Two-time “Survivor” contestant Keith Nale has died at age 62, his family has confirmed.
Nale’s heartbroken son, Wes Nale, told Entertainment Tonight his father died Tuesday afternoon.
“He’d been battling cancer for the past few months and we discovered about it in January,” he added.
His brother, Kevin Nale added that their dad’s life was “taken way too soon.”
Keith, who hailed from Louisiana, was a contestant in two seasons of “Survivor” in 2015.
He appeared on two versions of the show, including “Survivor: San Juan del Sur” and “Survivor: Cambodia” each of which aired that yr.
Wes appeared on “Survivor: San Juan del Sur” alongside his dad.
Tributes poured in following the sad news of Keith’s death, together with his former “Survivor: San Juan del Sur” co-star Kelley Wentworth tweeting, “Keith – a person with the purest heart, who brought humor into moments where it was needed most.
“I’m grateful I had the chance to fulfill Keith & share memories together on the beaches of Nicaragua & Cambodia.”
“My heart is with your complete Nale family. This can be a devastating loss,” she added.
“My condolences to the Big D, Wes, Austin and full Nale family,” Keith’s other co-star Jeremy Collins wrote. “You will probably be missed Keith but your legacy will survive. Rest in power my firefighter/survivor brother.”
Keith notably made it to the ultimate 4 of the series before being voted out just someday before the Final Tribal Council during his first stint.
He became a firm fan favorite which prompted him to make a defiant return for “Survivor: Cambodia.”
Keith was ultimately sent home a second time when Wentworth won immunity, but spoke highly of the series following his exit.
Speaking to UpRoxx in 2014, the previous firefighter opened up about what it was wish to compete in his 50s.
“They were impressed, being I used to be 53,” he said of his firefighter pals. “Now granted that’s not 93, but that’s not 23 either.”
“They were all behind me, an incredible bunch of men. They wanted me to win it and, you understand, bring it home to Louisiana. But that just didn’t occur.”
