Jerry competed on Big Brother 10 after retiring from the Marine Corps and a career as a marketing executive. Despite being nominated five times, he made it all the way to third place, winning two Power of Veto competitions and two Head of Household challenges along the way. He ultimately lost to Memphis Garrett and Dan Gheesling, who went on to win the season’s $500,000 grand prize.
Beyond the competition, however, the season gave Jerry and Dan a friendship that has lasted for years. Jerry even attended Dan’s wedding in 2011, and the two have continued to keep in touch long after their time inside the Big Brother house.
On August 13, a fan on X asked Dan for an update on Jerry, who is now 93. Dan responded with an unexpectedly energetic report.
“Talked to him 2 days ago. He was painting a deck and said he was lifting 125lb bags earlier in the day,” Dan shared.
The update quickly prompted an enthusiastic reaction from Big Brother fans, many of whom praised Jerry’s remarkable strength and vitality. Comments ranged from calling him “a legend” to simply describing him as “a beast.”
This is not the first time Dan has shared an update about his longtime friend. In May 2025, he posted a photo from a FaceTime call with Jerry and revealed that the then-92-year-old was doing well after recently retiring. Dan also joked that Jerry had shown off his muscles during their conversation.
In another update, Dan celebrated Jerry’s 93rd birthday, writing that the former houseguest was “still doing well.”
Jerry made Big Brother history during Season 10 and remains the oldest reality TV contestant ever, according to his Instagram bio. His record also remains far ahead of the show’s other older contestants. Felicia Cannon, who appeared on Season 25, was 63 during her time on the show, while Jack Owens Jr. and LaTrice Verrett competed at 58.
More than a decade after his Big Brother appearance, Jerry’s latest update has reminded fans why he remains such a memorable figure in the franchise. At 93, he is apparently still keeping busy, staying active and giving everyone plenty of reasons to believe that Jerry MacDonald has no intention of slowing down.
Source: https://www.tvinsider.com/
