I was watching the Survivor Season 49 premiere the other day, and at the end this beautiful onscreen dedication caught me off guard: “In loving memory of Vince Costello.” Who is Vince Costello from Survivor, I wondered — and I dug in. Let me tell you his story.
Who Was Vince Costello?
Vince Costello was not a castaway or contestant — he was part of the essential crew behind the scenes. He served as a Locations Manager for Survivor, especially during its long-running tenure in Fiji.
He first began with Survivor around 2015–2016 when the show shifted much of its production to Fiji. Over the years, he became deeply embedded in the fabric of the show’s operations.
What Did He Do? The Role of a Locations Manager
As a locations manager, Vince was responsible for:
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Scouting and selecting filming sites (for camps, challenges, Tribal Council)
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Negotiating logistics with local authorities and landowners
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Ensuring safety, accessibility, and infrastructure (roads, power, transport)
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Coordinating with multiple departments (camera crew, challenge designers, producers)
His local knowledge of Fiji was an asset. He was originally from Fiji, and his understanding of the land, climate, and culture made him valuable in bridging the show’s technical needs with respect to local context.
Before Survivor, Vince had worked across about 50 different productions, which gave him broad experience in managing location challenges in remote settings.
Interesting Facts About Vince Costello
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His work became a family affair: three of his children (including daughter Aline and son Patrick) later joined Survivor’s production in various roles.
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He was honored posthumously by Survivor with a tribute card at the end of the Season 49 premiere: “In loving memory of Vince Costello, forever in our hearts.”
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Vince passed away at age 61 after being diagnosed with late-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer).
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Because of his illness, he and his family relocated from Fiji to Australia to access medical care.
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A fundraising campaign was set up by Survivor’s executive producer to help support his medical bills and family expenses.
Why the Tribute Matters
To new and longtime Survivor fans alike, Vince Costello may not have been a name in the spotlight. But his contributions were foundational: every challenge, every Tribal Council, every rugged camp had to be built on real terrain—and that terrain was often selected and managed by him.
His passing deeply affected the Survivor community, prompting reflection on how much of the “magic” of reality TV is made possible by dedicated crews working behind the scenes.
I’m sorry to hear about Vince Costello’s passing. His story reminds me that so often the people behind the curtain are as vital as those in front of it. I watched Survivor with fresh eyes the next episode, thinking about the unseen hands crafting those challenges.
To wrap up: Vince Costello from Survivor was a locations manager who played a vital role in setting up the show’s physical world in Fiji. He worked across many productions, made his work a family affair, faced cancer bravely, and was honored by Survivor with a tribute at Season 49. His legacy lives on in every beautiful, rugged vista we see on the show.
Did you ever notice those sweeping landscapes in Survivor and wonder who finds them? Or do you have a favorite behind-the-scenes story from a show? I’d love to hear your thoughts below.