish9
“Papa Jim really was out here living his best life. Pour a coke up for him.” – @BiggieBIake
Many fans also suggested that Duncan should make a tribute video for Papa Jim or dedicate a park or a street in his name.
Papa Jim will always be remembered as one of the most beloved figures on the internet, who brought joy and laughter to millions of people. He was not related to Danny Duncan by blood, but he was definitely related by heart. He was more than a grandpa, he was a legend. Rest in peace, Papa Jim.
