UFO Expert Nick Pope Dies at 60

The real-life 'X-Files' investigator passed away after battling cancer.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 4:22pm

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An abstract close-up photograph of a shattered glass lens reflecting a faint red light, conveying the mysterious and fragmented nature of UFO research.The death of pioneering UFO investigator Nick Pope leaves a void in the field of ufology.Tucson Today

Nick Pope, a former UK Ministry of Defense official known for his work investigating UFOs, has died at the age of 60 after a battle with esophageal cancer that had spread to his liver. His wife, Elizabeth Weiss, confirmed his passing at their home in Tucson, Arizona.

Why it matters

Pope was considered a real-life version of the 'X-Files' character Fox Mulder, having spent over 20 years investigating UFO sightings and phenomena for the UK government. His death is a significant loss for the UFO research community.

The details

In February, Pope announced on social media that he had been diagnosed with esophageal cancer that had spread to his liver, acknowledging at the time that he 'can't beat it.' Despite his illness, he continued to do interviews in the final weeks of his life. His wife Elizabeth described him as a 'wonderful husband' that she 'loved dearly.'

  • Nick Pope passed away on Monday, April 7, 2026 at his home in Tucson, Arizona.
  • In February 2026, Pope announced his cancer diagnosis on social media.

The players

Nick Pope

A former UK Ministry of Defense official known for his work investigating UFOs, who was considered the real-life version of the 'X-Files' character Fox Mulder.

Elizabeth Weiss

Nick Pope's wife, who confirmed his passing and described him as a 'wonderful husband' that she 'loved dearly.'

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What they’re saying

“My heart is breaking.”

— Elizabeth Weiss, Nick Pope's Wife

“She's a real-life Agent Scully: a scientist, a skeptic and a redhead.”

— Nick Pope

The takeaway

Nick Pope's death is a significant loss for the UFO research community, as he was a pioneering investigator who dedicated over two decades of his life to studying unexplained aerial phenomena for the UK government. His passing will leave a void in the field of ufology.