Who was Keith Sayres? The life and death of the producer

Keith Sayres

Season 44 of Survivor premiered on 1st March 2023. The two-hour premiere trended because of three separate medical emergencies, one of which forced the medical evacuation of a contestant, and the tribute sent to Keith Sayres. 

According to a GoFundMe page set up for Keith, he died on 1st February 2021. The page’s description reads:

“We are heartbroken by this news and are asking for support from Keith’s friends and family –including: his Howard University family; Buffalo family; Los Angeles family; and his beloved from all around the world – to ensure that his homegoing services are coordinated well and filled with the same amount of love that Keith showed to us all.”

Keith Sayres was a producer who worked on Survivor for 14 years

Keith Sayres was a producer who worked on Survivor for nearly 15 years. According to IMDb, Keith was also on the production team of Little Women: Terra’s Little Family and Married at First Sight

In a December 2018 Instagram post, Keith described his workmates as family. He wrote:

“Forever grateful for my #Survivor family who I’ve traveled across the globe with. That unique experience where coworkers become close friends and family. Now all here in LA representing the US, South Africa, Dominica, Australia, Lebanon and Canada.”

Survivor host Jeff Probst talked to Entertainment Weekly about Keith’s invaluable contribution to the production team:

“He brought heart and soul into every position. It sounds cliché, but Keith really was the guy who always had a joke to brighten your day or would give you encouraging words if he felt you needed them. I hope his family understands how much love he gave to others.”

Keith’s GoFundMe page states that the funds will facilitate the celebration of his life and internment. “Please continue to lift the Sayres family up in prayer while they process this untimely news,” the page reads.