Survivor Star Sonja Christopher Dies at 87
Sonja Christopher, a contestant on the first season of Survivor, has passed away at the age of 87. Christopher rose to fame on the groundbreaking reality show in 2000, which was filmed in Pulau Tiga, Malaysia. Unfortunately, she became the first contestant to be voted off the island on day three. Richard Hatch went on to win the season and become the Sole Survivor. Christopher’s death was announced by fellow Survivor star Liz Wilcox on social media.
Wilcox shared a heartfelt tribute to Christopher, expressing her sadness at the loss. She described Christopher as a legend and spoke about their meeting on Christmas. According to Wilcox, Christopher had a lot of love for Survivor and cherished the experiences the show brought to her life. Wilcox concluded her tribute by hoping that Christopher is now in a beautiful place, singing and playing her heart out.
Fans and viewers also paid their respects to Christopher in the comments of Wilcox’s post. Many expressed their gratitude that Wilcox had the opportunity to meet Christopher and praised Christopher’s impact on the show. The news of her passing was met with sadness and admiration for her legacy.
Christopher’s family has requested that instead of flowers, donations be made to organizations such as the Mt. Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church, the Cancer Support Community of the San Francisco Bay Area, or the Sjogren’s Foundation. The cause of Christopher’s death and the exact date have not been confirmed.
In a 2020 interview with Entertainment Tonight, Christopher reflected on her time on Survivor and the aftermath. She humorously acknowledged that she holds the distinction of being the first person ever voted off the show. Despite this, she embraced her Survivor experience and found humor in the recognition she received from fans.
Sonja Christopher’s legacy as a Survivor contestant will undoubtedly live on, and she will be remembered for her contributions to the show.
In a 2020 interview, Christopher opened up about her time on the show. Speaking about her decision to apply, she revealed that she had just finished her breast cancer treatment and was recovering. During that time, her partner sought comfort elsewhere, which led to the end of their 11-year relationship. As a result, Christopher found herself in a senior retirement community, alone and with no ties. It was during this period that she came across an article in the morning paper about CBS searching for 16 Americans to be stranded on a deserted island and test their survival skills for 39 days. Intrigued by the opportunity to see if she could survive with only her hands and wits, she decided to apply.
Reflecting on her experience on the intense reality series, Christopher expressed her gratitude for the opportunity. She stated that it was a fortunate experience that taught her valuable lessons on how to approach and navigate life. She learned how to treat her cancer, how to live with it, and how to go with the flow. Overall, she considered the entire journey to be incredibly fortuitous.
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