Survivor: Second Chances, season 31, featured players who had played only once and had not won their season. They were selected by the fans, and one of the most likeable was the late Keith Nale.
Keith appealed to fans and fellow contestants because of his easygoing, honest approach. In his first season, he finished fourth on Survivor: Blood vs. Water. He ended up fifth on Second Chances.
While Keith was obviously well-liked, he didn’t play a strong strategic game either season. He floated along both seasons as a fringe member of various alliances, but he was never one of the decision-makers.
He did perform well in the challenges, though. On Second Chances, he won a reward challenge and two individual immunity challenges. Nale often did well in challenges that required balance and strength.
Keith Nale provided some great moments in Survivor: Second Chances
Keith’s folksy, open manner was appealing. He had some endearing moments in Second Chances that secured his place as a memorable fan favorite. In one episode, he was among the players who went on a reward and were transported by a tuk-tuk - a small passenger trailer pulled by a small motorcycle.
After a few beers at the reward, Keith decided to drive the tuk-tuk. He jumped on the bike, cranked it up, and drove it around a little. Eventually, the other players loaded up into the trailer and Keith drove them around the beach. It was a fun, joyful moment that had little to do with the game itself, and everyone on that challenge was enjoying themselves and wasn’t worried about the game, even for a little bit.
Another moment came during a days-long downpour that was sapping the strength and vitality from the contestants. Keith held a palm frond over his head, protecting him from the rain. In this confessional, he talked about how people would ask him if Survivor was fun. He said that it wasn’t fun, that “cruises were fun,” but Survivor was hard. It’s not that he didn’t enjoy the game because he obviously did. He was just making it clear that Survivor was hard and wasn’t an easy walk in a park. He reiterated that stance during the live reunion show. It was one of those open, honest comments that were Keith’s trademark.
His honesty and personal integrity may have even cost him a shot at the Final Three during Second Chances. When Kelley Wentworth won immunity with five players left, Keith was sure to go home as Jeremy Collins, Tasha Fox, and Spencer Bledsoe had a firm alliance. Kelley made Keith a very believable fake idol. During season 31, all of the immunity idols looked different, so Kelley was hoping that Keith would pull it out during tribal council and force the alliance to pick off one of their own.
Keith explained at the live reunion show that he felt it would have been a cheesy and dishonest way to advance. He had seen others play fake idols and look like fools, so he had no interest in possibly going out that way. It showed Keith’s main strength and his main weakness within the game. He played with integrity, but he wasn’t a strong strategic player. He wasn’t duplicitous enough to be a truly great player, but his two top-five finishes were a tribute to his style of play and likeability.
In 2023, Keith Nale passed away at the age of 62 from cancer. For fans of Survivor, Keith offered humor and integrity in a game that sometimes lacks both. He provided a lot of great moments in Survivor: Second Chances and will always be remembered by fans.