“Survivor” originally started out as a show about a group of strangers who didn't know each other at all before the game began. But things have changed a bit over the years. Starting with “Survivor: Guatemala” (Season 11) and the appearance of former NFL quarterback Gary Hogeboom, the CBS reality TV show has featured some of the biggest names in the world of sports, entertainment and more, some of whom the other castaways on the island may recognize. Below you'll find a gallery of “Survivor” celebrity cast members who had some degree of name recognition before competing on the show. Which cast members did you know before the season aired? First published in April 2020.
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Gary Hogeboom
Image courtesy of CBS
7th place in “Survivor: Guatemala” Season 11
Former NFL quarterback
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Dan Barry
Image courtesy of CBS
Placed 11th in “Survivor: Panama” Season 12
astronaut
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Jonathan Penner
Image courtesy of CBS
Placed 7th in “Survivor: Cook Islands” Season 13
Placed 15th in Season 16 of “Survivor: Micronesia”
7th place in “Survivor: Philippines” Season 25
Writer/Actor
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Ashley Massaro
Image courtesy of CBS
Ranked 15th in “Survivor: China” Season 15
WWE Wrestler
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Jean-Robert Bellandet
Image courtesy of CBS
9th place in “Survivor: China” Season 15
Poker Player
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Crystal Cox
Image courtesy of CBS
6th place in “Survivor: Gabon” Season 17
Former Olympian
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Ken Huang
Image courtesy of CBS
5th place in “Survivor: Gabon” Season 17
Professional Gamer
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Taj Johnson George
Image courtesy of CBS
4th place in “Survivor: Tocantins” Season 18
Former pop star
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Jimmy Johnson
Image courtesy of CBS
Ranked 18th in “Survivor: Nicaragua” Season 21
Former NFL coach
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Steve Wright
Image courtesy of CBS
Ranked 10th in “Survivor: Redemption Island” Season 22
Former NFL player
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Grant Matos
Image courtesy of CBS
8th place in “Survivor: Redemption Island” Season 22
Former NFL player
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Whitney Duncan
Image courtesy of CBS
9th place in “Survivor: South Pacific” Season 23
Country Music Singer
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Jeff Kent
Image courtesy of CBS
Ranked 10th in “Survivor: Philippines” Season 25
Retired MLB players
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Lisa Whelchel
Image courtesy of CBS
Runner-up in “Survivor: Philippines” Season 25
Former TV teen star
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Julia Landauer
Image courtesy of CBS
Ranked 13th in “Survivor: Caramoan” Season 26
Racing driver
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Brad Culpepper
Image credit: Robert Voorts/CBS
Ranked 15th in “Survivor: Blood vs. Water” Season 27
Survivor: Game Changers Season 34 Runner-up
Retired NFL players
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David Samson
Image courtesy of CBS
Ranked 18th in “Survivor: Cagayan” Season 28
Miami Marlins President
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Garrett Adelstein
Image courtesy of CBS
Ranked 17th in “Survivor: Cagayan” Season 28
Professional poker player
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Cliff Robinson
Image courtesy of CBS
Ranked 14th in “Survivor: Cagayan” Season 28
Former NBA All-Star
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John Rocker
Image courtesy of CBS
Ranked 16th in “Survivor: San Juan del Sur” Season 29
Former MLB player
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Anna Kite
Image courtesy of CBS
Ranked 13th in “Survivor: Kao Rong” Season 32
Professional poker player
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Scott Pollard
Image courtesy of CBS
8th place in “Survivor: Kao Rong” Season 32
Former NBA champion
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Mari Takahashi
Image courtesy of CBS
Ranked 19th in “Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen X” Season 33
Gamer
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Katrina Radke
Image credit: Robert Voorts/CBS
18th place in “Survivor: Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers” Season 35
Olympian
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Alan Ball
Image credit: Robert Voorts/CBS
15th in Survivor: Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers Season 35
NFL players
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John Hennigan
Image credit: Robert Voorts/CBS
12th place in “Survivor: David vs. Goliath” Season 37
Professional wrestler
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Mike White
Image credit: Robert Voorts/CBS
Runner-up, Survivor: David vs. Goliath Season 37
Actor and Emmy Award-winning filmmaker
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Ron Clark
Image credit: Robert Voorts/CBS
8th place in “Survivor: Edge of Extinction” Season 38
teacher
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Ronnie Barda
Image credit: Robert Voorts/CBS
Ranked 20th in “Survivor: Island of the Idols” Season 39
Professional poker player
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Tom Laidlaw
Image credit: Robert Voorts/CBS
Ranked 16th in “Survivor: Island of the Idols” Season 39
Former NHL player
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Elizabeth Beissel
Image credit: Robert Voorts/CBS
9th place in “Survivor: Island of the Idols” Season 39
Olympic medallist
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Danny MacRae
Image credit: Robert Voorts/CBS
“Survivor 41” 6th place
Former NFL player
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Noel Lambert
Image credit: Robert Voorts/CBS
“Survivor 43” 8th place
One-legged Paralympic track and field athlete
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Brandon Cotton
Image credit: Robert Voorts/CBS
“Survivor 44” 10th place
Former Seattle Seahawks fullback
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John Lovett
Image courtesy of CBS
“Survivor 47” contestant
Comedian and political speechwriter
