Andy DehnartMonths after the death of Survivor Thailand runner-up Clay Jordan, two Survivor players died this fall: Survivor Nicaragua’s Dan Lembo, who was 75, and Survivor Amazon’s Roger Sexton, who was 76.
In an obituary for Roger, his family said he died at from Lewy Body Dementia. Dan’s obituary did not include his cause of death.
They’re the third and fourth Survivor players to die this year, after Ralph Kiser and Clay Jordan, while last year saw the deaths of two players from cancer, Sunday Burquest and Angie Jakusz.
All Survivor players who’ve died
Since Survivor premiered in 2000, a total of 644 players have competed, and 13 of those contestants have died.
This is a look back at all those Survivor players and their legacies, in the game and outside of it. The list is in chronological order of their deaths.
Jenn Lyon, Survivor Palau
Jenn Lyon, who placed fourth during Survivor's 10th season, was the first American Survivor contestant to die.
B.B. Andersen, Survivor Borneo
B.B. Anderson, the second-oldest player on Survivor's first season, died at age 77 in 2013.
Caleb Bankston, Survivor Blood vs. Water
Caleb Bankston played the game during Survivor: Blood vs. Water along with his boyfriend Colton Cumbie. He died in 2014 at age 26.
Dan Kay, Survivor Gabon
Dan Kay, a lawyer from Boston who competed on Survivor Gabon, died in 2016 at age 40.
Ashley Massaro, Survivor China
Ashley Massaro, a WWE wrestler who was the second person voted out of Survivor China, died at age 39 in 2019.
Rudy Boesch, Survivor Borneo and Survivor All-Stars
Rudy Boesch, the oldest player to ever compete on Survivor (he played at age 72 and 75), died at age 91 in 2019.
Cliff Robinson, Survivor: Cagayan
Former NBA player Cliff Robinson competed as part of the "Brawn" tribe on Survivor Cagayan: Brains vs. Brawn vs. Beauty, and died in 2020 at age 53.
Angie Jakusz, Survivor Palau
Angie Jakusz was an artist and bartender who was voted out sixth from Survivor: Palau. She died in early 2021 from cancer.
Sunday Burquest, Survivor Millennials vs. Gen X
Sunday Burquest, who placed seventh and was on the Survivor Millennials vs. Gen X jury, died April 18, 2021, from cancer, as her daughter announced on Instagram.
Ralph Kiser, Survivor: Redemption Island
Survivor: Redemption Island jury member Ralph Kiser, a farmer from Virginia, died April 20, 2022, of a heart attack.
Clay Jordan, Survivor Thailand
Survivor: Thailand runner-up Clay Jordan died May 19, 2022, at age 66.
Dan Lembo, Survivor Nicaragua
Dan Lembo, who placed fifth on Survivor Nicaragua, died Sept. 3, 2022, in Manhattan. He was 75.
Roger Sexton, Survivor Amazon
Roger Sexton, who was the first person voted out after the merge on Survivor Amazon, died of Lewy Body Dementia on Oct. 26, 2022, at age 76.
Karen Zuckerman
Friday 22nd of April 2022
Thank you for always keeping us up to date with the latest news from the world of “reality television”. The loss of 10 Survivor cast members out of 600+ may seem like a small percentage, but the number who have been lost to cancer is heartbreaking. Thanks for giving each player a well rounded summary of their lives and the time spent in the spotlight. Your insightful thoughts, accurate information, and often humorous side notes have kept me reading your newsletter for many years now. Take care.