Angie Jakusz, best known as a participant in “Survivor”, has passed away after a three-year battle with cancer. She was 40.
She passed away in the New Orleans area on Friday, but the official cause of death has not yet been announced, TMZ reports. A funeral service was held in Metairie, Louisiana on Wednesday afternoon.
A GoFundMe page recently launched in her name revealed that she had been diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma, a rare form of colorectal cancer. As of Thursday morning, the crowdsourcing campaign had raised $ 255 of the $ 30,000 goal.
Born Cassandra Anne Jakusz in Waukesha, Wisconsin, she later spent time in San Francisco and New York before moving permanently to New Orleans, according to her CBS bio. She worked there as an artist – using watercolors and found objects – and bartering in the French Quarter.
Despite her many colorful tattoos, Jakusz’s fellow “Survivor” castaways nicknamed her “No Fun Angie” when she appeared in the 2005 season of the CBS reality TV pioneer, set in Palau. She participated in the Ulong Tribe.
Jakusz, who also co-starred in the raunchy 1998 indie film “Lucinda’s Spell,” actually wrote a bit of reality TV history on “Survivor,” The Sun reported. She was voted out on Day 12 – making her the first contestant to lose during the revote phase in the tribal council.
Despite her young age – she was only 25 when she did the show – Jakusz quickly became a favorite of her fellow tribesmen and audience.
“People should remember in 2005 – women weren’t cast on ‘Survivor’ with dreads and tattoos,” fellow “Palau” contestant Coby Archa, 48, told People. She broke the throwing barrier. Fans had so much to do with her story. And many people wanted to see her play for her strength again. “
She put in solid performances in several team challenges, but finished in 13th place when she got the shoe. Diehard fans later saw her at the show’s 10th anniversary celebration that aired in 2010.
“We had heard from her family three years ago that she was fighting cancer,” Archa told the outlet. ‘We raised some money for her treatments. She didn’t like the fame, just the experience of “Survivor.” She came, she played, and she returned to her life in New Orleans. She loved her life that way. “
Jakusz is survived by her husband of nine years, Steven Calandra, and her parents, as well as brother, niece and nephew.
