Keith Nale, who competed on two seasons of “Survivor” and became a fan favorite, died Tuesday. He was 62.
“He’d been battling cancer for the past few months, and we found out about it in January,” Keith’s son Wes Nale revealed to “Entertainment Tonight.”
Keith’s brother Kevin Nale also confirmed the news, sharing that the reality star died at his home in Shreveport, La.
“A life taken way too soon!” Kevin told the outlet. “It happened so quickly. Cancer ate him up.”
Keith and Wes, 32, were contestants on “Survivor: San Juan del Sur” in 2014. The patriarch returned to the franchise solo for “Survivor: Cambodia” in 2015.
Keith was considered an underdog at first, as he struggled to understand the strategic elements of the game and was not a part of any major alliances. He was also one of the oldest members of his tribes while playing in his mid-50s.
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However, the fire captain made it to the final four on “San Juan del Sur” and the final five on “Cambodia.”
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Natalie Anderson and Jeremy Collins ultimately won Seasons 29 and 31, respectively.
Kelley Wentworth, who competed against Keith on both of his seasons, took to Twitter Tuesday to pay tribute to her late friend.
“Keith – a man with the purest heart, who brought humor into moments where it was needed most. I’m grateful I had the opportunity to meet Keith & share memories together on the beaches of Nicaragua & Cambodia,” she wrote.
“My heart is with the entire Nale family. This is a devastating loss 💔,” Wentworth added.
Collins also paid tribute to Keith via social media.
“You will be missed Keith but your legacy will live on,” he tweeted. “Rest in power my firefighter/survivor brother.”
Keith is survived by his wife, Dana Nale, his two sons, Wes and Austin Nale, and other family members.
