Mark Caruso

Mark Anthony "Papa Bear" Caruso was a contestant on Survivor: South Pacific

Profile
Retrieved from CBS.com Name (Age):  Mark Caruso (48) Tribe designation: Savaii Current residence: Forest Hills, New York Occupation: Retired NYPD Detective Personal claim to fame: I was a NYCPD Morgue Detective for 20 years and I retired with honors from the mayor and police commissioner Inspiration in life: My deceased Aunt Mary, who brought us to her home, raised us and gave us a great life. Hobbies: Gym and all that goes with it, spending as much time in the sun as I can and meeting new people/making new friends. Pet peeves: Know-it-alls and people with “I am better than you” attitudes. 3 words to describe you: Silly, flirty and sensitive. Survivor contestant you are most like: Funny, sarcastic and lovable. Reason for being on Survivor: I want to experience being stripped of life's luxuries that we all take for granted and survive with the bare essentials. Why you think you’ll “survive”Survivor: I am attentive and caring and have listening skills that can be supportive to my team and others. I love to work hard and have proven throughout my life that I will be a leader. Why you think you will be the sole SURVIVOR: People tend to like me because I am an honest person even though I am sarcastic and an “in your face” man. I am considered a real person heart, mind and soul.

Survivor: South Pacific
When the Savaii tribe bonded at the beach on day one, Mark openly revealed that he is gay, but stressed that they should not overlook this fact and just focus on surviving. Furthermore, he also insisted to be called as "Papa Bear."

Papa Bear, along with Dawn Meehan was in a precarious situation, being the eldest members of the tribe, they were outsiders from the majority, who are younger. With this, he warned Dawn, who was struggling to assimilate to the harsh realities of the game, to toughen up, or it will be her undoing.

When Savaii lost the inaugural Immunity Challenge, Papa Bear and Dawn were in particular trouble, but were spared when the whole tribe decided to eliminate who performed the weakest at the challenge, Semhar Tadesse. After Tadesse's elimination, Papa Bear, Dawn and John Cochran were again in line for elimination for being alliance outsiders, but were spared when Savaii won its first Immunity Challenge on day five. At the third Immunity Challenge on day eight, which required intense winching, Savaii, especially Papa Bear struggled to pull the winch with rhythm, narrowly losing the to rival Upolu tribe. Returning back at camp, Papa Bear's dismal performance and Cochran's weak physique was considered by the majority alliance. However, Ozzy already confirmed to Cochran that Papa Bear is going next. Weary of his standing, Papa Bear directly asked the majority who are they voting for, in which Jim answered Cochran. Seeing through their lie, his only chance was finding the Hdden Immunity Idol, which unknown to many, Ozzy had already found. Elyse caught Papa Bear unusually sprinting in the woods, an information she relayed to her alliance partners. With Tribal Council just minutes away, Papa Bear fashioned a fake Immunity Idol, hoping to avoid getting voted out.

At Tribal Council, seeing though Papa Bear's bluff, Ozzy's alliance swung the vote to Papa Bear's direction, sending him to Redemption Island after a 6-1-1 vote. On day nine, Papa Bear was ultimately eliminated from the game after narrowly losing the duel against Christine Shields Markoski.

Trivia

 * Mark was the only male contestant of Survivor: South Pacific to not make the merge.
 * In an interview, Papa Bear revealed that he actually found the hidden clue to the Hidden Immunity Idol, a scene that was not seen, nor explored in the actual episode.