Summary

• Survivor, the long-running reality TV show, has had a successful run of 44 seasons and shows no signs of slowing down.
• Original cast members from the first season have pursued various paths after the show, including radio hosting, acting, and writing novels.
• Some castaways have returned for later seasons, while others have declined the opportunity due to career commitments or personal reasons.

Survivor is one of the longest-running shows on television, and the first season aired back in 2000. The game has changed tremendously since its premiere, and the original cast started a successful run of 44 seasons of the show. The hit reality TV series shows no signs of slowing down, as Survivor season 44 was better than season 43.

Some castaways from the original season returned to a later season of the show, while others decided they did not want to play again. However, they set the stage for dozens of new seasons, including Survivor season 45. Today, there's curiosity about what the inaugural season's stars have been up to in the past two decades.

Gretchen Cordy

Survivor Season 1

Gretchen was the seventh person voted out of Survivor: Borneo. She was one tribal away from making the jury. She had a leadership role that painted a big target on her back. Since the show, she has been doing a morning radio show in her hometown of Clarksville, Tennessee, according to an interview with Entertainment Weekly. Gretchen was offered the radio job after the show ended.

Greg Buis

Survivor Season 1

Greg was the eighth person voted out and the first jury member in Survivor history. He was an animated contestant that had a quick temper. Greg's life after Survivor has been private. He was offered the chance to return for Survivor: Second Chance but refused due to career commitments. According to an interview with Entertainment Weekly and host Jeff Probst, Greg was offered the CEO role at a non-profit and could not take the job and then leave for Survivor.

Jenna Lewis

Survivor Season 1

Jenna was the second jury member, voted out in eighth place. She later returned for Survivor: All-Stars and came in third. She famously did not have a loved one reward, which turned into one of the saddest moments in Survivor history. Jenna interviewed with Entertainment Weekly, where she talked about her life after the show. She has become a mom and lives in California where she currently works as a realtor. Jenna still believes she would have won All-Stars if the game implemented a final three.

Gervase Peterson

Survivor Season 1

Gervase became the third member of the jury when he was voted out in seventh place. He returned to Survivor: Blood vs. Water, where he made it to the final tribal council. Since he played Survivor, Gervase has done many things. He had a role in the 2005 movie The Scorned and other Survivor alumni. According to his LinkedIn page, he was also a co-owner of a cigar lounge for many years. He remains the only Survivor: Borneo castaway to return and make it to the end of another season.

Colleen Haskell

Survivor Season 1

Colleen was the fourth member of the jury when she was voted out at the final six of Survivor: Borneo. She was the first female to win an individual challenge in the show's history. Colleen was offered a spot on Survivor: All-Stars but turned it down. Since her time on Survivor, Colleen has become an actress. Her IMDb page says she had a role in the Rob Schneider comedy The Animal and appeared in That 70s Show. She has since been living a quiet life in New York with her family.

Sean Kenniff

Survivor Season 3

Sean placed fifth on Survivor season 1 and was voted out when Kelly won immunity. He had a strange strategy where he would vote based on the first letter of his fellow castaways. After the show, Sean appeared in projects like Nash Bridges and Guiding Light. According to an article about Sean from The Chicago Tribune, he is also the medical expert on the South Florida station WFOR-Ch. Sean also wrote a novel titled "Etre The Cow," which was released in 2010.

Susan Hawk

Survivor Season 1

Susan came in fourth place and later returned to Survivor: All-Stars. However, her time on All-Stars did not end well as she dramatically quit the show when she felt as if she was inappropriately touched by another Borneo castmate, Richard Hatch. Life after Survivor has been relatively peaceful for her and her family. According to Access Hollywood's story about Susan, she lives on a farm with about 60 acres of land with her husband. She resides in Missouri.

Rudy Boesch

Survivor Season 1

Rudy came in third in Survivor: Borneo and was invited back for All-Stars. He has the record for being the oldest castaway in history, as he was 75 in All-Stars. The New York Times wrote a story on Rudy, and the retired Navy SEAL wrote a book after Borneo had aired. Unfortunately, Rudy passed away due to complications with Alzheimer's disease in November 2019 at the age of 91.

Kelly Wiglesworth

Survivor Season 1

Kelly was the first runner-up in Survivor history as she came in second in Survivor: Borneo. She later returned to Survivor: Cambodia and placed 11th. After Survivor: Cambodia, Kelly was joined by castmate Joe for a new TV series called Mana. It was a travel show that took them across the globe, according to People Magazine. However, it appears that the series was short-lived, as not much information can be found on it besides the trailer.

Richard Hatch

Survivor Season 1

Richard is the first winner in Survivor history. He returned for Survivor: All-Stars and was the first notorious villain to appear on the show. Richard had a complicated time after Borneo aired, as he did not do well in All-Stars, had the controversy with Susan Hawk, and was arrested for tax evasion. He was convicted in 2006 and spent around 51 months behind bars. However, according to People, the first winner of Survivor is doing well now, saying, "I have a lot going on. I've got a great family. I've been with a wonderful man since 2003. I'm happy."

Source: Entertainment Weekly, Entertainment Weekly, Gervase Peterson/LinkedIn, Colleen Haskell/IMDB, The Chicago Tribune, Access Hollywood, New York Times, People Magazine, People