Biography
Rupert Fredrick Boneham was born on January 27, 1964, in Detroit, Michigan, USA. He is an actor known for his roles in Survivor (2000), Broken Bones - Shattered Dreams, a Story of Hope (2014), and Underground Entertainment: The Movie (2011).
At the age of three, he relocated to Kokomo, Indiana, where he was raised on James Street. His father, Roger F. Boneham, was a Geology professor at Indiana University. His mother, Georgette Boneham, of Syrian heritage, grew up in foster care, taught Chemistry at Lewis Cass High School in Cass County, Indiana, and later earned a Master's Degree in Social Work. He has one brother named Christopher.
His childhood was challenging. As an overweight, asthmatic, and dyslexic child, he frequently faced bullying and abuse. He graduated from high school in January 1982 and moved to Abilene, Texas, where he delivered pizzas before enrolling in oil-rigging school. After jobs became scarce, he experienced homelessness, living in his car with his pet snakes. He worked as a day laborer before enrolling in nursing school, where he achieved a 3.2 GPA by recording lectures and using the Anatomy Coloring Book.
He returned to Indianapolis and worked in mental health, eventually founding his charity, Rupert's Kids.
Rupert gained fame through his four appearances on CBS's Survivor (2000). He has acted in and produced several short films and the web series Rupert Boneham's Frightmares (2014), which he also hosted. His television credits include UPN's Half & Half (2002) and CBS's Yes, Dear (2000).
In 2012, he ran for governor of Indiana, earning 3.94% of the vote alongside his running mate, Brad Klopfenstein.
He is married to Laura Tyner, and they have one child named Raya.
