Are you a fan of Survivor? It’s arguably a cultural phenomenon and an institution in itself.
The show follows a ragtag bunch of contestants as they try to make it through the obstacles and hurdles of surviving on a wild island. Due to their antics, bravery, and sometimes drama and controversy, these survivors have since become celebrities.
Sadly, there are Survivor contestants who have died and who will be sorely missed. Their lives and careers are certainly worth looking back at once again. Perhaps it can serve as an inspiration for you or anyone else who wants to try something different in life.
Join FactsVerse to learn about the Survivor contestants who have died…
ROGER SEXTON
Roger Sexton died on October 26, 2022 at the age of 76 – after a battle with Lewy body dementia. His family announced his death and this was a huge tragedy for long-time fans of Survivor.
Roger Sexton, however, was more than just a veteran of Survivor. He was also a veteran of the US Armed Forces and had served in the Vietnam War.
Roger Kenward Sexton was born on the 26th of September, 1946, in Oakland, California. As a young man, he excelled in sports and was particularly adept at skiing and wrestling. Upon his graduation from high school in 1964, he joined the US Marine Corps and went on to serve in the Vietnam War.
When he returned from the war he got married and then pursued a degree in Construction Management at California Polytechnic Institute. His work ethic and perseverance helped him rise the ranks of the construction industry – and he eventually became the Vice President of a prestigious construction firm.
He joined Survivor in the 6th season and he soon became one of the most popular contestants. He loved challenges and was particularly adept and at home when surrounded by beautiful and at times, rough nature.
Roger was also known as a great husband and father and was loved by his friends and family alike. He will truly be missed.
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RUDY BOESCH
Roger Sexton wasn’t the only veteran to appear on Survivor. In fact, in the first and eighth season we saw Rudy Boesch who was a former Navy SEAL.
He was stationed on the islands of Borneo – on the show Survivor that is. He brought a discipline and tough mentality to the show but also was praised for his teamwork and his incredible sense of humor.
He finished third and was among the last people to be voted off the island. He was such a huge hit that he was called back for the All-Star season which was the 8th season of the show. At the time, he was the oldest contestant on the show.
He died in 2019 at the age of 91 on November 1st. He was suffering from dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease. He lived a full life and was one of the reasons why Survivor became such a successful show. He has left behind big shoes to fill.
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B.B. ANDERSEN
B.B. Andersen joined Survivor in the very first season. While not a successful contestant on the show he was nonetheless one of the most memorable contestants on the show.
He was also one of the oldest contestants on the show as he was 64 when he participated on the show. He sadly died in 2013 from brain cancer. He was 77 years old.
He had a tougher personality which didn’t make him always the easiest to work with so he was voted out rather early. Nevertheless, he was a talented contestant and he was known as someone who loved to live life to the fullest.
He was married to Jan and had 1 daughter and 4 sons who survive him.
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JENN LYON
Jenn Lyon appeared on the 10th season of Survivor which was filmed on the island of Palau.
Sadly, she was also the first Survivor cast member to pass away. And what’s even more tragic is that she was only 37 when she died. She was sadly suffering from breast cancer for 5 years before she completely succumbed to the illness.
Luckily, before her death she managed to attend a Survivor reunion party and was warmly welcomed by some of the other castaways, including those who were stranded on Palau with her.
She was known to be an amicable person and one who was very brave. Her untimely death was tragic but we remember her life and how she lived life to the fullest – certainly an inspiration to us all.
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DAN KAY
Dan Kay appeared on arguably one of the most interesting sessons of Survivor. He was a castaway on season 17 which was filmed in the West African country of Gabon. Sadly, like Jenn Lyon, Dan Kay died way too soon. He died at the age of 40 in 2016 – though the cause of his death hasn’t been revealed to the public.
He is survived by his son and daughter. He was one of the most popular castaways on the show and as a result, his death came as a shock to fans across the country. But, as with all tragic and untimely deaths, we must remember his incredible life and what he accomplished in his 40 years. He was truly an inspiration to us all.
RALPH KISER
Ralph Kiser was a castaway on Survivor: Redemption Island. He died on April 20, 2022 at the age of 56. His death was announced by Michael Allbright, an expert on the series who was informed by Ralph’s brother Gilbert.
Ralph Kiser finished 8th place on the show and was one of the highlights of the season. He was remembered as being affable and had one of the most charming personalities on the show. Like some of his other Survivor castaways, his death came way too early due to a heart attack.
Yet, we remember how friendly he was and how he could always bring a smile to your face. Without a doubt, Redemption Island is one of the most popular seasons in the Survivor series and its all due to Ralph’s great personality.
ASHLEY MASSARO
Ashley Massaro is remembered mostly for her career as a professional wrestler in the WWE. She had joined in the WWE Diva Search in 2005 and soon became a prominent star in the league. She managed to show her versatility when she was cast in the 15th season of Survivor which was filmed in China.
Her death is still a mystery and due to New York’s strict privacy laws we might not know what happened. Some say her cause of death was suicide but this has not been confirmed. She died in 2019. Her death is one of the many tragic deaths as she was only 39 when she died.
She was born on May 26, 1979 and she died on May 16, 2019 – just 10 days shy of her 40th birthday. She had studied business and communication at the State University of New York at Albany in 1997. Not much is known about her professional life until she joined the WWE.
But this was her main claim to fame and her fame catapulted even more when she joined Survivor. She was voted off the island after only six days however. She also had a brief career as a model. She is survived by her daughter.
In 2020, a year after her death a music video about suicide prevention which featured her was released posthumously.
CLIFF ROBINSON
Just as Ashley Massaro had a claim to fame before joining Survivor, so did Cliff Robinson. He was an NBA All-Star player and he joined Survivor in the 28th season called Brains vs Brawn vs Beauty.
Cliff Robinson was born on December 16, 1966, in Buffalo, New York. He began his basketball career in college when he played for the University of Connecticut. Throughout his career he played for several NBA teams including the Portland Trail Blazers, Phoenix Suns, Detroit Pistons, Golden State Warriors, and the New Jersey Nets.
He joined the Survivor team in 2013 for the 28th season which was then released in 2014. He finished in 14th place and was the fifth contestant to get voted out. It should also be noted that Cliff Robinson was one of the few basketball players who traveled with Dennis Rodman to North Korea to play basketball for Kim Jong-Un’s birthday.
He sadly died in August 2020 after a long battle with Lymphoma. Upon his passing, he left behind his mother, sister, 3 brothers, and his six children. He will truly be missed by so many.
He was a hero both to basketball fans and Survivor fans – a rare feat indeed and a formidable career.
CALEB BANKSTON
Caleb Bankston is the youngest Survivor cast member to pass away and his death is truly tragic. He died at the age of 27 in a train accident. He participated in the 27th season of Survivor called Survivor: Blood versus Water.
He was remembered as one of the friendliest contestants on the show and he was truly loved by all. Like some of the other contestants who left us too soon – we can remember his death as a tragedy. Or, we can also think about living our own lives to the fullest and remembering the life rather than the death.
There have been a few other Survivor cast members who have also passed away as 2022 comes to a close. As the years pass, we will sadly lose even more members of this great series. But as we’ve said in this video, let’s remember and celebrate the life and the adventure that these wonderful contestants taught us about!
Now, let’s hear from you:
Are you a fan of Survivor?
Here’s what we’d like to know from you:
Do you think that being a contestant on Survivor is worth it? Or do you think there are better gameshows and better ways to find opportunities in show business?
