“Love Island USA” logo.
Peacock
James Barker, a key producer of the reality series Love Island USA, passed away last week during the production of the show in Fiji, according to reports.
ITV and Peacock released a statement to TMZ and NBC News, confirming that Barker’s passing will be honored in Tuesday’s episode of Love Island USA. They described him as a “loved and valued member of our collective family” whose “kindness, talent, and dedication left an indelible mark” on all who worked with him.
Barker, 40, died in Fiji following an unexpected medical emergency, though details about the exact date and cause of death were not disclosed.
Barker began his career as a story producer on Love Island USA in 2020. He later served as an executive producer for 110 episodes across Seasons 4, 6, and 7 (2022–2025). He also contributed as a consulting producer for Love Island: Beyond the Villa in 2026 and as an executive producer for the show’s spinoff Love Island Games in 2025.
James Barker Began His Producing Career on ‘Pawn Stars’
Barker started producing with the reality series Pawn Stars, holding roles as post-story and story producer across 145 episodes from 2012 to 2016. Prior roles included an office coordinator on Fashion Hunters (2011) and a story production assistant on American Restoration (2011–2012). He also worked as a story producer for four episodes of Season 1 of Queer Eye (2018). Concurrently, he supported projects like Prime Video’s Cosmic Love (2022) and the co-production of Are You My First? on ITV America and Hulu (2025).
