Gregg Carey and Jennifer Lyon: Survivor Story

The Palau castmates dated for several months, chose to remain friends, and stayed part of each other’s lives afterward.

What happened between Gregg Carey and Jennifer Lyon?

Dated briefly after Palau; later remained friends. They met and formed a close romantic bond while competing together on Survivor: Palau.

Gregg Carey and Jennifer Lyon became close while filming Survivor: Palau, where their friendship and romantic connection were visible parts of the season. In interviews during the May 2005 finale cycle, Gregg said the relationship was real but that distance between Chicago and California made its future uncertain. Updated relationship coverage says they dated for several months after filming and then mutually chose to remain friends. Jennifer was diagnosed with breast cancer after Palau and died on January 19, 2010, at age 37. Gregg and Jennifer were no longer romantic partners by then, so this record treats their relationship as historical rather than using a widowed label. The enduring fact is a brief post-show romance followed by friendship, with Jennifer’s death recorded respectfully as a separate later event.

How their relationship unfolded

  1. They connect while filming Palau

    Gregg and Jennifer formed a close friendship and romantic bond as members of the dominant Koror tribe.

  2. Gregg discusses their long-distance relationship

    Gregg told CBS that their bond continued after filming, while acknowledging the challenge of living in different states.

  3. The romance becomes a friendship

    Later relationship coverage says they dated for several months before mutually deciding to remain friends.

  4. Jennifer Lyon dies at 37

    Jennifer died after living with breast cancer, nearly five years after her Survivor season aired.

Sources

  1. Gregg and Jennifer’s Palau connection CBS News
  2. Gregg reflects on Palau and Jennifer CBS News 2005-05-06
  3. Gregg Carey discusses his Palau relationship TV Guide 2005-05-12
  4. Gregg Carey and Jennifer Lyon relationship update Reality TV World
  5. Survivor contestant Jennifer Lyon dies CBS News 2010-01-20
Gregg CareySurvivor 1019 connections

Seasons S10

Best placement 6th of 20, Jury

Career 33 days across 1 appearance

Jennifer LyonSurvivor 1019 connections

Seasons S10

Best placement 4th of 20, Jury

Career 37 days across 1 appearance

How their Survivor records compare

Across their full Survivor careers, Gregg Carey and Jennifer Lyon have made 2 combined appearances and recorded 70 combined player-days. Gregg Carey has played 33 days; Jennifer Lyon has played 37.

On the season they shared, Gregg Carey recorded 33 days and Jennifer Lyon recorded 37, for 70 combined player-days across those appearances. In completed head-to-head seasons, Gregg Carey placed higher 0 times, Jennifer Lyon placed higher 1 time.

  • On Survivor 10, Gregg Carey finished 6th of 20, Jury, while Jennifer Lyon finished 4th of 20, Jury. Their runs lasted 33 and 37 days, respectively.

Seasons they played together

Season Gregg Carey placement Jennifer Lyon placement
Survivor 10 (2005) 6th of 20, Jury 33 days 4th of 20, Jury 37 days

Where to go next

Gregg Carey's full profile

Every season, placement, days played and castmate connection on record.

Jennifer Lyon's full profile

Every season, placement, days played and castmate connection on record.

Trace the connection path

See the shortest chain of shared seasons linking Gregg Carey to Jennifer Lyon.