Ryan Knight, MTV reality personality, dies at 29 LOS ANGELES, Nov. 28 (UPI) -- Reality TV personality Ryan Knight was found dead Thursday morning at the age of 29. The former Real World New Orleans and The Challenge star is suspected of choking on his own vomit after a night of partying, TMZ quoted Knight's unnamed friends as saying. No other details, including where he died, were immediately available. News of his death arrives shortly after Diem Brown -- another member of the Real World television franchise -- died of ovarian cancer at the age of 32.