Michael Kelcourse, who was famously known as Patricia Altschul’s butler for nearly two decades on the reality TV show “Southern Charm,” passed away in Sarasota, Florida at the age of 71.
The news of Kelcourse’s death was confirmed by his close friend Luzanne Otte on his Caring Bridge website. Otte revealed that his death was due to complications from a spinal cord injury and stroke, as reported on his Caring Bridge website.
Following a severe spinal cord stroke in February 2021, which resulted in paralysis from the chest down, Kelcourse retired from the Bravo reality series. He later moved to a Florida-based assisted living facility.
In the earlier part of this month, Kelcourse experienced another stroke. This left him with partial paralysis on his right side and loss of speech, though his mental abilities and left hand functionality remained intact.
Despite his health challenges, Patricia Altschul who employed him as her butler in Charleston, South Carolina, remained close to Kelcourse. She visited him in Florida in December of the previous year and shared pictures of their reunion on social media.
Just days before his passing, Kelcourse celebrated his 71st birthday on October 13, surrounded by loved ones who read him birthday cards and messages from hundreds of his fans.
Throughout his health issues, Kelcourse maintained his positive attitude, focusing on the positive aspects rather than his setbacks. However, his spirits dipped when he was moved into hospice care in June.
In the coming weeks, Altschul along with other loved ones plan on sharing their memories of Kelcourse on social media. His final Instagram post, which was dated October 2023, has turned into a memorial where fans continue to express their condolences.
“Southern Charm,” the American reality television series in which Kelcourse appeared, premiered on Bravo on March 3, 2014. It follows the lives of several socialites in Charleston, South Carolina as they balance their personal and professional lives while trying to uphold their family names.