Survivor

Sonja Christopher -- the first person ever voted off the show "Survivor"  -- has died ... this according to a current contestant on the show.

Liz Wilcox -- who stars in season 46 of "Survivor," which is underway right now -- announced the sad news on X Friday ... saying she met Sonja over Christmas and shared a photo of the two talking on FaceTime on her account.

She writes, "Today, the legend herself Sonja Christopher of Season One passed away. I had the pleasure of meeting her on Christmas. She had so much spunk + love for Survivor and what the show brought to her life. I hope you’re singing + playing your heart out somewhere beautiful, Sonja."

Erik Huffman -- famous from 'Survivor' -- has been busted for domestic violence, with cops claiming he roughed up his costar-turned-wife, Jaime Dugan.

According to a police report, obtained by TMZ, cops responded to a disturbance call at a convenience store out in Spartanburg, SC way back in late January ... where they say they ran into Erik -- who told them he was trying to locate his spouse, Jaime.

The police say Erik relayed he was worried about Jaime after she'd taken off in their car following a spat over accusations of cheating -- namely, her accusing him of having an affair. In the report, the cops say Erik admitted they got into a grabbing match over his phone.

Cops say Jaime told them he just wanted to make sure she was safe and medically OK ... claiming she was saying she wanted to harm herself.

However, when cops finally caught up with Jaime sometime later ... they claim she was singing a different tune -- and telling a completely different story, one that alleged Erik was getting physical with her.

Police say Jamie blasted Erik for telling them she wanted to hurt herself -- and went on to say it was a blatant lie.

She proceeded to tell cops she had actually found his burner phone while they were in the car, but she alleges he twisted it out of her hand ... claiming he'd broken her middle fingernail and left her with a few small cuts on her hand as well.

Cops say she told them she drove off while he went into the store 'cause she didn't feel safe ... so quite the opposite of what Erik was saying.

Ultimately, cops determined Erik was the primary aggressor and they arrested him later that day on a third-degree domestic violence charge -- with him posing for this mug shot as he was being booked into the jail there.

American television personality Robert Mariano AKA "Boston Rob" was 26 years old when he became known for his deceptive Boston Charm, as he wasn't afraid to play dirty when he first appeared on "Survivor" back in 2002.

A veteran of the show, he has made the most appearances on the franchise out of ANY contestant and won 2011's "Survivor Redemption Island." But, perhaps his most iconic show moment was his proposal to Amber Brkich when they were the final 2 standing during season 8.

Today, he and his wife have four kids together, and you'll see him on this season of "Deal Or No Deal Island."

La personalidad de la televisión estadounidense Robert Mariano, alias "Boston Rob", tenía 26 años cuando se hizo conocido por su engañoso encanto bostoniano, ya que no tenía miedo de jugar sucio cuando apareció por primera vez en "Survivor" en 2002.

Es el veterano del programa ya que ha sido el concursante que más veces ha participado en la franquicia y ganó "Survivor Redemption Island" en 2011. Pero quizás su momento más emblemático fue su proposición de matrimonio a Amber Brkich cuando eran los dos últimos en la octava temporada.

Hoy, él y su esposa tienen cuatro hijos juntos y lo verás en esta temporada de "Deal Or No Deal Island".

A couple of "Survivor" fan favorites gave show loyalists an update on their personal lives ... and whether it was a coincidence or not, both announcements came on the same day.

Parvati Shallow, considered one of the all-time best to hit the Survivor islands and winner of Survivor: Micronesia back in 2008, posted a set of cute pics of herself with comedian Mae Martin Saturday with the caption, "We’re here. We’re queer. Happy new year," followed by several emojis including a rainbow.

It's seemingly the first time there's been any indication the two were an item ... Parvati was previously married to Survivor contestant, John Fincher, but they separated in 2021. The two have one child together.

A few hours before Pavarti's post went up, Erika Casupanan, winner of Survivor 41 made a special announcement of her own thanks to a funny TikTok video.

In the video, Erika joked she attempted to do a viral challenge of eating grapes under a table in hopes of scoring a boyfriend, but instead chugged a bottle of wine ... leading her to realize she was a lesbian.

Both announcements have been getting a ton of love and support from Survivor fans ... and both contestants seem super happy.

Jonny Fairplay has gone from one reality TV world to another -- now, the guy's doing wrestling gigs, except you won't see him in WWE ... try a strip club.

The ex-"Survivor" star made a public appearance last week in Johnston City, TN -- where he got hired to show face (and muscle) at a place called Mouse's Ear ...  where exotic dancers are normally onstage, only here ... it was amateur 'Wrestlemania.'

Indeed, you can get a sense of what Jonny and co. were up to in these videos we obtained. He's very much playing the heel in front of the crowd, while the two "wrestlers" opposite of him -- Bam Bam Bundy and Lucky Larson -- are talking trash ... wondering how he's making dough these days post-"Survivor."

JF didn't take that too kindly, as it turns out ... 'cause he ended up hitting both of them in the back with the strip club equivalent of a folding chair -- namely, a freaking TIKI Torch!

It's pretty goofy, and obviously, no one was hurt ... but this is something we might start to see Jonny do more regularly. Funny enough, he actually has dabbled in the wrestling world for years now (even pre-"Survivor") ... and is a huge fan of the sport.

Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson works in a building that is kind of an island to itself, but unlike her favorite show, no one gets voted off.

The newest Justice shared her jam during a commencement address to graduating law students at American University in D.C.

She confessed she's a "Survivor superfan," using the long-running show to deliver her message. Justice Jackson talked about the goal of setting priorities and using resources, however scant, to chart your path.

Jackson told the crowd, "I watch it with my husband and my daughters even now, which I will admit it's not easy to do with the demands of my day job. But you have to set priorities, people, and that's exactly the first lesson that I have for you today."

The Justice has watched since Season 2, and had another good takeaway ... "Season after season, the players who tend to do really well are those who appear to come in with the understanding that this game is about existing both in community and conflict."

Keith Nale, a two-time contestant on the "Survivor" TV series, has died after a bout with cancer.

His wife, Dana, tells TMZ ... Keith passed away Tuesday in his home in Keithville, Louisiana after he discovered that he had the disease in January. Dana said it was unclear what type of cancer he had.

His presence will definitely be missed. Keith was beloved by his fellow contestants from the "Survivor" franchise, whose producers isolate a group of strangers on an island where they compete in endurance challenges to avoid elimination through voting until one person is left victorious.

Keith and his son, Wes, appeared on 2014's "Survivor: San Juan del Sur," where Keith reached the final four competition before getting the boot. The following year, Keith returned to an alternate version of the show — Survivor: Cambodia — where he nearly made it to the finals again, but he got voted off.

Some of Keith's fellow contestants paid homage to him on social media.

Jeremy Collins, who won "Survivor: Cambodia" in 2015, tweeted his condolences to Keith's family, noting that he and Keith were both firefighters by trade.

Ex-contestant Kelley Wentworth recalled that Keith had the "purest heart" and a good sense of humor when everyone really needed some laughs.

ET was first to report his death.

Keith was 62.

"Survivor: Nicaragua" contestant Dan Lembo has died from a rare brain disease ... TMZ has learned.

Emily Lembo, Dan's daughter-in-law tells TMZ Dan died Sept 3 from an incurable brain disorder called progressive supranuclear palsy. We're told he battled the disease for 6 years, and over time, it took a huge toll on his memory, speech and motor skills.

Emily says Dan died peacefully at his home in New York, where he was surrounded by loved ones.

'Survivor' fans will remember Dan from season 21, which filmed in 2010. Dan made it all the way to the final five and was voted out on Day 37. Dan was a successful businessman and wore expensive alligator shoes during the competition.

Emily says he loved being on the show and getting recognized on the street -- he was very outgoing and will be remembered for his larger-than-life personality.

He was 75.

The tribe has spoken and past "Survivor" winner Nick Wilson is in the house ... Kentucky's House of Representatives, that is!!!

The competition series champ and former public defender took the W in this week's midterm election ... becoming a Kentucky state legislator after announcing last year he would run for the seat.

Nick was running unopposed in his 82nd district, making this one of the easier challenges he's faced in recent years ... and he didn't even have to get dropped in the jungle!

Fans of the show know Nick was voted the winner of the CBS show's 37th season, "David vs. Goliath" -- while many early on saw him as a bit lazy, he quickly proved himself ... making it all the way to the end.

Fun fact: Mike White, the creator of "White Lotus," was also on the "David vs. Goliath" season with Nick.

He returned in 2020 for "Winners at War," pitting him against other champions of the past ... but he didn't take home the gold that time -- instead, he got blindsided and ended up in 7th place.

"Survivor" contestant Roger Sexton has passed away ... after fighting a lengthy battle with dementia.

Family members confirmed that Roger passed away at his daughter and son-in-law's home at the end of October, surrounded by family and caretakers in Walla Walla, Washington.

His obituary states his death follows "a valiant and courageous battle with Lewy Body Dementia" -- the 2nd most common form of the disease, following Alzheimer's.

Fans of the show remember Roger from the 6th season of the reality competition series -- he was on the Tambaqui tribe, and became a leader for his team fairly quickly.

Roger lasted a total of 21 days out in the Amazon ... eventually getting blindsided by the opposing tribe, which got several members of his own team to turn against him.

Roger was a retired Marine -- he served in the Vietnam war in the '60s. He tragically lost his daughter Heather in 1992 when she died of viral pneumonia.

Roger was 76.

CBS is going back to the well that's served them well for years -- pumping out a new reality show that'll have contestants outwit, outplay and outlast one another, but with a celeb twist.

Production sources tell TMZ ... the network is getting set to debut a new series that we're told is very "Survivor"-esque, but the main difference here -- the contestants are all celebs, including a handful of reality stars.

We're told that, like "Survivor," this show will feature similar challenges -- and will have a similar vibe to what viewers have watched since 2000.

Some of the names we're hearing attached ... Colton Underwood, Metta World Peace, Ray Lewis, Jodie Sweetin, 'RHONY’s' Eboni K. Williams and model Paulina Porizkova. There may be others who end up tagging in, but these folks are for sure playing the game.

Our sources tell us all participants had a certain amount of money donated to the charity of their choice. The show has already been filmed, and we're told a lot of it went down in Panama -- so, sounds like it's straight outta the "Survivor" playbook.

Sunday Burquest -- a former contestant on "Survivor" -- has died after battling cancer.

The youth pastor's daughter, Kennedy, confirmed her mother's passing on Instagram ... posting a touching tribute that thanked Sunday for teaching her to be a Christian, and for being the best role model possible.

She writes ... "It breaks my heart to know you will never get to see me on my wedding day, or be there when I have my first kid. But I know you’re watching over me." Kennedy went on to say that she's happy her mom will be with Jesus, and that she doesn't have to be in pain anymore, adding ... "I know one day we will meet again. Until then, I’ll spend every minute missing you, and trying to make you proud. Rest easy mom, I’ll see you soon 🤍."

Sunday had previously disclosed that she'd been diagnosed with esophageal and ovarian cancer -- with a new iteration of the disease re-infecting her last summer ... when, at the time, doctors had told her she only had months to live.

Prior to the latest diagnosis, she'd fought breast cancer in 2012 ... and came out the other side after several surgeries and treatments.

Sunday competed on the 33rd season of "Survivor" ... dubbed 'Millennials vs. Gen X,' which aired in 2016. She made it pretty far, as she was the 14th person voted out, coming in at 7th place. She ended up going from being on a tribe with people mostly her age to the other tribe, full of 20 and 30-somethings, with whom she didn't appear to gel that well.

Before coming on to compete, she'd been cleared medically after beating her breast cancer -- and was one of the feel-good stories of the season. She's survived by her husband and four children.

Sunday was 50.

Angie Jakusz, a former 'Survivor' contestant, has died after battling cancer.

Angie died Friday in the New Orleans area, and while we don't know her exact cause of death yet ... a recent GoFundMe page in her name says she'd been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer.

Her fellow contestants playfully gave her the nickname, "No Fun Angie," when she appeared on the competition show's tenth season, "Survivor: Palau." She competed for the Ulong tribe.

Angie made a little history on the show ... she was voted out on Day 12 after becoming the first contestant to lose a revote in tribal council. Fans also got to see her on the 'Survivor' 10-year anniversary party in 2010.

She was born and raised in Waukesha, Wisconsin ... but eventually settled in New Orleans where she was an artist, and a bartender in the French Quarter.

Angie is survived by her husband, Steven Calandra, her parents, brother, niece and nephew. She was 40.

One of the most notorious 'Survivor' contestants of all time is in hot water after a recent arrest ... and it looks like it's a family affair.

Jonny Fairplay was busted for larceny last week in his hometown of Danville, Virginia ... along with his mother, Patsy Hall. Based on their smirking mug shots -- they're not too bent out of shape about it, though.

It's unclear why Jonny and his mom were booked for larceny ... we're working on it. He does tell us though, "I (we) have been unjustly charged by a family member. I welcome the opportunity to vindicate myself (and my mother)."

Fairplay -- real name Jon Dalton -- earned a shady reputation way back in 2003 when he appeared on "Survivor: Pearl Islands" and had his visiting friend lie and tell him his grandma had died ... in order to garner sympathy from the other tribe members and win a reward.

He later revealed to the audience that his grandma was alive and well and at home "watching Jerry Springer." He ended up finishing the season in 3rd place.

Jonny's villain distinction would follow him for years in the reality TV world -- including a brief follow-up appearance on 'Survivor' -- along with a stint in professional wrestling.