Robert Carlo "Rob" Mariano (also known as Boston Rob) is the Sole Survivor of Survivor: Redemption Island. He originally competed on Survivor: Marquesas, Survivor: All-Stars, and Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains, and later on Survivor: Winners at War. Rob also returned as a mentor for Survivor: Island of the Idols. He is the husband of All-Stars winner Amber Mariano.
Considered as one of the legends of the game, Rob is renowned for his cunning, charisma, leadership skills and challenge prowess. His aggressive strategy made some of the most memorable moves in the game, notably reneging on his friends and allies on All-Stars, and unquestioned command of his alliance in Redemption Island.
As of date, Rob is the most prolific Survivor contestant in the U.S. version, having played 152 days across five seasons and achieving deep runs in most of them.
Profile[]
Retrieved from CBS.com
Robert Mariano was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. An avid sportsman, he attended Xaverian Brothers High School where he played on the varsity hockey team and helped his golf team win the state championship in 1991-92. He currently works as a foreman for a construction company while also serving as head coach for Boston University's Inline Hockey Team. In 2001, he coached the team to their first League Championship followed by their first National Tournament where they proceeded to defeat the two-time defending national champion Michigan State Spartans in overtime. Mariano attended Boston University where he boxed and played rugby. In 1999, Mariano graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology. He aspires to one day become a doctor. His hobbies include hockey, fishing and playing cards. In 2000, he woke up the day of the Boston Marathon and decided to run it as an unofficial entry with absolutely no training. He stopped along the way to eat burgers and drink beer. He ended up walking the last 13 miles of the race and finished in 6 hours and 20 minutes. He couldn't walk for three days afterwards. Robert Mariano currently lives in Canton, Mass., with his cat, Fred. He has one brother, Mike, and one sister, Heather. His birthdate is Dec. 25.[1]
Since being voted off seventh on Survivor: Marquesas, Robert Mariano has appeared at many charity functions, enjoyed traveling all over the world and acted as a host for the Hawaiian Tropic Model Search Competition last summer in Boston. Two of his most memorable adventures were traveling to Italy last spring with his father and throwing out the first pitch at the Red Sox game last Labor Day when the team hosted the Yankees at Fenway Park. Rob was born and raised in Boston. Growing up, he was very involved in athletics, especially hockey, baseball and football. He attended Xaverian Brothers High School, where he played on the varsity hockey team and helped his golf team win the state championship in 1991-92. Rob then attended Boston University, where he boxed and played rugby. In 1999, he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology. Rob currently works as a construction foreman and part-time bartender, while also serving as head coach for Boston University's Inline Hockey Team (which he has done since its inception in 1999). In 2001, he coached the team to victory at their first League Championship followed by another victory at their first National Tournament, where they proceeded to defeat the two-time defending national champion Michigan State Spartans in overtime. Always encouraging his team to give 110 percent, Rob has since coached the team to two additional National Tournament appearances and one League Championship. Rob's hobbies include hockey, fishing and playing cards. In 2000, he woke up the day of the Boston Marathon and decided to run it as an unofficial entry with absolutely no training. He stopped along the way to eat burgers and drink beer. He ended up walking the last 13 miles of the race and finished in 6 hours and 20 minutes. He couldn't walk for three days afterwards. Rob continues to call Boston home and his family remains most important thing in his life. He has one brother, Mike, one sister, Heather, and his parents are Bob and Linda. He is currently single and living in Canton, Massachusetts. His birth date is December 25, 1975.[2]
Rob Mariano (33) Tribe: VillainsHometown: Boston, Mass Current Residence: Pensacola, Fla. Personal Claim To Fame: "My marriage and birth of my child." Inspiration in Life: "My family." Previous Finishes: Marquesas: 7th out; All-Stars: Runner-Up Favorite Past Moment: "Proposing to Amber at the live finale." Previous Survivor He Respects Most: Amber Brkich (Australia, All-Stars) Previous Survivor He Respects Least: "Nobody." Why Did He Come Back? : "To win!"[3]
Rob Mariano (35) Rob Mariano, more commonly know as "Boston" Rob, returns to Survivor: Redemption Island with one goal in mind: to win. "It's like I have been climbing this mountain for almost ten years now, and I'm not gonna quit until I get to the top." One of Rob's most defining characteristics is his determination. In 2000, he woke up the day of the Boston Marathon and decided to run it as an unofficial entry with absolutely no training and finished. After growing up in Boston and graduating from Boston University, Rob met his wife, fellow castaway Amber Brkich, during Survivor: All-Stars and proposed to her during the live finale. Rob and Amber are happily married and living in Pensacola, Florida with their two daughters, Lucia Rose and Carina Rose. Why will Survivor: Redemption Island be different? "I feel like I have done my best every time I played and I have always done what I said I was gonna do. I mean, I played this game three times. A lot has gone wrong every time. I'm hoping that this time I can make something go right."[4]
Age: 43 Given that you're not playing Survivor in the traditional sense, what element of the game are looking forward to NOT having to endure? The fact that they can't vote me off will give me time to really enjoy the survival aspect of the game (camp life). My background is in construction so I plan to concentrate on building the ultimate shelter. The best one Survivor has ever seen![5]
Hometown: Boston, Massachusetts |
Survivor[]
Marquesas[]
- Main article: Rob Mariano/Marquesas
Episode | Tribe Affiliation |
Challenge | Challenge Type | Sit-Out? | Result | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Maraamu | Outrigger Fire Quest | Immunity | No | Lost | |
2 | Float Your Boat | Reward | No | Lost | ||
Marquesan Menu | Immunity | No | Lost | |||
3 | Raft Rescue | Reward | No | Lost | ||
Coconut Maze Race | Immunity | No | Lost | |||
Switched Tribes, Day 10 | ||||||
4 | Rotu | Life's a Tapestry | Immunity | Yes | Won | |
5 | Tiki Towers | Reward | Yes | Lost | ||
Distress Signal | Immunity | No | Lost | |||
6 | Jungle Relay | Reward | No | Lost | ||
The Maze | Immunity | No | Won | |||
Tribes Merged, Day 20 | ||||||
7 | Soliantu | Sea Legs | Immunity | Lost | ||
Voted Out, Day 21 |
All-Stars[]
- Main article: Rob Mariano/All-Stars
Episode | Tribe Affiliation |
Challenge | Challenge Type | Sit-Out? | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Chapera | Quest for Fire | Immunity | No | 1st |
2 | Stairway to the Stars | Reward | No | Lost | |
Float Your Boat | Immunity | No | 1st | ||
3 | Better Homes and Island Living | Reward | No | 1st | |
4 | Match Maker | Reward | No | 1st | |
Blind Cube Crisis | Immunity | No | Lost | ||
5 | Shipwrecked Raft Rescue | Reward | No | 2nd | |
Pilfering Pirates | Immunity | No | Won | ||
6 | Stomp-ede | Reward | No | Lost | |
7 | Floating Puzzle | Reward/Immunity | No | Won | |
8 | Log Jam | Reward | No | Won | |
Choose Your Weapon | Immunity | No | Won | ||
Switched Tribes, Day 23 | |||||
10 | Mogo Mogo | Survivor History | Immunity | No | Won |
11 | Rock Bottom | Reward1 | Lost | ||
Tribes Merged, Day 26 | |||||
11 | Chaboga Mogo | Waiting to Exhale | Immunity | Won | |
12 | Big Bad-O Course | Reward2 | Won | ||
Immunity2 | Won | ||||
13 | Face Off | Reward | Lost | ||
When It Rains, It Pours | Immunity | Lost | |||
14 | Survivor Smorgasbord | Reward | Invited | ||
Fire And Rain | Immunity | Lost | |||
15 | Learn from Past Mistakes | Reward | Won | ||
Survivor Scramble | Immunity | Won | |||
16 | Obstacle Puzzle Maze | Immunity | Lost | ||
Hand on a Hard Idol | Immunity | Won | |||
Runner-Up, Day 39 | |||||
Notes: |
Episode | Rob M.'s Votes |
Voted Against Rob M. |
---|---|---|
1 | Chapera Tribe Immune | |
2 | Chapera Tribe Immune | |
3 | No Tribal Council | |
4 | Rob C. | - |
5 | Chapera Tribe Immune | |
6 | No Tribal Council | |
7 | Chapera Tribe Immune | |
8 | Chapera Tribe Immune | |
10 | Mogo Mogo Tribe Immune | |
11 | Lex | Individual Immunity |
12 | Kathy | Individual Immunity |
13 | Alicia | - |
14 | Shii Ann | - |
15 | Tom | Individual Immunity |
16 | Rupert | Rupert |
Jenna L. | Individual Immunity | |
Jury Votes for Rob M. |
Jenna L., Kathy, Rupert | |
Runner-Up, Day 39 |
Heroes vs. Villains[]
- Main article: Rob Mariano/Heroes vs. Villains
Episode | Tribe Affiliation |
Challenge | Challenge Type | Sit-Out? | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Villains | Battle Dig | Reward | No | Lost |
Lock, Load and Light | Immunity | No | Won | ||
2 | A Crate Idea | Reward/Immunity | No | Won | |
3 | Sumo in Mud | Reward/Immunity | No | Lost | |
4 | Slip, Slide & Score | Reward | No | Won | |
Roll With It | Immunity | No | Won | ||
5 | Schmergen Brawl | Reward | No | Won | |
Blind Cube Crisis | Immunity | No | Won | ||
6 | Rope-a-Dope1 | Immunity | No | Won | |
Reward | No | Won | |||
7 | Basket Brawl | Reward | No | Lost | |
Caught in the Web | Immunity | No | Lost | ||
Voted Out, Day 18 | |||||
Notes: ^1 The tribes competed in separate individual Immunity Challenges where the winners from both tribes competed against each other for tribal reward.
|
Redemption Island[]
- Main article: Rob Mariano/Redemption Island
Episode | Tribe Affiliation |
Challenge | Challenge Type | Sit-Out? | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Ometepe | Push It Uphill | Reward/Immunity | No | Lost |
2 | Smash, Grab, Smash | Reward/Immunity | No | Lost | |
3 | Spin Cycle | Reward/Immunity | No | Won | |
4 | Toolin' Around | Reward/Immunity | No | Lost | |
5 | Smoko | Reward/Immunity | No | Won | |
6 | Beach Balls | Reward/Immunity | No | Won | |
7 | Crash Course | Reward/Immunity | No | Won | |
Tribes Merged, Day 19 | |||||
8 | Murlonio | Roller Ball | Immunity | Lost | |
9 | Meso Soup | Immunity | Lost | ||
Gang Hang | Immunity | No | Lost | ||
10 | Mayan Pizza | Immunity | Won | ||
11 | Log Jam | Reward/Immunity | Invited1 | ||
Flashback | Immunity | Won | |||
12 | Step on Up | Immunity | Won | ||
13 | Bone to Pick | Reward/Immunity | Lost | ||
14 | A Numbers Game | Immunity | Lost | ||
Meso Maze | Immunity | Won | |||
Sole Survivor, Day 39 | |||||
Notes: ^1 Grant shared his reward with Rob.
|
Episode | Rob's Votes |
Voted Against Rob |
---|---|---|
1 | Francesca | - |
2 | Matt | - |
3 | Ometepe Tribe Immune | |
4 | Phillip | - |
5 | Ometepe Tribe Immune | |
6 | Ometepe Tribe Immune | |
7 | Ometepe Tribe Immune | |
8 | Matt | - |
9 | Mike | - |
David | David, Julie, Ralph, Steve | |
10 | Julie | Individual Immunity |
11 | Ralph | Ralph, Steve |
Steve | Individual Immunity | |
12 | Andrea | Individual Immunity |
13 | Grant | - |
14 | Andrea | |
Ashley | Individual Immunity | |
Jury Votes for Rob |
Andrea, Ashley, David, Grant, Julie, Matt, Mike, Steve | |
Sole Survivor, Day 39 |
Island of the Idols[]
- Main article: Island of the Idols (twist)
Rob returned to Survivor for its 39th season not as a contestant, but as a mentor along with fellow winner Sandra Diaz-Twine to the actual contestants. They lived on the titular Island of the Idols where they tested selected survivors on camp life, game mindset and strategy, after which they will challenge them for a chance to win a game advantage. The mentors lived similarly to the survivors, living with meager rations, though significantly more than the survivors. Rob and Sandra also attended Tribal Council in secret through a tower. They left on Day 37.
Winners at War[]
- Main article: Rob Mariano/Winners at War
Episode | Tribe Affiliation |
Challenge | Challenge Type | Sit-Out? | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Sele | Marooning | Reward/Immunity | No | Lost |
Blue Lagoon Bustle | Immunity | No | Won | ||
2 | Draggin' the Dragon | Reward/Immunity | No | Lost | |
3 | Along the Watch Tower | Reward/Immunity | No | Lost | |
4 | Beyond the Wheel | Reward/Immunity | No | Won | |
Switched Tribes, Day 12 | |||||
5 | Yara | Block in a Hard Place | Immunity | No | Lost |
Voted Out, Day 14 | |||||
8 | Yara | Back in the Saddle | Re-entry | Lost | |
14 | Don't Call It a Comeback | Re-entry | Lost | ||
Eliminated, Day 35 |
Post-Survivor[]
- Rob attended the Survivor: Thailand Reunion Show.
- A week after All-Stars, Rob was nominated on Survivor: America's Tribal Council in the Sexiest Male category, but lost to Colby Donaldson.
- On January 9, 2010, Rob attended Survivor's 10-year anniversary party along with all of his Heroes vs. Villains castmates.[7]
- Rob was inducted into Xfinity's Survivor Hall of Fame in 2010.
- In February 2010, Rob appeared on Late Show with David Letterman as Top Ten List Presenter #6 along with nine of his Heroes vs. Villains castmates.[8]
- In the fall of 2010, Rob appeared in a "Stand Up 2 Cancer" commercial along with Colby Donaldson, Ethan Zohn, Parvati Shallow, and Rupert Boneham.[9]
- Rob was a co-host on The History Channel TV series Around the World in 80 Ways, which first aired on October 1, 2011. Rob, along with professional monster truck driver Dennis Anderson, traveled around the world using 80 various forms of transportation.[10]
- At the Caramoan Reunion Show, Rob announced the release of his book "The Boston Rob Rulebook", containing his strategies for Survivor and his life and presented the first copy to his former Redemption Island tribemate Phillip Sheppard. Rob stated that Phillip's constant reference to him partly inspired him to write the book.
- Rob, along with eight other former castaways competed on a Survivor edition of The Price Is Right primetime special that aired on May 23, 2016.[11] Rob and his partner, Alysse, lost their pricing game and failed to make the Showcase.[12] While spinning the wheel, Rob made a shout-out to Amber and their children.
- Rob appeared in the season finale of Secret Celebrity Renovation.[13]
- Rob will appear as a contestant in the upcoming reality show, Deal or No Deal Island, a spin-off of Deal or No Deal.
Marriage[]
- Rob and Amber were married on April 16, 2005, on Paradise Island, Bahamas.[14] Rob and Amber have four daughters: Lucia Rose (born July 4, 2009[15]), Carina Rose (born December 10, 2010[16]), Isabetta Rose (born May 5, 2012[17]), and Adelina Rose (born June 20, 2014)[18]
- In 2007, Rob and Amber starred on a reality TV show, Rob and Amber: Against the Odds, chronicling their married life and Rob's professional poker career.[19]
- In the summer of 2009, Rob (not a Survivor winner yet) appeared on the TVGuide special "Survivor Millionaires: Where Are They Now?" during Amber's segment.[20]
The Amazing Race[]
- In late 2004, Rob and Amber competed on the seventh season of CBS's The Amazing Race as an engaged couple. The couple won four individual legs but ultimately finished the race in second place.
- Rob and Amber attended the wedding of fellow The Amazing Race team Ray Hosteau and Deana Shane on May 21, 2005.[21]
- In late 2006, Rob and Amber returned as newlyweds in the first Amazing Race: All-Stars. They were eliminated on the fourth leg, finishing in 8th place.
Trivia[]
- Rob is the youngest male member of the original Maraamu tribe.
- Rob's luxury item on Marquesas is an American football.
- Rob, along with Sean and Vecepia are the first castaways to be on a tribe with every member of the cast of their season at one point.
- Rob, Sean, and Vecepia are the only ones to do so in a season with only two pre-merge tribes.
- In Marquesas, Rob was the first castaway to be voted out after switching tribes, and the only person to switch tribes and not make the final five.
- Rob and Shii Ann Huang are the first castaways to return for a second season despite not reaching the jury stage in their original season.
- In both All-Stars and Redemption Island, Rob won the most individual Immunity Challenges in the season, with 4 in both seasons. In All-Stars, Rob was the only person to win individual immunity more than once.
- Rob is the first returning player to compete on four seasons. He is also currently the only five-time returning player in the U.S. version of the show.
- Counting his role in Island of the Idols, Rob is the first contestant to participate in some form in six different seasons of Survivor.
- Rob is the first of three people to win at least one individual Immunity Challenge in three separate seasons. He would be followed by Andrea Boehlke and Jeremy Collins.
- Rob is the first castaway to reach the Final Tribal Council twice, but not do so in back-to-back seasons they participated in.
- Rob is the only losing finalist to win the game on a later season.
- Rob is the first male castaway to win a season as a returning player.
- Rob is the first and only man and the only returning player to win a season with one returning player per tribe.
- Rob lost 30 lbs. during his time on Redemption Island.[22]
- On the first four seasons that Rob competed, the tribe he started out at produced the eventual Sole Survivor.
- Rob holds the record for most individual immunity wins in his Survivor career, winning nine individual Immunity Challenges over his five seasons.
- Rob also holds the record for most tribal Immunity Challenge wins, with 18.
- Winners at War is Rob's only season in which he was a jury member.
- With 152 days accumulated over his Survivor career, Rob has played the most days of all returning players.
- Rob has been a member of 11 tribes, the most of any contestant.
- Rob lost 34 lbs. during his time on Winners at War.[23]
- Both women Rob was attracted to on Survivor were born on August 11.
References[]
Preceded by Nicaragua Fabio Birza |
Sole Survivor Titleholder Redemption Island Rob Mariano |
Succeeded by South Pacific Sophie Clarke |
Survivor: Marquesas Castaways | |||||||||||||||
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Survivor: All-Stars Castaways | |||||||||||||||||
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Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains Castaways | |||||||||||||||||||
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Survivor: Redemption Island Castaways | |||||||||||||||||
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Survivor: Winners at War Castaways | |||||||||||||||||||
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