The True “Rite of Passage” — ‘Survivor’ Castaways Who Have Passed After Playing

‘Survivor’ has boasted 46 seasons over 24 years with 697 contestants. The ones who've died are at all times in our “Rite of Passage.”

Mar. 28 2024, Published 4:04 p.m. ET

In 2000, the arena of truth television changed ceaselessly when Survivor made it to the air. The first season created some icons, reminiscent of Richard Hatch and Sue Hawk, and the development followed. But in its 46 seasons, 24 years, and 697 different contestants, several (now not seven) have unfortunately died since appearing on the show.

Luckily, there have by no means been any in-game deaths (although a few players have come close!) however we still need to keep in mind those that have passed on. In previous seasons of Survivor, the Final Two or Three would consider the castaways whose torches were snuffed in the Rites of Passage. So right here’s our “Rite of Passage” devoted to the entire CBS show’s deaths.

Rudy Boesch (Seasons 1 and 8)

Rudy used to be a fan-favorite from the very starting of Survivor, which is why he used to be called back to play on All-Stars. To these days, he nonetheless holds the file for the oldest person to ever play Survivor, taking part in his first season at 72 years old and his 2d season at 75 years previous. That's lovely impressive — many 75-year-olds can barely walk let by myself play Survivor! And Rudy lived some other impressive 19 years. He kicked the bucket at 91 years outdated in 2019 from Alzheimer's complications.

B.B. Andersen (Season 1)

B.B. performed in Season 1, Borneo, like Rudy but used to be voted out at his tribe's first tribal council. Many of his tribe individuals were younger, and they didn't appreciate his "abrasive" perspective. And B.B. even said he did not thoughts going home, so in a near-unanimous vote, he used to be despatched home. But he is nonetheless part of the Survivor legacy! He died at Seventy seven years previous in 2013 from mind cancer.

Clay Jordan (Season 5)

Season Five aka Thailand isn't regarded as probably the most show's largest seasons, however Clay was instrumental in the outcome. He aligned with Brian Heidik, who then brought him to the Final Two, however in a 5-Four final vote, Clay used to be the season's runner-up. At simply Sixty six years outdated, Clay gave up the ghost in 2022 after a brief illness. Just months earlier, Clay's spouse died of COVID-19 complications.

Roger Sexton (Season 6)

In Season 6, The Amazon, tribes were divided through gender. Roger was once the oldest member of the men' tribe however used to be voted out on the merge. One of probably the most memorable voting confessionals got here with podcaster Rob Cesternino when he voted out Roger, fed up with Roger's "mean old man" behavior singing Steam's "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye." But in October 2022, Roger kicked the bucket from Lewy Body Dementia at 76 years old.

Jenn Lyon (Season 10)

While the others who have passed on to the great beyond have been of their later years, Jenn died of breast cancer at simply 37 years old in January 2010. She competed only a few years earlier in Survivor: Palau, the place she placed fourth. Because of a tied vote, Jenn was the first participant to lose a Final Four fire-making problem. But that is not the one memorable thing about her sport. Her showmance with Gregg Carey used to be the talk of the season. She was sadly the first Survivor participant to go away, and a number of other castaways have since spoken extremely of her.

Angie Jakusz (Season 10)

In addition to Jenn's premature demise, fellow Palau player Angie Jakusz additionally passed on to the great beyond from cancer. Tatted and pierced, fellow castaways judged Angie from the outset and picked her closing within the schoolyard tribe pick out. However, she used to be ready to come back and jive with several avid gamers, however she was voted out in a double tribal council on Day 12. At forty years previous, Angie died of a rare type of squamous mobile colorectal cancer in January 2021.

Ashley Massaro (Season 15)

Despite her early exit from Survivor: China, Ashley used to be a memorable participant who came into the sport with years of fighting coaching below her belt. A certified WWE fighter, she additionally seemed in a Playboy factor and later changed into a radio DJ for 94.3 The Shark. During her Survivor look, Ashley fell unwell and was the second contestant sent home when she felt too sick to proceed the game. Ashley died in May 2019 at 39 years outdated, allegedly by way of suicide even though that was once by no means fully showed.

Dan Kay (Season 17)

Dan played on Survivor: Gabon, but not for long. He ended up on Exile Island early within the game, and when he used to be swapped to the Kota tribe, they decided to vote him out simply in case he found an idol (he didn't). He died of "unspecified circumstances" on New Year's Eve at 40 years outdated in his home in 2016. Fans have speculated that he died of suicide, an overdose, or a center attack, however his reason behind dying has never been revealed.

Dan Lembo (Season 21)

Dan Lembo was one of the crucial older gamers to play Survivor, partaking in Survivor: Nicaragua, in the "older" tribe. He brought his New Yorker energy to the seaside and found a solution to vibe along with his fellow gamers, making it all of the approach to the Final Five. His Survivor efficiency used to be memorable and full of emotion. He died at Seventy five years old of progressive supranuclear palsy in September 2022.

Ralph Kiser (Season 22)

Quite the nature, Ralph was once a big part of the downfall of Russell Hantz in Survivor: Redemption Island after he found the hidden immunity idol. He frequently spelled contestants' names mistaken when balloting them out and was once voted out in 9th place after the merge and losing the Redemption Island duel. He died in April 2022 of a center attack at Fifty six years outdated.

Caleb Bankston (Season 27)

Caleb Bankston joined the cast of Survivor: Blood vs. Water to play along his fiancé, Colton Cumbie, who is some of the hated Survivor players of all time. Colton left the season early, but Caleb went into 9th position and served on the jury due to his other alliances. Sadly, Caleb died at just 27 years previous in June 2014 as a result of a work-related coincidence by which he fell when a teach derailment took place. He and Colton were set to marry in October 2014.

Cliff Robinson (Season 28)

Cliff came into Survivor: Cagayan with 18 years within the NBA below his belt. On the Brawn tribe, Cliff was once considered a big risk within the sport, so after a tribe change gave some avid gamers the opportunity, they voted him out in a blindside. He died at Fifty three years old in August 2020 after a journey with lymphoma.

Keith Nale (Seasons 29 and 31)

One of Survivor's most memorable gamers from the "New School" era, Keith's demise had a huge have an effect on on the Survivor community. He first played on Survivor: San Juan Del Sur together with his son Wes, but other folks gravitated against Keith due to his authenticity and air of secrecy, serving to him end in fourth place. The lovers voted for him to play once more on Second Chance, the place he positioned fifth. He died in April 2023 at Sixty two years old, three months after his family realized he had most cancers.

Sunday Burquest (Season 33)

Sunday took on a motherly role in Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen X, and was able to use those relationships to get to 7th place, however her social technique was an excessive amount of of a danger. On the show, she discussed her journey with surviving breast most cancers. But sadly, most cancers returned in 2020 within the type of esophageal and ovarian cancer. She died a 12 months later in April 2021 at simply 50 years previous.

May all former Survivor contestants who have died leisure in energy as our condolences stick with their buddies and families.

New episodes of Survivor air every Wednesday on CBS at Eight p.m. EST.

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7pbXSramam6Ses7p6wqikaKhfqMKzwsivpqtlk5fAbrDEmquhqw%3D%3D