Highlights
-
Survivor
has seen remarkable people star in many seasons, captivating new fans with varying quality episodes. - Harrowing tragedies faced by
Survivor
players, like medical evacuations and passing away, reveal the show’s dark side. - The untimely deaths of beloved
Survivor
players emphasize the show’s bittersweet legacy of loss and resilience.
Since the first episode of Survivor premiered in the year 2000, Jeff Probst has hosted many seasons of the show of varying quality. After new fans figure out which seasons to watch first, they will discover that the show has starred many remarkable people.
After all, even though the first player to be medically evacuated did something terrible, there have been Survivor players who’ve overcome horrific tragedies. That fact makes even more sad that so many Survivor players have passed away over the years.
When Did Survivor’s Jenn Lyon Pass Away?
Played during Survivor: Palau
Passed Away In: | January 2010 |
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Age At Time Of Death: | 37 years old |
The first Survivor player to lose their life, Jenn’s passing was extremely sad news for the show’s dedicated fans. Memorable for having an extremely positive attitude, Jenn appeared to be the kind of person anyone would love to be around. As a January 2010 Entertainment Weekly article revealed, Jenn passed away after battling stage-three breast cancer.
When Did Survivor’s B.B. Andersen Pass Away?
Played during Survivor: Borneo
Passed Away In: | October 2013 |
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Age At Time Of Death: | 77 years old |
During Survivor’s first season, B.B. Andersen didn’t get along with his tribemates, who just wanted to have fun. After working hard, B.B. stated he wouldn’t mind being voted out, which led to him being the first player from his tribe that was eliminated. In November 2013, The Kansas City Star published B.B.’s obituary which revealed he battled brain cancer before he passed away.
When Did Survivor’s Caleb Bankston Pass Away?
Played during Survivor: Blood vs. Water
Passed Away In: | June 2014 |
|---|---|
Age At Time Of Death: | 26 years old |
When Caleb Bankston played during Survivor: Blood vs. Water, fans were ready to dislike him since he was Colton Cumbie’s boyfriend. However, it didn’t take long for most fans to realize how awesome Caleb was, which allowed him to last long enough to be part of the jury. As CBS News reported, Caleb passed away following a horrible workplace accident when a train car derailed and fell on him.
When Did Survivor’s Dan Kay Pass Away?
Played during Survivor: Gabon
Passed Away In: | December 2016 |
|---|---|
Age At Time Of Death: | 40 years old |
During Survivor: Gabon, Dan Kay couldn’t catch a break after he failed to find an immunity idol on Exile Island. But, his tribemates voted him out, assuming he had. In January 2017, Global News reported that Dan passed away at only 40 years old. At the time, there was no confirmation of what led to Dan’s sudden passing.
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When Did Survivor’s Ashley Massaro Pass Away?
Played during Survivor: China
Passed Away In: | May 2019 |
|---|---|
Age At Time Of Death: | 39 years old |
After previously rising to fame as a WWE wrestler, Ashley Massaro was voted out second during Survivor: China because she was sick and severely struggling. In May 2019, Yahoo! Sports reported that Ashley’s life ended by her own hand. In February 2024, Vice News reported that Ashley had previously reported being assaulted and preyed upon during her WWE tenure and getting punished for coming forward.
When Did Survivor’s Rudy Boesch Pass Away?
Played during Survivor: Borneo & Survivor: All-Stars
Passed Away In: | November 2019 |
|---|---|
Age At Time Of Death: | 91 years old |
During the first season of Survivor, Rudy Boesch won the fan’s hearts for his no-nonsense attitude and his unlikely friendship with Richard Hatch. After coming in third, Rudy was brought back for Survivor: All-Stars but was voted out second. In November 2019, TMZ reported that the former Navy Seal, Rudy, passed away at 91 years old due to complications from Alzheimer’s Disease.
When Did Survivor’s Cliff Robinson Pass Away?
Played during Survivor: Cagayan
Passed Away In: | August 2020 |
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Age At Time Of Death: | 53 years old |
A former NBA All-Star, Cliff Robinson had the misfortune of being targeted by Tony Vlachos during Survivor: Cagayan, which led to him getting voted out. In August 2020, The New York Times reported that Cliff passed away after battling lymphoma for years when he was only 53 years old.
When Did Survivor’s Angie Jakusz Pass Away?
Played during Survivor: Palau
Passed Away In: | December 2020 |
|---|---|
Age At Time Of Death: | 40 years old |
When Angie Jakusz played during Survivor: Palau, some of her tribemates judged her distinctive style. Angie was targeted to be a possible first boot but her tenacity during challenges and fantastic personality allowed her to stick around longer. According to People, Angie passed away far too early in life as she was only 40 years old when she lost her battle against cancer.
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When Did Survivor’s Sunday Burquest Pass Away?
Played during Survivor: Millennials Vs. Gen X
Passed Away In: | April 2021 |
|---|---|
Age At Time Of Death: | 50 years old |
After playing during Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen X, Sunday Burquest was remembered as an incredibly kind human being. A youth pastor who was beloved by her family and community, an April 2021 People article revealed that Sunday lost her life to esophageal and ovarian cancer.
When Did Survivor’s Ralph Kiser Pass Away?
Played during Survivor: Redemption Island
Passed Away In: | April 2022 |
|---|---|
Age At Time Of Death: | 56 years old |
When Survivor’s casting department found Ralph Kiser, they hit gold. The kind of person who would have lit up a room, Ralph seemed like a lovely person who was fiercely true to himself. According to a Fox News Digital report, Ralph passed away suddenly after he tragically suffered a heart attack.
When Did Survivor’s Clay Jordan Away?
Played during Survivor: Thailand
Passed Away In: | May 2022 |
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Age At Time Of Death: | 66 years old |
During Survivor: Thailand, Clay Jordan became the season’s runner-up and secured his place in the show’s history by being choked by Robb Zbacnik. In May 2022, People reported that Clay passed away after briefly suffering from an illness. Clay’s longtime wife passed away mere months before he did, according to a social media post from Clay’s daughter.
When Did Survivor’s Dan Lembo Pass Away?
Played during Survivor: Nicaragua
Passed Away In: | September 2022 |
|---|---|
Age At Time Of Death: | 75 years old |
While competing during Survivor: Nicaragua, Dan Lembo struggled during challenges. However, Dan was so likable that he still made it to the final five before he was voted out. In November 2022, TMZ reported that Dan battled an incurable brain disorder called progressive supranuclear palsy for 6 years before he passed away.
When Did Survivor’s Roger Sexton Pass Away?
Played during Survivor: The Amazon
Passed Away In: | November 2022 |
|---|---|
Age At Time Of Death: | 76 years old |
From his first episode, Roger Sexton’s big personality made him controversial with some Survivor: The Amazon players. That same belief in himself had to help him later in life, as People revealed that Roger battled Lewy Body Dementia until he passed away at 76 years old.
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When Did Survivor’s Keith Nale Pass Away?
Played during Survivor: San Juan del Sur & Survivor: Cambodia
Passed Away In: | April 2023 |
|---|---|
Age At Time Of Death: | 62 years old |
Easily one of the most popular Survivor players ever, Keith Nale was beloved because of his personality and how he could find joy in surprising things. When Keith played Survivor with his son Wes Nale, that made fans love them both. In April 2023, Entertainment Weekly reported that Keith passed away at 62 years old after battling cancer for months.
When Did Survivor’s Sonja Christopher Pass Away?
Played during Survivor: Borneo
Passed Away In: | April 2024 |
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Age At Time Of Death: | 87 years old |
After becoming the first player to ever get voted out in Survivor history, Sonja Christopher went on to lead a beautiful life. In April 2024, Entertainment Weekly reported that Sonja passed away with no cause revealed at the time.
When Did Survivor’s Kim Johnson Pass Away?
Played during Survivor: Africa
Passed Away In: | July 2024 |
|---|---|
Age At Time Of Death: | 79 years old |
During Survivor: Africa, Kim Johnson’s kind and trustworthy nature allowed her to form a lasting alliance. Kim ultimately won the final two immunity challenges and became the season’s runner-up. In July 2024, People reported that Kim passed away at 79 years old with no cause revealed.
Survivor
- Release Date
- May 31, 2000
- Cast
- Jeff Probst
- Seasons
- 45
- Network
- CBS
- Showrunner
- Jeff Probst