Who was Sean Foley on Survivor 49? Cause of Death, Tribute Card Details

The latest episode of Survivor 49, which aired on December 10, concluded with a heartfelt tribute to Sean Foley, a longtime member of the reality series’ production team, who passed away in November after a battle with brain cancer.

Foley, who began his career on Survivor as an editor from the show’s first season through the eighth, also contributed to the series’ title design starting in 2004. He later served as Director of Photography from seasons 22 to 31, with his final work on the show completed in 2015, according to Parade.

The episode honored his contributions with the simple yet moving dedication: “In memory of Sean Foley, our friend and colleague.”

Beyond Survivor, Foley worked on several notable reality series. He contributed to Shark Tank and The Contender and served as executive producer for Naked and Afraid and its spinoff Naked and Afraid XL.

Mandy Horvath, a cast member of Naked and Afraid, shared on Facebook how Foley supported her during filming while privately battling cancer. She said, “He eased my fears. He challenged me. He made everything possible. He stayed true to his promise and then some. Somewhere in all of that, we became close. I learned that behind the scenes he was fighting brain cancer while still carrying the weight of being the executive producer for Naked and Afraid. He carried that battle privately.”

David Story, Foley’s colleague on Naked and Afraid, paid tribute to him on social media, writing: “We lost one of the good ones this weekend. Brain cancer has taken my colleague, my friend, my brother-in-arms Sean Foley away. The world is a lesser place today than it was before…Sean was the opposite of all that. But that twinkle, that exuberance was part of his arsenal; like a world-class athlete that’s so on top of his game that he can’t help but take joy in it…One of our coworkers nailed it: ‘he was the perfect balance of taking the assignment of making great television seriously, without taking himself seriously at all.’ That’s so true.”

Throughout his career, Foley earned widespread recognition for his contributions to reality television, including five Emmy nominations for his editing work on Survivor and one for his contributions to The Contender. His colleagues remember him not only for his professional excellence but also for his kindness, mentorship, and ability to inspire everyone around him.

Sean Foley leaves behind a lasting legacy in the reality TV industry, celebrated for his talent, dedication, and the positive impact he had on both cast and crew.