Rudy Boesch
Encyclopedia
Rudy Boesch is a former Navy SEAL. After his honorable discharge, he was the oldest competitor on Survivor: Borneo
at 72 years of age, where he finished in third place. He set the record again when he competed on Survivor: All-Stars
at 75. He currently lives in Virginia Beach
.
. Boesch earned the Bronze Star
for heroic action during more than 45 combat operations. In 1967, Boesch was promoted to the rank of Master Chief Petty Officer
. During and after his service in Vietnam, Boesch was designated the "Chief SEAL" (a.k.a "Bullfrog"), and set physical and operational standards at SEAL Team TWO. Boesch was awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal
as Command Master Chief Petty Officer
of the United States Special Operations Command
(USSOCOM). Boesch was honorably discharged from the Navy on August 1, 1990.
, but was eliminated from the final immunity
challenge of the season when he inadvertently dropped his hand from the idol the competitors had to keep their hands on; he was subsequently voted out of the game by Kelly Wiglesworth
. In 2004, he appeared in Survivor: All-Stars
. At age 75, Boesch was the oldest contestant ever. He was the second person voted off the show, due to a lack of strength and an injured ankle.
TV episode "The Princess and the Petty Officer" as Rear Admiral
(and then head of JAG) A.J. Chegwidden's Navy SEAL instructor. Boesch hosted Combat Missions, a Mark Burnett
-produced reality series that aired on the USA Network
in 2002. Boesch wrote a book, The Book of Rudy (ISBN 1-58062-613-0), which contains his opinions on an array of topics. He is also featured in a Survivor
slot machine, which shows a clip of him from the show if you hit his bonus.
showed an "In Memory" dedication for her on the episode "The Brains Behind Everything".
Survivor: Borneo
Survivor: Borneo is the first season of the United States reality show Survivor. It was originally broadcast under the name Survivor but its official title was changed to Survivor: Pulau Tiga to distinguish it from subsequent installments of the series, and then changed again to Survivor: Borneo to...
at 72 years of age, where he finished in third place. He set the record again when he competed on Survivor: All-Stars
Survivor: All-Stars
Survivor: All-Stars is the eighth season of the United States reality show Survivor. It was filmed in 2003 and debuted in the United States on CBS on February 1, 2004 after Super Bowl XXXVIII. It was set on the Pearl Islands of Panama, where the previous Survivor: Pearl Islands had just finished...
at 75. He currently lives in Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Virginia Beach is an independent city located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, on the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay...
.
Military experience
Boesch served in the U.S. military as a Navy SEAL team leader, completing over 45 years continuous active duty. From 1968–1970, Boesch completed two combat deployments to VietnamVietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. Boesch earned the Bronze Star
Bronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
for heroic action during more than 45 combat operations. In 1967, Boesch was promoted to the rank of Master Chief Petty Officer
Master Chief Petty Officer
- Master Chief Petty Officer :U.S. Coast GuardMaster ChiefPetty OfficerCap & Collar deviceU.S. Coast GuardMaster ChiefPetty OfficerinsigniaGood conductRating badgeMaster ChiefPetty OfficerCap & Collar Insignia...
. During and after his service in Vietnam, Boesch was designated the "Chief SEAL" (a.k.a "Bullfrog"), and set physical and operational standards at SEAL Team TWO. Boesch was awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal
The Defense Superior Service Medal is a senior United States military decoration of the Department of Defense, awarded to members of the United States armed forces who perform "superior meritorious service in a position of significant responsibility."...
as Command Master Chief Petty Officer
Command Master Chief Petty Officer
-Background:First referenced in OPNAVINST 1306.2C dated 16 October 1995, the Navy's Command Master Chief Program is a valuable asset which stimulates free-flowing communications and ensures the highest standards of professionalism are upheld at all levels within the chain of command...
of the United States Special Operations Command
United States Special Operations Command
The United States Special Operations Command is the Unified Combatant Command charged with overseeing the various Special Operations Commands of the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps of the United States Armed Forces. The command is part of the Department of Defense...
(USSOCOM). Boesch was honorably discharged from the Navy on August 1, 1990.
Survivor
Boesch was one of the final three players in Survivor: BorneoSurvivor: Borneo
Survivor: Borneo is the first season of the United States reality show Survivor. It was originally broadcast under the name Survivor but its official title was changed to Survivor: Pulau Tiga to distinguish it from subsequent installments of the series, and then changed again to Survivor: Borneo to...
, but was eliminated from the final immunity
Immunity (reality television)
Immunity in reality television is a concept that is widely used in weekly elimination-type reality television shows by which a contestant participating in such a show may not be "kicked off" or eliminated from competition in a particular time period...
challenge of the season when he inadvertently dropped his hand from the idol the competitors had to keep their hands on; he was subsequently voted out of the game by Kelly Wiglesworth
Kelly Wiglesworth
Kelly Wiglesworth is the runner-up on the original American version of the CBS reality series Survivor.-Survivor:...
. In 2004, he appeared in Survivor: All-Stars
Survivor: All-Stars
Survivor: All-Stars is the eighth season of the United States reality show Survivor. It was filmed in 2003 and debuted in the United States on CBS on February 1, 2004 after Super Bowl XXXVIII. It was set on the Pearl Islands of Panama, where the previous Survivor: Pearl Islands had just finished...
. At age 75, Boesch was the oldest contestant ever. He was the second person voted off the show, due to a lack of strength and an injured ankle.
After Survivor
In 2000, he appeared in the JAGJAG (TV series)
JAG is an American adventure/legal drama television show that was produced by Belisarius Productions, in association with Paramount Network Television and, for the first season only, NBC Productions...
TV episode "The Princess and the Petty Officer" as Rear Admiral
Rear admiral (United States)
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. The uniformed services of the United States are unique in having two grades of rear admirals.- Rear admiral :...
(and then head of JAG) A.J. Chegwidden's Navy SEAL instructor. Boesch hosted Combat Missions, a Mark Burnett
Mark Burnett
Mark Burnett is a British television producer and executive producer, based in the United States. He currently is the executive producer of five network television series with seven hours of network programming. Works with which Burnett is associated have won multiple awards and recognition...
-produced reality series that aired on the USA Network
USA Network
USA Network is an American cable television channel launched in 1971. Once a minor player in basic cable, the network has steadily gained popularity because of breakout hits like Monk, Psych, Burn Notice, Royal Pains, Covert Affairs, White Collar, Monday Night RAW, Suits, and reruns of the various...
in 2002. Boesch wrote a book, The Book of Rudy (ISBN 1-58062-613-0), which contains his opinions on an array of topics. He is also featured in a Survivor
Survivor (U.S. TV series)
Survivor is an American version of the Survivor reality television game show, itself derived from the Swedish television series Expedition Robinson originally created in 1997 by Charlie Parsons. The series premiered on May 31, 2000 on CBS...
slot machine, which shows a clip of him from the show if you hit his bonus.
Personal life
Boesch's wife of 53 years, Marge, died on November 1, 2008 after a long illness. Survivor: GabonSurvivor: Gabon
Survivor: Gabon — Earth's Last Eden is the seventeenth season of the American CBS competitive reality television series Survivor. The premiere aired September 25, 2008, with the first two episodes screened back-to-back....
showed an "In Memory" dedication for her on the episode "The Brains Behind Everything".