Jeff Probst mourns brother's passing: 'So sad he is gone'
Jeff Probst, the iconic host of "Survivor," has faced a profound personal loss as one of his brothers, Scott, passed away. Brent, another brother, shared the heartbreaking news on Instagram, stating, “Some sad news, our brother Scott is no longer with us.” He went on to express his deep grief, saying, “He was a great brother, son and friend. I will miss him so much. I’m so sad he is gone.” While the cause of death has not been disclosed, the family is undoubtedly reeling from the loss.
The news comes at a time when the Probst family continues to be intertwined with the "Survivor" franchise. Scott had previously worked on the show, contributing to various departments such as art, property, camera, and electrical between 2006 and 2012. His career also extended into the video game industry, where he served as a production coordinator for "Medal of Honor: Rising Sun" in 2003 and as a producer for "Medal of Honor: European Assault" in 2005 and "Command & Conquer 4: Tiberian Twilight" in 2010.
This isn’t the first time the Probst name has appeared on "Survivor." Brent’s daughter, Abigail, joined the "Dream Team" — the group of crew members who test challenges and assist behind the scenes — in 2024 and is set to return for the show's landmark 50th season. Jeff has spoken highly of her abilities, noting, “She kicks ass.” He added, “She came in with a last name that put a little bit of a spotlight on her, but she got the job on her own. She got asked back on her own.”
Although Jeff rarely discusses his family publicly, he has shared insights about how his upbringing influenced his career. Growing up in Wichita, Kansas, before moving to Washington state at age 15, he credits those early years with shaping his values. “I’ve lived in Seattle, New York and Los Angeles and traveled all over the world with 'Survivor,' but there is nowhere else I would have rather grown up than Wichita, Kansas,” he told the Topeka Capital-Journal in 2016. “I had great friendships. I made great memories, and I was raised with strong values. I choose to believe those early years gave me the foundation I would later need to withstand the challenges of Hollywood.”
In 2024, "Survivor" honored Jeff’s mother, Barbara, in a touching tribute. An on-screen message read, “Dedicated to Barb, the biggest 'Survivor' fan of all time. See you on our next adventure.” Brent shared details about her final years, revealing that she had full-time care for dementia and passed away just a week before her 86th birthday. He described her as “the best mom, grandma and just a fantastic person full of love and life.” He concluded, “She had a great life and I am certain that I am a good person because she and my dad raised me with love and humor. I will miss her every single day for the rest of my life.”
