Fans Can't Stop Talking About These "Survivor" Cameos On "The White Lotus" — So Here's The Whole List

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31-03-2025

Before The White Lotus series creator/writer/director Mike White was living it up at a White Lotus resort, he was trying to outwit, outlast, and outplay his fellow castaways on Season 37 of Survivor.
CBS / Via giphy.com
Season 37, also known as Survivor: David vs. Goliath, was a play on the biblical story. Basically a tribe of 10 underdogs vs. a tribe of 10 overachievers.
Mike actually killed it on his season. He made it all the way to the final Tribal Council, but ultimately lost to Nick Wilson, seven votes to three, and none for Angelina Keeley.
White may not have claimed the title of The Sole Survivor, but those 39 days stranded on a beach and hunting for immunity idols left a hugggggeeee impact him.
That being said, if you pay close attention during The White Lotus episodes, you'll spy some familiar Survivor faces!
It's true! Mike White snuck in some of his friends and tribe-mates as cameos. As a long-time Survivor fan, I screamed and pointed at the TV the first time I spotted a castaway. So without further ado, here's a list of all the Survivor cameos Mike White has snuck (so far) into The White Lotus.
Cue my mom with a thousand questions: "Who is that? Why do they look familiar? What do I know them from?"
Don't worry, I'm not gonna make you play a game of I Spy: Survivor. Let's get started:
CBS / Via giphy.com
Watching Jennifer Coolidge run a Survivor obstacle course is all I want for my birthday.
1. Alec Merlino
Survivor: Merlino and White were both on the Goliath tribe together during Survivor: David vs. Goliath.
The White Lotus: Merlino played Hutch, showing up in Season 1, Episode 2 when he returned a lost bag to Armond (Murry Bartlett). Hutch also shows up as a waiter and bartender in four additional episodes.
2. Angelina Keeley
Survivor: Angelina was another Goliath tribe member. You may remember her best for the infamous coat drama: Angelina voted out Natalie Cole, and then begged for Natalie's jacket as her torch was being snuffed. Talk about timing. Angelina made it all the way to the Final Tribal Council, but earned zero votes (or coats) from the jury.
The White Lotus: during Season 2, Angelina played a rich guest chatting with a friend before guest Daphne (Meghann Fahy) interrupts their yapping.
3. Kara Kay
Survivor: Kara was a Goliath tribe member — are you noticing a trend yet? Mike White was literally the reason Kara got eliminated. Kara and Mike went head-to-head in a fire-making challenge for a spot in the final four, which she ultimately lost. Kara was sent to the jury, coming in fourth place, and never had a single vote cast against her.
The White Lotus: Kara lounged with Angelina on the Italian coast in Season 2. Kay had a handful of lines, including telling Daphne they "just flew in this morning."
4. Natalie Cole
CBS / Getty Images
Survivor: Natalie was a member of the Goliath tribe, but was eliminated pre-merge. Angelina reeealllly wanted her jacket. Natalie straight-up ignored her, and did not give Keeley the jacket.
The White Lotus: Natalie had a brief moment in the Season 3 premiere as a stunnnnning hotel guest that catches Belinda's (Natasha Rothwell) eye at dinner.
6. Christian Hubicki
Survivor: Christian was a David tribe member. In the season opener, Christian was quickly labelled as an underdog. He then proceeded to dominate in the opening challenge by solving a slide puzzle in under five seconds. Turns out, Christian created slide puzzles for fun. He ended up placing seventh.
The White Lotus: Christian made a super quick cameo at a party during Season 3, Episode 5. When fans pointed him out, Christian played it down on Blueskly by joking, "No, that's Sam Rockwell."