Kim Johnson, Runner-Up on Survivor Season 3, Dies at 79

Publish date: 2024-07-12

Kim Johnson, runner-up on “Survivor” Season 3, “Survivor: Africa,” and the oldest female finalist in series history, has died. She was 79.

The place and cause of death was not immediately available.

Jeff Probst, who has hosted the competition reality series since its debut in 2000, shared a tribute to Johnson Monday on his Instagram on behalf of the entire CBS and “Survivor” team.

“Kim was a pioneer on ‘Survivor’ and we are deeply sorry to learn of her passing. She still holds the record for the oldest woman to ever win an immunity challenge, earned her place in the final two and even received votes to win the game,” Probst wrote. “I remember even then at just 56, how inspiring she was to other ‘older’ people because she showed that age was merely a number and that if you were willing to risk failing you might just amaze yourself. She definitely left her mark on the game and on all of us who were lucky enough to work on that season and tell her story.”

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Ethan Zohn, who won “Survivor: Africa” in a 5-2 vote, also posted a tribute on Instagram Monday. “Rest in peace Kim Johnson. It was a blessing to call you my friend and a privilege to experience the final tribal council with you,” Zohn wrote. “I will forever have that planters punch in your honor!”

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Johnson, a retired school teacher hailing from Cleveland, Ohio, was a league coordinator for an indoor tennis club and the owner of a sportswear boutique before joining “Survivor: Africa” at age 56. According to her CBS “Survivor” bio, “Johnson enjoys exercising (running, tennis and free weights), camping, hiking, fishing, sailing, golfing, horseback riding, thoroughbred horse racing and playing games of any kind. She describes herself as nutty, logical and determined.”

Johnson is survived by her three children, Wendy, Kerry and Teddy.

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