R.I.P. Kim Johnson: ‘Survivor: Africa’ Finalist Passed Away At 79

Kim Johnson , the New York teacher who became the oldest female finalist in Survivor history in 2001, has passed away at the age of 79.

Johnson’s children, Wendy, Teddy, and Kerry, confirmed the news with a statement to Entertainment Weekly .  “Our mom leaves a legacy of strength, resilience, kindness and generosity. She wore her rose-colored glasses right up until the end. She was the coolest mom and grandmother in the world. We will miss her forever,” they said. The retired school teacher reportedly passed away after a long battle against cancer.

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Johnson made it to the final two of Survivor: Africa , the show’s third season set in Kenya, alongside Ethan Zohn. Zohn praised his former co-star on social media with a touching montage highlighting Johnson’s run on the show when she was just 57 years old.

“Rest in peace Kim Johnson,” he wrote. “It was a blessing to call you my friend and a privilege to experience the final tribal council with you. I will forever have that planters punch in your honor!”

Per EW ‘s reporting, Johnson stunned viewers by outlasting both Zohn and Lex van den Berghe during an endurance challenge that challenged them to stand on two uneven poles while holding a totem in 104-degree heat. She lasted for a total of three hours and 20 minutes.

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In the end, she lost to then-27-year-old Zohn, who took home the $1 million prize. Fortunately, Johnson went home with the runner-up prize of $100,000.

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Zohn’s video tribute to Johnson included several memorable moments from her time on the show, including her final tribal council speech in which she said, “You all made me feel important without exception. Each one of you has helped me be the best that I can be, so I’m leaving here a winner big time.”

Johnson’s contestant bio described her as a “proud” grandmother of two who was interested in camping, hiking, and several sports. She reportedly used her fluency in sign language to volunteer for the blind and deaf, per EW.

Survivor fans mourned Johnson on social media. “I’ve loved Kim Johnson since the first time I watched Africa . She was an extremely underrated player, a definite highlight of the season. Rest easy Kim,” a fan wrote on X.

The news of Johnson’s passing comes just months after Survivor contestant Sonja Christopher passed away at age 87 in April.

Johnson is survived by her three children.

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