Amber Siyavus, who competed on Season 8 of CBS's Big Brother, has died at age 46. The Clark County Office of the Coroner/Medical Examiner in Nevada confirmed her death to Entertainment Weekly, with officials listing the cause as pending. She died Friday, October 9, and news of her passing became public Monday, October 12.
Big Brother host Julie Chen Moonves honored Siyavus by sharing footage of her post-eviction interview, accompanying the clip with a message rooted in her Christian faith. "Thank you for your heart and honesty. We will remember you with love," Moonves wrote, also expressing her belief that Siyavus was reunited with her Creator.
Siyavus entered the Big Brother house in 2007 as a cocktail waitress from Las Vegas. She became part of the Late Night Crew alliance and developed particularly close relationships with fellow contestants Jameka Cameron and Dustin Erikstrup, friendships that helped shape her time on the show.
Her emotional approach to the competition made her a memorable presence during the eighth season. Siyavus finished in seventh place and reached the jury despite never winning a Head of Household or Power of Veto competition, ultimately participating in the vote that crowned Dick "Evel Dick" Donato the winner.
The news follows an earlier tragedy in Siyavus's family: her 18-year-old daughter, Lexi Tomcavage, died in 2018 in what was investigated as an apparent suicide. During her appearance on Big Brother, Siyavus frequently spoke about missing her daughter and her experiences as a single mother.
Both the cause and manner of Siyavus's death remain pending, according to records obtained by PEOPLE. No confirmed explanation for her death has been released.
