Over the years, Survivor has had many memorable players — from beloved fan-favorites to notorious villains.
The reality series follows a group of contestants divided up into tribes as they are left to fend for themselves on a deserted island for nearly one month. Throughout the game, players are voted out, and a select group becomes the jury that votes on a winner and awards the sole Survivor the $1 million cash prize.
Rob Mariano, most commonly known as Boston Rob, charmed his fellow castaways and fans with his charisma and leadership skills. The contractor was the first contestant to play five times and appeared in six seasons but only won once. However, he was the runner-up in his second appearance on the reality TV series, losing to his eventual wife, Amber Brkich. The pair tied the knot in 2005 and have welcomed four daughters since.
With every hero on the show, a villain also emerges. Russell Hantz became one of the most infamous bad guys in the series. The Louisiana native was known for his ruthless gameplay and ability to unapologetically lie and manipulate his fellow contestants.
Russell was one of the first players to adopt the strategy of searching for a hidden immunity idol without using any clues. He went on to play three times and was a runner-up in Survivor: Samoa and finished third in Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains. Despite never winning the game, he is one of the few players to make the finals in multiple appearances.
Keep scrolling to see some of Survivor‘s most iconic players:
