Brian Heidik

Brian Heidik
Contestant Profile
Born	March 9, 1968 (1968-03-09)
Hometown	Quartz Hill, California
Occupation	Used Car Salesman
Survivor Career
Version	United States
Tribe(s)	Chuay Gahn Chuay Jai
Finish	Winner
Alliance(s)	Chuay Gahn Five
Challenge Wins	11
Votes Against	0
Days Lasted	39

Brian Heidik is the Sole Survivor of Survivor: Thailand.

He was known for his commanding leadership of Chuay Gahn, disdain for creating true relationships with any of his tribe members, considering the game a "business trip" and inventing the "goat strategy". His strong gameplay combined with his opponent Clay Jordan's unpopularity with the jury won him the title of sole Survivor.

Profile

Retrieved from CBS.com

Brian Heidik was born in Burtonsville, Maryland, and attended Paint Branch High School, where he played football and ultimately became an All-State quarterback. Upon graduating, he was recruited by North Carolina State. While in college, he studied finance until a knee injury during his sophomore year ended his football career. Brian then moved to New York City and lived there for three years before moving to California.

Brian is currently employed as a top used car salesman in Southern California. He previously worked as a stockbroker, motorcycle salesman, writer and actor. He also starred in a few soft-core porn movies with his  wife CC. His varying acting credits include a series regular role on "Days of Our Lives," playing the character of Tim Rollins, along with guest-starring roles in "Baywatch Nights" and "Doogie Howser, M.D." He enjoys dirt bike riding, playing guitar and hunting. He is most proud of being a father. Brian describes his perfect day as riding a dirt bike in the woods with his son while chasing deer.

Brian currently lives in Quartz Hill, California with his wife, CC, and their son, Logan. He is a member of the National Association of Homeowners and The Chamber of Commerce. His birth date is March 9, 1968.

Survivor

As part of the Chuay Gahn tribe, Brian considered his experience a "business trip" and wasn't immediately targeted due to his physical strength and his ability to provide food for the tribe. Early on in the game, he was considered a trustworthy individual, despite his used car salesman occupation being known by all. However, his status as trustworthy would soon change dramatically. When Brian's tribe lost the first and second Immunity Challenges, he joined the majority to vote out John Raymond and Tanya Vance. After the Grindgate incident between Ted Rogers, Jr. and Ghandia Johnson, Brian was worried that the rift between the two would divide the tribe. So he enlisted the help of Helen Glover to side with himself, Ted and Clay Jordan to vote out Ghandia, which they did successfully in Episode 4. By doing so, he created a Final 2 alliance with Helen, despite already having one with Ted. Chuay Gahn then enjoyed two immunity wins.

When there were only 10 Survivors left, the two tribes began living on the same beach, believing they had merged into one tribe. However, this was not the case. Chuay Gahn continued their winning streak for two more episodes, dwindling the former Sook Jai members to only 3. When the tribes finally merged with 8 contestants remaining, Brian was a strong force in keeping the Chuay Gahn alliance strong and ousting the remaining former Sook Jai members at back-to-back Tribal Councils. They were very successful, voting out Ken Stafford, Penny Ramsey, and Jake Billingsley respectively. At this point Brian had three Final 2 alliances, each with Helen, Ted, and Clay.

At the Final 5, the remaining contestants (all members of Chuay Gahn) were forced to turn on each other. Helen and Ted had a plan to pull over Jan Gentry and vote out Clay, whom they believed did not deserve a spot in the Final 2. When Brian heard the two had been talking, he wrongly believed this was against himself, with neither Helen or Ted having this idea in mind. After winning individual immunity, Brian, together with Jan, Helen, and Clay, voted out Ted despite their Final 2 alliance. At the Final 4, Brian enjoyed another immunity win and informed Helen that Jan would be voted out. However, he went with Clay and used Jan to vote out Helen, believing she had conspired against him and she was unbeatable in the Final 2.

On Day 38, Brian felt comfortable with his game and immunity wins, despite backstabbing two of his former tribemates. He managed to win the final immunity, and chose to vote out Jan, taking Clay into the Final 2. Jan was the only former Chuay Gahn Final 5 member Brian did not have a Final 2 alliance with. Believing Clay was more hated, Brian thought he had made the right decision. However, Brian faced a tough jury and in particular a very angry Helen.

In the end, Brian Heidik beat out Clay Jordan in a 4-3 vote to become the fifth Sole Survivor. He managed to gain the votes of Jake, Ted, Helen, and Jan. Brian was benefited by a usual occurrence on Survivor when two of Brian's votes came from a vote against Clay, particularly Helen and Ted whom Brian himself betrayed in the game, but still voted for him over Clay. Ted mentioned that he was voting for Brian, because he was "the lesser of two evils".

Voting History

Brian's Voting History
Episode	Brian's Votes	Voted Against Brian
1	John	-
2	Tanya	-
3	Chuay Gahn Tribe Immune
4	Ghandia	-
5	Chuay Gahn Tribe Immune
6	Chuay Gahn Tribe Immune
7	Chuay Gahn Tribe Immune
8	Chuay Gahn Tribe Immune
9	Ken	-
10	Penny	-
12	Jake	-
13	Ted	Individual Immunity
14	Helen	Individual Immunity
	Jan	Individual Immunity
Jury Votes for Brian	Helen, Jake, Jan, Ted
Sole Survivor, Day 39

Post-Survivor

• In 2003, Brian was one of several castaways who appeared on MTV's Men vs. Women: Rumble in the Jungle, a preview show for Survivor: The Amazon and offered his commentary in the debate of which gender was stronger.
• From February 17–21, 2003, Brian appeared on the game show Hollywood Squares as a panelist for the entire week.
• During the airing of Survivor: All-Stars, Brian appeared on The Early Show along with the most recent winner at the time from Survivor: Pearl Islands, Sandra Diaz-Twine. He said that Rob Mariano and Amber Brkich wouldn't go far in the game, while Sandra said they would.
• Brian was nominated in Survivor: America's Tribal Council in the "Best Villain" category, but lost to Jon Dalton.
• In 2006, Brian was arrested and charged with battery and cruelty to animals after he shot a puppy with a bow and arrow.
• In Summer of 2009, Brian, along with the other first eighteen Survivor winners, appeared on a TV Guide special "Survivor Millionaires: Where Are They Now?"

Trivia

• Brian's luxury item was a guitar.
• Heidik is the only castaway to never receive a elimination vote against him in Survivor: Thailand.
  • Heidik is the third winner not to get any votes against him at Tribal Council. The first two are Tina Wesson and Ethan Zohn.
• Brian is the first person to win the Final Immunity Challenge and then become Sole Survivor.
• Brian was the first male to win multiple individual Immunity Challenges and become the Sole Survivor.
• Brian was the first person to win the most individual Immunity Challenges of their season and become the Sole Survivor, although Vecepia Towery tied for most individual immunity wins in her season with two.
• Brian was the first male to win against a male finalist at Final Tribal Council.
• Heidik was called back for Survivor: All-Stars, but he said he would not come back unless he was paid a certain sum of money no matter what place he would finish.
• Heidik was a former actor in soft-core adult movies, starring in Sinful Obsession (1999) and The Virgins of Sherwood Forest (2000).
• Heidik was considered for Heroes vs. Villains, but the producers were too "repulsed" by him to bring him back.
• Heidik is the only Thailand castaway to not attend the Survivor 10-year anniversary party.
• Heidik appeared in a couple commercials for the Crispy Crunch candy bar in the early 1990's.

References

Preceded by Marquesas File:S4 vecepia t.jpg Vecepia Towery

Sole Survivor Titleholder Thailand File:S5 brian t.jpg Brian Heidik

Succeeded by The Amazon File:S6 jenna t.jpg Jenna Morasca

Survivor: Thailand Castaways
Brian Chuay Gahn	Clay Chuay Gahn	Erin Sook Jai	Ghandia Chuay Gahn	Helen Chuay Gahn	Jake Sook Jai	Jan Chuay Gahn	Jed Sook Jai
John Chuay Gahn	Ken Sook Jai	Penny Sook Jai	Robb Sook Jai	Shii Ann Sook Jai	Stephanie Sook Jai	Tanya Chuay Gahn	Ted Chuay Gahn