he penned successes like “School of Rock” and “Chuck & Buck.”
But some of White’s most memorable work yet was perhaps when he became the red wine-touting contestant on “Survivor” who, of all things, wished he had brought an eye-mask to the island.
During White’s time on the island, he infamously called a tree a “b—-” after walking into it and gave many notable reactions to the events of Season 37, “Survivor: David vs. Goliath.” White came in second during the 2018 season, receiving three votes at the final tribal council. Nick Wilson won with seven votes.
Although he didn’t bring home the $1 million prize, he seems to have made some lasting friendships as he’s now featured some of his fellow castaways in episodes of “The White Lotus” over the show’s three seasons.
So, who has made it from the desolate island setting of “Survivor” to the much nicer digs of “The White Lotus” so far?
Season 1
Alec Merlino
Merlino played Hutch on Season One of “The White Lotus.” Instead of a simple cameo, Merlino’s Hutch made appearances in five of the season’s six episodes.
Hutch is a waiter and bartender at the White Lotus Resort & Spa Maui, where Season One took place. He’s also the only “Survivor” cameo to get a character name.
Hutch first appears in Season One, Episode Two, returning a lost bag to Armond (Murray Bartlett).
Hutch is seen in four other episodes bartending for different characters.
On “Survivor,” Merlino and White were put into the same tribe, named Goliath, a reference to the biblical story. The season’s premise saw the David tribe, made up of some of life’s underdogs, face off against a group of overachieving “Goliaths.”
Merlino made it to Day 28 before losing an endurance challenge and being voted out to become the fourth member of the jury. In the final episode, Merlino was one of the seven jury members that voted for Wilson to win.
Season 2
Angelina Keeley
Two of “The White Lotus.” Her character appears lounging on the beach in two episodes during the second season.
The first shot of Season Two zooms in on her chatting with fellow “Survivor” tribe mate Kara Kay, as Daphne (Meghann Fahy) interrupts their conversation to join in.
Keeley’s character then asks Daphne, “So, did you have a good time?”
As Daphne goes on about the hotel’s amenities, Keeley tells her they are “so excited” for their stay. She then wishes Daphne “safe travels” as the strangers part ways.
a body.
Keeley finished just behind White in third place on “Survivor,” though she didn’t receive any votes to win. Like Merlino and White, she was originally a Goliath tribe member.
What she is perhaps best remembered for is plotting to get out tribe mate Natalie Cole, in part to try and acquire Cole’s jacket.
“Natalie, is there any way I could have your jacket?” Keeley asked after Cole was eliminated. “Natalie? Natalie?”
receive the jacket.
jokingly references her two stints on TV: “Too many lines on (“Survivor”) + two lines on (“The White Lotus”).”
Kara Kay
In “The White Lotus,” Kara Kay joins Keeley on the Italian coast to portray another wealthy beachgoer. The two lounge in bathing suits in the opening scene, chatting with Daphne about the resort.
Kay has a few lines as well, telling Daphne that they “just flew in this morning” and agreeing with her that she heard the food was amazing.
Kay was also seen in the finale waving goodbye to Daphne, before Daphne discovers the body.
In “Survivor,” Kay was yet another Goliath tribe member — alongside White, Merlino and Keeley. However, White was the reason Kay was eliminated.
After Kay lost a fire-making challenge to White, which determined the final three, she was sent to the jury, sealing her fourth place finish. Kay was one of three people to vote for White to win “Survivor.”
Season 3
Natalie Cole
Natalie Cole appears in the first episode of Season Three of “The White Lotus.” In one scene, she’s seated at the hotel’s restaurant for dinner alongside fellow “Survivor” alum Carl Boudreaux.
notices Cole and Boudreaux walking and waves to Cole, who smiles back once seated. Later on, Belinda recalls the moment while on the phone with her son, excitedly telling him she “saw two Black people tonight, and they weren’t staff!”
On “Survivor,” Cole was a member of the Goliath tribe who was eliminated before the merge, and White cast the deciding vote to send her off.
Carl Boudreaux
In Season Three, Episode One, Carl Boudreaux has dinner with Cole, pulling out her chair for her before sitting across from her.
When Belinda waves to Cole, he turns his head to acknowledge her as well.
Boudreaux is the first David tribe member to make it onto “The White Lotus” screen. In “Survivor,” White cast the final vote to eliminate Boudreaux on Day 30 and made him the fifth jury member. Boudreaux voted for Wilson to win the season.
