Famous for his perpetual exuberance, tacky khaki outfits and "crikey!" catchword, this late Aussie animal activist-cum-TV-personality amazed audiences with his outrageous — not to mention dangerous — animal stunts. Raised on his parents' wildlife park, which he later expanded and rechristened Australia Zoo, Irwin launched his seminal
Crocodile Hunter series in 1997. A fixture on Animal Planet, the show gave Irwin his nickname and featured the somewhat goofy environmentalist and his wife trotting the globe wrestling creatures wonderful and wild. In the late '90s, his career got a big boost when he began showcasing his shtick on stateside talk shows and by the '00s, he was famous enough to warrant a cameo in
Dr. Dolittle 2 and parlay his persona into myriad products, including books, games and action figures. Although some critics questioned his intrusive methods and overblown theatrics — he was widely chastised for feeding a crocodile while holding his infant son back in 2004 — the public adored him, and his message of animal conservation was a positive one. Unfortunately, his untimely and freakish death caused by a poisonous stingray served to undermine his work. Irwin had spent his life trying to convince people that animals, even threatening ones, needed to be understood not feared, yet even he fell prey to nature's dangers.
Steve Irwin Fast Facts:
- By the age of 9, he was catching crocodiles in the rivers of North Queensland alongside his father.
- The only animals he feared were parrots: "For some reason, parrots have to bite me."
- Met his future wife when she attended a crocodile demonstration at his zoo in 1991; their honeymoon was spent filming the first episode of The Crocodile Hunter.
- He and his wife played themselves in the 2002 feature film The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course.
- Steve Irwin Relationships:
- Bindi Irwin - Daughter
- Bob Irwin - Father
- Lyn Irwin - Mother
- Robert Irwin - Son
- Terri Irwin - Wife
