Amber Siyavus, 'Big Brother' Season 8 Contestant, Dies at 46
The reality television personality was found dead in her Las Vegas home; cause and manner of death are pending.
Amber Siyavus, a contestant on the eighth season of CBS's "Big Brother," has died at the age of 46. Her death was confirmed to Entertainment Weekly and People by the Clark County Office of the Coroner/Medical Examiner in Nevada. Siyavus was found dead Friday at her home in Las Vegas.
The cause and manner of her death are currently pending.
"Big Brother" host Julie Chen paid tribute to Siyavus on Instagram, writing, "Rest in Peace Amber. Hard to believe but I know you are back in our eternal home with our Creator. Thank you for your heart and honesty. We will remember you with love."
Dick “Evel Dick” Donato, the winner of "Big Brother" Season 8, also shared his condolences. "This is a shame... The last time I had contact to Amber she was just out of rehab for heroin. I contacted her on FB to give her some encouraging words about staying clean," he wrote on X. "I hadn’t spoken to her since just after the show. RIP Amber your battle is over."
Siyavus, a native of Nevada, was working as a cocktail waitress and was a single mother when she appeared on "Big Brother" in 2007. She finished the season in seventh place, ultimately losing to Donato.
"It was definitely a tough experience and I learned a lot about life, people, and myself…everything, and a lot of stuff I can take appreciation from," Siyavus said in a 2007 interview with Buddy TV. She also spoke about applying for the show, stating, "I saw on TV a casting call down in Nevada, and I went down there and gave my two-minute video message and hoped for the best and being picked as a contestant."
In 2018, Siyavus lost her 18-year-old daughter, Lexi Tomcavage, who died by suicide.