Exploring 'The White Lotus' Cameos: From 'Survivor' Stars Alec Merlino to Natalie Cole

Survivor alum and The White Lotus creator Mike White likes to compare his experience on the reality show with his HBO hit.

White, who is 53 years old, was a contestant on Survivor: David vs. Goliath in 2018. He ended up being the runner-up to Nick Wilson in a finish that sparked controversy. Three years after his time on Survivor, The White Lotus premiered and quickly became a hit.

White, who was a writer and director before his Survivor days, incorporated his island experiences into The White Lotus.

In an interview with NPR in 2022, White mentioned that Survivor and The White Lotus share similarities, with both showing people complaining about various issues like fire tending and hunger.

White kept his promise of bringing on more castaways from Survivor to join The White Lotus. Fans of the CBS reality series have been delighted by this news.

A Guide to Every ‘Survivor’ Cameo on ‘The White Lotus’

Credit: Getty Images (2)

A Guide to Every ‘Survivor’ Cameo on ‘The White Lotus’: Alec Merlino, Natalie Cole, and more

Survivor alum and The White Lotus creator Mike White enjoys comparing his time on the reality show with the success of his hit HBO series.

White, who was 53 years old, participated in Survivor: David vs. Goliath in 2018. He ended up as the runner-up to Nick Wilson in a controversial finale. The White Lotus, which premiered three years later, became a hit right away.

White, a writer and director before his time on Survivor, used his experience on the island as inspiration for creating The White Lotus.

In a 2022 interview with NPR, White mentioned that Survivor and The White Lotus share similarities. He described both shows as often featuring people complaining about fire duty or feeling irritable from hunger.

White kept his promise and brought on more of his former Survivor castmates to make cameos on The White Lotus. Fans of the CBS reality series have been delighted by this addition.

A Guide to Every ‘Survivor’ Cameo on ‘The White Lotus’ Alec Merlino

Credit: HBO Max

Alec Merlino

Merlino started off in White's original Goliath tribe on Survivor and later became the fourth jury member after being voted out on day 28. In The White Lotus' first season, he appeared in five episodes, portraying a bartender named Hutch.

A Guide to Every ‘Survivor’ Cameo on ‘The White Lotus’ Angelina Keeley

Credit: HBO Max

Angelina Keeley

Keeley placed third on White's season, coming up short in the final vote to Wilson and White. She was part of White's original tribe, but her time at The White Lotus was brief. In the opening scene of season 2, Keeley appeared with Kara Kay as friendly beachgoers. Despite having no prior acting experience, Keeley shared a humorous brunch moment where White surprised them with a guest appearance offer.

"I was a bit flustered and running late," Keeley recounted to Variety. "As I sat down, he casually mentioned, 'I’m putting you two in White Lotus.' I thought it was a joke and suggested getting mimosas and lattes instead. I couldn't believe he would let us amateurs near his set. Mike witnessed some of my most cringe-worthy acting moments on Survivor: from jacketgate to the fake idol."

A Guide to Every ‘Survivor’ Cameo on ‘The White Lotus’ Kara Kay

Credit: HBO Max

Kara Kay

Kay, the final jury member and fourth-place finisher on Survivor: David vs. Goliath, was surprised to learn she and Keeley would have speaking roles on the show.

She remembered thinking, "Maybe we're just in the background, waving and sipping cocktails." But when they received the script, they were surprised to see that they had lines and would be acting.

A Guide to Every ‘Survivor’ Cameo on ‘The White Lotus’ Natalie Cole

Credit: Paramount+

Natalie Cole

Shooting for season 3 of The White Lotus has just begun in early 2024. We are still unsure about Cole's role on the show. Cole, who was the fourth player voted out of White's Survivor season, will be joining the season along with fellow castaway Carl Boudreaux, as reported by Evan Ross Katz.

A Guide to Every ‘Survivor’ Cameo on ‘The White Lotus’ Carl Boudreaux

Credit: Paramount+

Carl Boudreaux

Boudreaux is the only Survivor: David vs. Goliath player from a different tribe on The White Lotus. He was the 10th player voted out and the fifth jury member, spending 10 days with White post-merge. Similar to Cole, his role on The White Lotus is still unknown.

Editor's P/S:

The article highlights the intriguing connection between Mike White's experiences on "Survivor" and his subsequent success with "The White Lotus." It's fascinating to see how the challenges and dynamics of a reality show have influenced the themes and characters of a critically acclaimed drama. White's decision to incorporate elements from his "Survivor" journey into his fictional world adds a layer of authenticity and relatability to the stories told in "The White Lotus."

Furthermore, the article showcases the unique opportunity for "Survivor" alumni to make cameo appearances in White's HBO hit. Fans of both shows have expressed delight in seeing familiar faces from the reality series grace the screens of "The White Lotus." The cameos serve as a testament to the enduring impact of "Survivor" and the camaraderie that develops among its contestants. It's a clever and entertaining way for White to pay homage to his roots while also giving his former fellow castaways a chance to shine in a different creative realm.