Duncan McKenzie-McHarg, a 41-year-old Australian sports broadcaster and media director based in Los Angeles County, California, passed away on December 17, 2025, from blunt-force traumatic injuries after falling from a high-rise building in downtown Los Angeles.
Born on April 19, 1984, his sudden departure has left a profound impact on colleagues in the international sports media industry and those who followed his insightful coverage from Southern California. The Los Angeles community reflects on the loss of a talented professional whose work bridged Australian audiences with major American sporting events.
McKenzie-McHarg built a distinguished career in sports media, serving as a director at Global Play Media and contributing to platforms like Stan., where he produced content tailored for Australian viewers. Educated at RMIT University in Melbourne, he honed skills that propelled him from early roles in Australian radio, including Triple M’s Hot Breakfast, to a prominent position in Los Angeles covering diverse sports across NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, tennis, IndyCar, and more. His recent involvement included extensive reporting on events like the U.S. Open, showcasing his passion for delivering engaging narratives from the heart of American sports culture.
Known for his articulate insights and dedication to capturing local atmospheres in game-day segments, McKenzie-McHarg excelled in highlighting unique team histories, fan experiences, and cultural elements that resonated with international audiences. His professional lifestyle involved frequent travel across U.S. cities, immersing in stadium energies and producing high-quality television segments that brought distant events closer to home viewers in Australia.
The incident occurred at the structure known as 820 Olive Street or 825 South Hill in downtown Los Angeles, with formal pronouncement of death at 3:38 p.m. on Wednesday. Authorities handled the case with standard procedures for such falls, confirming the location on a lower roof following the descent from the top. The downtown area, a hub of high-rises and urban activity, underscores the tragic circumstances in a bustling professional district familiar to media workers.
Though publicly available details on family life, hobbies, or additional personal pursuits remain limited during this sensitive period, the sports media community honors McKenzie-McHarg’s contributions through recollections of his innovative approach and enthusiasm for the industry. His relocation to Los Angeles represented a bold pursuit of opportunities in global broadcasting, leaving an imprint on cross-continental sports coverage.
Duncan McKenzie-McHarg lived a life well lived, marked by professional excellence in sports media, educational foundation at RMIT University, and a passionate commitment to connecting audiences across continents from his base in Los Angeles. His legacy endures in the engaging content he created and the insightful perspectives he shared on major events. In this time of remembrance, his contributions serve as a testament to dedication, cultural bridging, and the vibrant pursuit of journalistic passion in the dynamic world of international sports.