From a luxury resort’s bartender to guests dining on the beach, several familiar faces for reality TV fans have appeared in The White Lotus. These cameos are not random. They are the work of series creator Mike White, who is a devoted fan and former contestant of the CBS show Survivor. White has quietly invited his former tribe mates to join the world of his award-winning HBO series.
The trend began in the first season and has continued with each new installment, creating a fun connection for viewers who watch both shows. This insider casting adds a personal touch from White and gives these reality stars a chance to appear in one of television’s most popular series.
Mike White’s ‘Survivor’ Journey and the Link to His Show
To understand these cameos, you need to know about Mike White’s own reality TV past. Long before he created The White Lotus, White was a contestant on Season 37 of Survivor, titled “David vs. Goliath.” He competed in 2018.
White was placed on the “Goliath” tribe, a team meant to represent overachievers in life. He proved to be a skilled player, forming strong alliances and making strategic moves. His journey lasted the full 39 days, and he made it to the final Tribal Council. In the end, he received three jury votes but lost to winner Nick Wilson, who got seven votes. White finished as the runner-up.
His experience on the island was more than just a game. He formed real friendships and bonds with other contestants. Years later, when he gained the power as the creator of a major HBO show, he used it to offer small roles to these friends. For fans, spotting these Survivor alumni has become a special bonus when watching The White Lotus.
Season 1: Alec Merlino Becomes Bartender Hutch
The first and most prominent Survivor cameo came in the show’s initial season set in Hawaii. Alec Merlino, who was a fellow member of White’s original Goliath tribe on Survivor, was cast.
Unlike later cameos, Merlino played an actual character with a name and recurring scenes. He appeared as Hutch, a waiter and bartender at the White Lotus resort. Hutch is seen in multiple episodes, often serving drinks to the main guests. His first appearance is in Season 1, Episode 2, where he returns a lost bag to the resort manager, Armond.
On Survivor, Merlino was voted out on Day 28, becoming a member of the jury that ultimately decided the winner. He voted for Nick Wilson to win. His role in The White Lotus is the most substantial given to a Survivor contestant so far, showing a clear sign of White’s fondness for his former tribe mate.
Season 2: Angelina Keeley and Kara Kay Lounge in Sicily
For the second season in Sicily, Mike White invited two more of his Survivor: David vs. Goliath friends, both from the Goliath tribe.
Angelina Keeley and Kara Kay appear as wealthy guests lounging on the resort’s beach. They are featured in the season’s very first scene. The camera zooms in on them chatting on sun loungers just as the character Daphne (played by Meghann Fahy) walks up and interrupts them to ask about their stay.
Angelina Keeley’s character asks Daphne, “So, did you have a good time?” After Daphne talks about the hotel, Keeley replies, “We are so excited,” and then wishes her “safe travels”.
The duo appears again in the season finale, in the same beach chairs, waving goodbye to Daphne. Moments later, Daphne discovers a dead body in the ocean.
Their Survivor histories are closely tied to White. Angelina Keeley finished the game in third place, just behind White himself. Kara Kay was eliminated in fourth place after losing a crucial fire-making challenge to Mike White, which decided the final three contestants. She later voted for White to win the $1 million prize. Keeley has joked about her dual TV experiences on her Instagram, writing she had “Too many lines on (‘Survivor’) + two lines on (‘The White Lotus’)”.
Season 3: Natalie Cole, Carl Boudreaux, and a Secret Cameo
The third season, set in Thailand, features the most Survivor cameos yet, including one that mends an old rivalry.
Natalie Cole and Carl Boudreaux appear together in the first episode as a couple dining at the hotel restaurant. Their cameo is noticed by returning character Belinda (Natasha Rothwell), who excitedly points them out.
In the show, Belinda later tells her son on the phone, “I saw two Black people tonight, and they weren’t staff!”
The casting of Natalie Cole is notable because she and Mike White were not close during their Survivor season. Cole feuded with one of White’s best friends in the game, Jeremy Crawford, and White himself voted to eliminate her.
Natalie Cole told Entertainment Weekly, “Initially, he thought he was never going to speak to me again!” She added that White asking her to be on the show “speaks volumes about him as a person”.
After White reached out to Cole, he also “looped Carl in” to play her husband. Carl Boudreaux was from the opposing “David” tribe on Survivor and was also voted out by White’s alliance. He confirmed his cameo on Instagram, writing, “Yes I will be appearing on The White Lotus another venture in this beautiful thing we call life”.
There is a third, very quick cameo in Season 3. Christian Hubicki, another contestant from Survivor: David vs. Goliath, can be spotted with his real-life partner Emily in a brief transition scene in Episode 5. They are shown laughing and having a drink in a club. On Survivor, Hubicki was known for his puzzle-solving skills and was in an alliance with White called “Strikeforce.” He ultimately voted for White to win the season.
Why Mike White Keeps Casting His ‘Survivor’ Friends
Mike White’s decision to include these cameos seems to be a mix of personal loyalty and a sense of fun. He has remained friends with many people from his season. For the contestants, it is a unique opportunity to be part of a celebrated, award-winning series.
The cameos are typically very brief and do not involve major plot points. They are often silent or have only a line or two, serving as background characters that enrich the world of the resort. This makes them perfect for eagle-eyed fans to spot without distracting new viewers.
The tradition has become a signature move for White, connecting his two very different television experiences—the gritty competition of Survivor and the satirical drama of The White Lotus. As long as Mike White continues to make the show, viewers can likely expect more former castaways to pop up at future luxury resorts.
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