Summary

• Dan Barry, an astronaut, competed on Survivor: Panama but was voted out early due to perceived weakness in challenges.
• Ashley Massaro, a wrestler, competed on Survivor: China and was unanimously voted out after falling ill and clashing with tribemates.
• John Rocker, a baseball pitcher, competed on Survivor: San Juan del Sur but was voted out early due to controversial statements.

Since Survivor has lasted long enough that there are many seasons that fans love to rank, several of the show's best players have become somewhat famous. Still, Jeff Probst is the most famous part of Survivor since even fans who are still figuring out which seasons to watch first know him.

While Jeff has become well known, it makes sense that Survivor's producers have had celebrities compete on the show. However, many fans have forgotten about some of the famous people who've competed on Survivor.

10 When Did Dan Barry Compete On Survivor?

Famous For Being An Astronaut

After being selected to be an astronaut in 1992, Dan Barry traveled on the STS-72 Endeavour on a 9-day space flight in 1996. Dan Barry then went on a 10-day space flight aboard the STS-96 Discovery in 1999 and traveled to the International Space Station in 2001.

Roughly five years after Dan went on his final space flight, viewers watched him compete on Survivor: Panama. Ultimately, Dan was voted out of the game because his tribe felt he was weak in challenges.

9 When Did Ashley Massaro Compete On Survivor?

Famous For Being A Wrestler

After competing in the 2005 WWE Raw Diva Search, Ashley Massaro earned a contract with the famous wrestling company. Ashley would go on to compete at WrestleMania 23 and manage the WWE Tag Team Champions before she left the company in 2007.

Tapped to compete during Survivor: China, Ashley clashed with one of her tribemates and fell ill when the game began. After surviving one tribal council, Ashley was unanimously voted out of the game.

In 2019, Ashley tragically passed away far too early in life as she was only 39 years old.

8 When Did Mike White Compete On Survivor?

Famous For Being A Writer, Actor, Director And Producer

As an actor, Mike White is best known for his supporting role in the beloved movie School of Rock. Also highly accomplished behind the camera, Mike was the creative mind behind The White Lotus. Mike created The White Lotus as well as writing and directing episodes, which allowed him to win three Primetime Emmy Awards for the show.

Since Mike is so accomplished, he was a part of the Goliath tribe when he competed on Survivor: David vs. Goliath. Ultimately able to make it to the final tribal council, Mike got three votes to win, but he was beaten by Nick Wilson, who got seven votes to win.

7 When Did John Rocker Compete On Survivor?

Famous For Being A Baseball Pitcher

After making his MLB debut as a member of the Atlanta Braves, John Rocker played six seasons in the league, during which he jumped to several other teams. However, John became better known for making a series of highly controversial public comments that offended many observers.

When John got the chance to compete in Survivor: San Juan del Sur, his large personality and controversial past haunted him. After John was called out for his controversial statements and for getting on people's nerves, he was voted out early in the season.

6 When Did Cliff Robinson Compete On Survivor?

Famous For Being An NBA Player

After being picked 11th in the 1979 NBA Draft, Cliff Robinson played in the league from 1979 until 1994. During Cliff's impressive career, he played in 2 NBA Finals and was selected to be part of the 1994 All-Star team.

During Survivor: Cagayan, Cliff was a part of the Brawn tribe alongside Sarah Lacina, Woo Hwang, and Tony Vlachos. Deemed to be a threat to Tony and his allies, Cliff became the first member of his tribe to be voted out.

According to The New York Times, Cliff passed away in August 2020 after battling lymphoma.

5 When Did John Hennigan Compete On Survivor?

Famous For Being A Wrestler

Even though John Hennigan isn't as rich as John Cena, he has wrestled the movie star repeatedly. The reason for that is John wrestled in the WWE between 2002 and 2011 and then again from 2019 until 2021. Best known in the WWE as John Morrison, he became the ECW World Champion and a multiple-time Tag Team Champion.

Thanks to John's impressive athletic skills, he was a part of the Goliath tribe when he competed on Survivor. Following the merge, John was blindsided when he was voted out following a chaotic tribal council.

4 When Did Jimmy Johnson Compete On Survivor?

Famous For Being An NFL Coach

Arguably among the most famous football coaches of all time, Jimmy Johnson enjoyed a great deal of success in the NFL and at the collegiate level. After all, Jimmy was the first coach to guide teams that won a college football national championship and a Super Bowl championship.

When Jimmy competed on Survivor: Nicaragua, he became his tribe's unofficial leader. That leadership would prove to be Jimmy's undoing as he was identified as too big of a threat and voted out early.

3 When Did Tamara "Taj" Johnson-George Compete On Survivor?

Famous For Being A Singer

In the late '80s, Tamara "Taj" Johnson-George joined the R&B girl group SWV which went on be very successful in the '90s. Remembered for songs like "Weak", "Right Here (Human Nature Remix)", "I'm So into You", and "You're the One", SWV remains active today.

During Survivor: Tocantins, J.T. Thomas and Stephen Fishbach formed one of the best alliances in the show's history. What gets forgotten far too often is that Taj was a pivotal member of that alliance and while Stephen and J.T. eliminated her, they likely would have failed without her.

2 When Did Lisa Whelchel Compete On Survivor?

Famous For Being An Actor

After previously being a Mouseketeer on The New Mickey Mouse Club, Lisa Whelchel got her big break in 1979. Lisa starred in The Facts of Life as Blair Warner for nine seasons between 1979 and 1988. Lisa has been acting off and on ever since her biggest role ended.

Unlike most celebrity Survivor players, Lisa enjoyed a great deal of success from the start. Able to make it to the final tribal council, Lisa and Michael Skupin both got 1 vote to win Survivor: Philippines but they lost to Denise Stapley who got 6 votes to win.

1 When Did Brad Culpepper Compete On Survivor?

Famous For Being An NFL Player

After Brad Culpepper was selected 10th in the 1992 NFL Draft, the defensive tackle played between 1992 and the year 2000. After his NFL career ended, Brad continued to impress as he earned his law license and continues to practice to this day.

After his wife Monica Culpepper previously played, Brad joined her and they both competed in Survivor: Blood vs. Water. Unfortunately for Brad, he was quickly voted out during his first season as he was deemed to be a bad leader.

Despite his early departure during his first season, Brad was brought back for Survivor: Game Changers. Ultimately able to make it to the final tribal council during his return season, Brad got three votes to win, but he lost to Sarah Lacina, who got seven votes to win.