Harry Jowsey is sharing a rare glimpse into his grieving process after losing his dad, Davey Jowsey, to a terminal illness.
“Grief impacted everything for sure: career, life, happiness — what matters, what doesn’t matter,” Harry, 29, shares in his Us’ cover story, on newsstands now. “Grief is the best reset. It’s obviously hard. It’s obviously the worst thing ever, and I never want anyone to have it. But if you take one thing out of it, it’s the best reset to become who you’re meant to be.”
After being diagnosed with a terminal illness, the patriarch of the Jowsey family was told he only had a few months to live and elected to pursue medically assisted dying in New Zealand.
In December 2024, Harry announced the death of his father. According to the former Dancing With the Stars contestant, he was able to be by his dad’s side in his final two months of life and was able to “ask him every question ever.”
“It really shapes you,” Harry says when describing his grieving journey. “You could let it defeat you forever and really ruin everything, or you can let it turn you into the best version of yourself. I chose to try and do the other one.”
Over the years, Harry has developed a fan base thanks to his big personality and dating tales on shows like Too Hot to Handle and Perfect Match.
This summer, he is teaming up with Netflix on a new reality show in hopes of finding his forever partner. Titled Let’s Marry Harry, the series calls on his best friends to help him find true love and settle down in marriage.
During the process, Harry couldn’t help but think about his father and all the lessons he passed on before his death.
“I feel like everyone has a moment where it clicks,” he explains to Us. “Unfortunately, mine was my dad dying, where I clicked and I’m like, ‘Wow, I’m so human. I’m not immortal and I really love love.’ I think we all get pretty lonely, and now it’s time to be serious about it.”
While Harry describes his new show as “such a special experience,” he is extra grateful to incorporate his family into his search for love.
During the season, viewers will learn more about his parents’ “colorful marriage” and gain a better understanding of what Harry is truly looking for.
“Their love was the funniest, and having those final moments with [my dad] and talking about my mum and love was special,” Harry teases. “Me going, ‘Holy s***. I gotta be serious about this’ because I would hate to lose my mum and not have someone.”
For more on Harry, pick up the latest issue of Us— on newsstands now. Plus, mark your calendars for the premiere of Netflix’s Let’s Marry Harry on August 5, with the finale dropping August 12.
Interview conducted by Katie Krause Mork
