The Cast Of Survivor

Bruce
Bruce Kanegai is a third generation Japanese American who grew up in Los Angeles. During the 1960's, he received the Boy Scout rank of Eagle Scout and the rank of Black Belt from the Shotokan Karate School. Kanegai received his Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University, Northridge. He also received his teaching credentials for the State of California.

For the past 34 years, Kanegai has been teaching art at Simi Valley High School, where he has taught over 10,000 students. He had been awarded "Teacher of the Year" from The International Rotary Club, The Bravo Award from the Los Angeles Music Center, The Amgen Corporation, The Pasadena Art Center College of Design and the Otis/Parsons Art School. more



Tom
Since returning from SURVIVOR: AFRICA, Tom Buchanan has become very involved with elementary schools, promoting reading literacy. Prompted by events on the show that shed light on his inability to spell, Tom created a reading program for kids, "Reading is The Key to Survival," which has had an enormous impact on young readers of today. He has also donated many hours of his time to local and national fundraisers.

Born and raised in Rich Valley, Virginia, Tom currently works as a self-employed goat and cattle farmer on the farm that has been in his family for three generations.

Tom attended Rich Valley High School, where he played football, basketball and baseball. He then attended East Tennessee State University as a football walk-on and later earned a full football scholarship, serving as team captain his senior year. After college, Tom returned home to work on the family farm. Known to his friends as "Big Tom," his hobbies include softball, fishing, bird hunting and riding his Harley motorcycle. He is a member of the Virginia Cattleman's Association, Rich Valley Farmer's Club and Rich Valley Presbyterian Church. more



Earl
Originally from Kansas City, Kansas, Earl Cole attended business school at the University of Washington in Seattle and received a National Scholastic Achievement Award before moving to Southern California. He is currently a Senior Advertising Executive who creates and manages new media strategies, brand marketing and advertising budgets for major accounts. He formerly worked as a marketing manager at a cable company, a sales analyst for a film company and a writerÂ’s assistant for a television comedy series.

In addition, Cole also works as a composer and is an accomplished musician. He plays multiple instruments (piano, saxophone, guitar, violinÂ…and a little bit of drums). He also enjoys playing chess, hiking, watching movies, billiards and playing basketball. He considers himself to be very intelligent, creative, athletic and confident, with a witty sense of humor. He is a member of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP).

Earl currently resides in Santa Monica, California. His birth date is April 9, 1971. more



Cirie
Cirie Fields was born and raised in Jersey City, New Jersey with her sisters Karla, Cicely, and brother Kenneth. She attended St. Francis Nursing School in New Castle, Pennsylvania, where she obtained her nursing degree. She currently works as the clinical coordinator for Norwalk Hospitals Operating Room. Her previous occupations include surgical technician, home health aid, working at a candy factory and telemarketing. Fields' proudest accomplishment was becoming a nurse. Her mother is her hero because she has overcome many adversities and managed to raise six kids with nothing and taught them many life skills.

Fields loves to swim. Her favorite sports include running and working with a personal trainer. She loves amusement park rides and watching television. She describes herself as funny, charismatic and compassionate. She believes she will be a useful member of the tribe because she is very strong. Fields' skills include the ability to fish, cook and do some carpentry. She believes she will be the Ultimate Survivor because people love her cute, smiling personality. Her primary motivation for being on the show is to win and to change her family's life. She is proud of the fact that she was disciplined enough to lose 30 pounds once she learned she would be a castaway on SURVIVOR: MICRONESIA. more



Mikey B
Originally from Boston, Massachusetts, Michael Bortone is an aspiring writer/actor who studies at the Actors Circle Theatre. He once owned a chimney and masonry company and also managed a bar/restaurant. Bortone attended the Maine Central Institute (prep school) and two years of college at Northeastern University in Boston. He has appeared in commercials for Levi's, American Express and Progressive Auto.

Bortone's hobbies include traveling, sports and movies. He regularly plays basketball and softball and enjoys running. He describes himself as resilient, available and easy-going. He is most proud of finishing screenplays and producing a short film. His favorite sport is football. He believes his fishing skills and ability to build things will help him on SURVIVOR.

Bortone is currently single and resides in Los Angeles, California. with his pit bull, Coco. His birth date is December 29, 1973. more



Cristina
Cristina Coria was born and raised in Santa Monica, California, and grew up in a family of police officers who worked for the Santa Monica Police Department. At the age of 12, Coria lost her father when he was shot and killed in an unsolved murder. After her father died, her mother raised her and her four siblings all by herself.

Coria started her career in law enforcement at the age of 14. She was a Santa Monica police explorer, police cadet, parking enforcement officer, community service officer, Santa Monica College police officer and then Santa Monica police officer. She has also worked as a waitress, sales clerk and as an instructor at the El Camino College Reserve Police Academy. She also volunteered for the Santa Monica Police Activities League and taught dance to kids. more



Ami
Ami Cusack was born and raised in Golden, Colorado, to Richard, a top gun pilot and explosives engineer, and Virginia, a former substitute English teacher and homemaker. After graduating Golden High School, she attended Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design in Denver. In 1992, while attending RMCAD, Cusack became one of the original six employees of a Golden-based nutritional company called Experiment and Applied Sciences. She started out by answering phones and by 1996 she became the company's charitable director. In 1998, (with over 350 employees), the company was sold and Cusack decided to travel for the next four years. Her travels led her to Australia, Thailand, Tahiti, Iceland, Japan and Africa.

Upon returning to the U.S., she took a job at a coffee shop, which she now considers "the greatest job in the world." She looks forward to being a mom and taking care of her family. She also is a nanny for a six-year-old. She is still very active in charities and has been named an Ambassador for the Colorado Chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. more



James
James Clement owns a burial service and he is a gravedigger. In addition, he works security at nightclubs and weddings and bartends on the side. His hobbies include watching television and surfing the web. He enjoys sprinting, weight lifting and playing football.

Clement describes himself as athletically gifted, socially adaptive and physically attractive. He is most proud of carrying on the family business. He feels he'll do well because he considers himself to be physically and mentally adept, adventurous and able to adapt to new environments and situations.

Clement currently resides in Lafayette, Louisiana, with his pit bull, Brently. His birth date is March 9, 1977. more



Russell Swan (42)
Hometown: Glenside, Pa.
Occupation: Attorney

At 5 feet 11 inches” and 220 pounds, this attorney spends his working hours suing companies and individuals who violate environmental laws. In addition to practicing law, Russell enjoys spending time with his wife and five-year-old daughter and watching independent films.

Growing up in Pittsburgh, Russell’s father fell victim to layoffs at a local steel mill and struggled to support his family. Forced to move into Section 8 housing, his parents eventually divorced but the separation did not weaken any of his relationships, including the one he shared with his parents. Russell’s hero is his dad whom he says, “really loved his family and was a perfect example of what a husband should be to his wife, and what a dad should be to his child. more



Tina
The youngest of six children born into a logging sports family, Tina Scheer learned how to log roll in Northern Wisconsin when she was seven years old. She feels all of her childhood memories are good ones and credits her mother for raising six children by herself.

Scheer is the owner of the World Champion Lumberjills, "Chics with Axes," a traveling group of female lumberjacks. She is also owner of The Great Maine Lumberjack Show, which is based in Trenton, Maine. She competes regularly as a lumberjill and is also a logging sports promoter. In addition to touring the country, she has traveled to Australia ten times with her exhibitions. She also traveled to South Africa, Germany and New Zealand. She has been featured in CBS's Challenge of the Sexes, MTV's Real World, National Geographic, Sports Illustrated and Women's Sport & Fitness. more



Jonny Fairplay
Originally from Danville, Virginia, Jon Dalton attended George Washington High School followed by college at Virginia Polytechnic Institute in Blacksburg. After college, he moved to Washington, D.C. and Portland, Oregon before settling in Los Angeles.

Dalton burst onto the reality TV scene with the help of his best friend, Thunder D, and the infamous "Dead Grandma" deception on SURVIVOR: PEARL ISLANDS, on which he was the breakout star (and rated as the #2 television moment in E!'s "101 Most Outrageous TV Moments"). He has continued to excel as one of the more memorable faces of reality TV and professional wrestling and signed a contract with TNA Wrestling, combining for the first time the reality television and wrestling genres. He went on to win an ESPY Award for best non-sports sports moment by being body slammed over the top rope by Chicago Bears All-Pro player Brian Urlacher. From Howard Stern to "Tyra Banks," Jack & Ron & Fez to "Living It Up with Allie," Dalton has made numerous memorable radio and TV appearances. more



Sandra
Born in Stamford, Connecticut, Sandra Diaz-Twine currently lives in Ft. Lewis, Washington with her husband, Marcus, and their two children, Tatiana, 8, and Alanna, 6. She is employed as a senior office associate with the Army and Air force Exchange Service. Prior to her current employment, she served as a chemical repair specialist with the United States Army. She also previously worked in the mailroom of the Army and Air Force Exchange Service and in customer service at a clothing store. Her favorite hobbies are fishing and camping. She describes herself as adventurous, dedicated and a team player. She is most proud of having graduated from community college where she received an Associates Degree in Business Administration from Fayetteville Community College in North Carolina. Her favorite sport is volleyball. Her mother is her hero because she has always been committed to and made sacrifices for her children. She thinks her mother is the bravest, kindest, most loving person and an inspiration. She believes she's a contender for SURVIVOR: PEARL ISLANDS because of her ability to improvise and feels her small knowledge of hunting will be an asset to the tribe. She also thinks she's a good provider and possesses good field skills. Her birth date is July 30, 1974. more