Salesman-actor Brian Heidik wins `Survivor: Thailand

NEW YORK (AP) _ Brian Heidik has cashed in as the latest ``Survivor'' millionaire. <br><br>Heidik, a 34-year-old used car salesman and part-time actor from Quartz Hill, Calif., was declared winner

Friday, December 20th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

NEW YORK (AP) _ Brian Heidik has cashed in as the latest ``Survivor'' millionaire.

Heidik, a 34-year-old used car salesman and part-time actor from Quartz Hill, Calif., was declared winner over Clay Jordan, a 46-year-old restaurateur from Monroe, La., when the ballots were tallied live at Thursday's conclusion of ``Survivor: Thailand.'' It was the fifth edition of CBS' hit adventure game show.

For outlasting 15 rivals in the competition, which was taped last summer on an island off the coast of southern Thailand, Heidik takes home the $1 million prize as ``sole survivor.''

The evening began with four finalists, but Navy swim instructor Helen Glover and teacher Jan Gentry were eliminated before the final tribal jury. The 4-3 vote for Heidik was made by a jury of seven former ``Survivor: Thailand'' castaways.

Heidik, a used car salesman whose actor credits include appearances on shows such as ``Baywatch Nights,'' ``Doogie Howser, M.D.'' and the soap opera ``Days of Our Lives,'' was also exposed as a former soft-core porn star by the Web site TheSmokingGun.com.

In its first dozen airings, ``Survivor'' was tied for seventh place in households with ``CSI: Miami,'' according to Nielsen Media Research.