Everything We Know About The Survivor 44 Castaways (2024)

Survivor 44 premieres March 1 with 18 new castaways ready to compete for the title of Sole Survivor, and here's everything we know about them before they make their television debuts. Survivor has been a hit with viewers since 2000 and has no plans on slowing down anytime soon, especially with the constant introduction of new twists and turns. With $1 million on the line, Survivor may provide fans with some serious entertainment, but is less than easy to navigate through.

Although Survivor season 43 ended surprisingly after Mike Gabler was unexpectedly voted the Sole Survivor in December 2022, it didn't take long for CBS and longtime host Jeff Probst to announce that Survivor season 44 would return in 2023. While the series has remained one of the most anticipated reality shows year after year, fans didn't have to wait long to find out who the next group of castaways ready to brave not just the elements of Fiji's Mamanuca Islands but the tough mental, physical, and social game. The cast of Survivor 44 was released in late January, with official photos and short bios of each contestant provided by EW. Before the competition begins in March, here's what Survivor fans need to know about the potential Sole Survivors who will be split into three initial tribes: Ratu, Soka, and Tika.

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Brandon Cottom

Brandon Cottom, 30, is a security strategist from Pennsylvania. Like Danny McCray from Survivor 41, Brandon is a former NFL player who briefly played fullback with the Seattle Seahawks. While he has the physical and mental strength necessary to become the Sole Survivor, Brandon has minimal outdoor experience, although he does like to visit bodies of water and grill.

Bruce Perreault

Bruce Perreault, the oldest castaway on Survivor 44, is a 46-year-old insurance agent from Rhode Island. A proud husband and father, Bruce, who is close to his adoptive mother, values loyalty and hopes to form an alliance with someone who won't turn their back on him. Energetic and competitive, Bruce loves to golf and box in his free time and thinks his social skills can take him to the final tribal council.

Carolyn Wiger

Carolyn Wiger, 35, is a drug counselor from Minnesota. Self-described as passionate, loud, and open, Carolyn, who will compete on Survivor like Mike Gabler did, has been sober for 13 years and is ready to share her inspirational journey on Survivor 44. Although she would love to be as strategic as iconic Survivor alum like Parvati Shallow and Kelly Wentworth, Carolyn thinks her gameplay is closer to finalist Noura Salman in reality. Close to her parents and a mother herself, Carolyn's hobbies include ice skating, eating candy, gardening, and rescuing animals.

Carson Garrett

The youngest Survivor 44 castaway, Carson Garrett, is a 20-year-old NASA engineering student from Georgia. Carson is determined to win Sole Survivor and thinks that his emotional intelligence and logical point-of-view can help him get to the final tribal council, especially since he likes to 3D print Survivor puzzles in his free time. Carson, who has a variety of other interests, including photography, watching YouTube videos, and playing video games like Civilization V, identifies the most with popular Survivor 37 underdog Christian Hubicki.

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Claire Rafson

Claire Rafson, 25, is from Illinois, although she currently lives in Brooklyn, New York. A tech investor by day, Claire describes herself as cunning, energetic, and motivated; a lifelong fan of the series, Claire thinks that her identity as a queer black Jewish woman will help her social game on Survivor 44. When Claire isn't at her desk or listening to Hunger Games audiobooks, she likes to eat, drink, sleep, and travel.

Danny Massa

Danny Massa, 32, is an NYC firefighter born and raised in The Bronx. Although being a firefighter has given Danny physical and mental strength, he concedes that his occupation and passion for Brazilian jiu-jitsu haven't prepared him for Survivor 44 as much as fans may think. Like fellow firefighter and Survivor 31 winner Jeremy Collins, Danny hopes he comes off as cunning and affable, especially because he can't stand to complain too much. Like a real-life Captain America, Danny is not only the quintessential New Yorker, but is close to his mother, used to be insecure about his physique, and hates to see anyone get bullied.

Frannie Marin

Frannie Marin, 23, is a research coordinator from Minnesota who currently lives in Massachusetts. A college graduate from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities is proud of her intelligence, adaptability, and enthusiastic personality, which she partially credits to her experience working in a busy nail salon. Like Gabby Pascuzzi and three-time castaway Aubry Bracco, Frannie hopes to stand out as a spunky female who her competitors find tough to beat. Frannie, who achieved a perfect score on the MCAT, likes to collect leaves, create collages, and attend game nights with friends when she isn't working or doing yoga.

Heidi Lagares-Greenblatt

Heidi Lagares-Greenblatt, 43, is an engineering manager from Pennsylvania, although she was born and raised in Puerto Rico. Heidi, who moved to the United States knowing minimal English and without any support, is proud of her culture and can't wait to represent the Latino community on Survivor 44. Self-described as energetic, loud, and adventurous, Heidi looks up to two-time winner Sandra Diaz-Twine and Survivor 37 finalist Angelica Keeley. When she isn't spending quality time with her family, Heidi likes to play board games and indulge in CrossFit; she was also a national basketball player as a child.

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Helen Li

Helen Li, 29, is a product manager from Massachusetts and currently lives in San Francisco. Self-described as optimistic, self-aware, and empathetic, Helen is a second-generation Chinese-American who has grown up equally in both cultures, which she thinks can help her adapt to Survivor 44 and help her get along with other castaways. Loyalty is essential to Helen and hopes she can form an alliance with others who feel the same way. When Helen isn't spending time with her husband and son, she likes to hike and travel; Helen predicts her gameplay will resemble a mix of Sophie Clark from Survivor 40 and three-time castaway Tina Wesson.

Jaime Lynn Ruiz

Jaime Lynn Ruiz, 35, is a yogi from Arizona. A die-hard Survivor fan who used to watch the series on VHS, Jamie says that working in corporate America, which she did for a decade, taught her how to connect to all types of people and build successful teams in response. Although she hates cold food and how big the empty spaces in chip bags are, Jaime has a plethora of interests, including gardening, cooking, swimming, and meditating. As someone who values interpersonal relationships, Jaime predicts that her Survivor 44 gameplay will resemble some of the most strategic female Survivor castaways ever featured.

Josh Wilder

Josh Wilder, 34, is a surgical podiatrist from Ohio who now resides in Georgia. Josh was born with Prune Belly Syndrome, a congenital disorder where the stomach muscles are missing; Josh not only received a kidney transplant when he was nine but was diagnosed with stomach cancer at 25. Now in remission, Josh is ready to prove that he has what it takes to become the Sole Survivor despite all the adversities he's had to overcome, especially as a black gay man. When Josh isn't operating on patients, the Survivor 44 castaway likes to travel, check on his houseplants, and participate in obstacle races.

Kane Fritzler

Kane Fritzler, 25, is a law student from Canada. A lifelong Survivor fan who values being honest and trustworthy, Kane believes that he has the charisma of four-time Survivor castaway Tyson Apostol but the strategic mindset of Zeke Smith, who was infamously revealed to be transgender by Jeff Varner on Survivor 34. A good negotiator with an even better singing voice, Kane loves to play Dungeons & Dragons and take care of his dog when he's not hitting the books, although he can't stand bad drivers and people whose actions don't match up with their words.

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Lauren Harpe

Lauren Harpe, 31, is an elementary school teacher from Texas. A single mother with two sons, Lauren says that being a parent has prepared her physically, mentally, and emotionally for Survivor 44; Lauren compares her gameplay to Survivor 41 winner Erika Casupanan and says that if she can fly under the radar as a quiet strategist, she expects to make it to the finals. Lauren, who declares that no one wants to be Sole Survivor more than her, loves to read, listen to podcasts, and play Mario Kart with her kids whenever she has spare time.

Maddy Pomilla

Maddy Pomilla, 28, is a charity projects manager who grew up in Maryland and now lives in Brooklyn. One of five sisters and self-described as a brave and friendly classic middle child, Maddy loves to do things that take her out of her comfort zone, which makes Survivor 44 the perfect opportunity. Besides her affinity for Survivor 42 player Omar Zaheer, one of Maddy's biggest accomplishments is being in a relationship with "the hottest guy at [New York University]" for the past seven years. In her spare time, Maddy likes to surf, skateboard, spend time with her family, and karaoke.

Matt Blankinship

Matt Blankinship, 27, is a security software engineer from California; Matt was raised in Albany but now lives in San Francisco. After over a decade of waiting to be chosen as a castaway, Matt was finally selected to complete Survivor 44, where he hopes to draw comparisons to Yul Kwon and Maryanne Oketch, the respective winners of Survivor 13 and Survivor 42. Matt likes music and running in his spare time but hates peanut butter and people who interrupt others.

Matthew Grinstead-Mayle

Matthew Grinstead-Mayle, who relates the most to Survivor 43 fan favorite Elaine Stott, is a 43-year-old barber from Ohio. Matthew has been a fan of Survivor since the series first premiered, and since he enjoys being outside and going on adventures with his husband and son, Matthew thinks he has what it takes to be the Sole Survivor. As someone with a big heart, Matthew hopes to go to the final tribal council with people he can trust and build solid relationships with. Matthew's pet peeves include odd numbers, pineapple pizza, and people who don't know how to properly communicate.

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Sarah Wade

Sarah Wade, 27, is a management consultant from Minnesota who now lives in Illinois. Like Survivor 29 winner Natalie Anderson, Sarah considers herself to be strategic, competitive, and loyal, although she also has a fun side; Sarah hopes to work with someone who shares similar ideals on Survivor 44 and is especially inspired to do well by her late best friend Kalie, who passed away two years ago. Sarah's hobbies include exercising outdoors, reading, and eating different raw foods.

Yamil "Yam Yam" Arocho

The last Survivor 44 castaway, Yamil "Yam Yam" Arocho, is a 36-year-old salon owner from Puerto Rico. Like his fellow competitors, Yamil has been a fan of Survivor since childhood and is ready to align with someone intelligent and committed to doing whatever it takes. Yamil, who loves to go to the beach with his husband and occasionally dress up in drag on Halloween, hopes to emulate the strategic mindset of popular Survivor alum Cirie Fields, who recently won The Traitors season 1 winner. He believes living without power after Hurricane Maria in 2017 will help him advance through the harsh conditions and win Survivor 44.

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Survivor 44 premieres March 1 at 8 p.m. EST on CBS.

Source: EW