Steve Irwin was a zookeeper, conservationist, and television personality from Australia. The television series gave Steve Irwin worldwide stardom. Together with his wife Terri, he hosted Crocodile Hunter (1996-2007), an internationally broadcast wildlife documentary series.
Childhood and Early Life
Steve Irwin was born in Essendon, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, on February 22, 1962. Stephen Robert Irwin is his given name. Bob Irwin and Lyn Irwin are his parents.
He grew up in Queensland with his parents, surrounded by crocodiles and other animals. His father was a herpetologist, while his mother, Lyn, was a wildlife rehabilitator.
He was active with the park in a variety of ways from an early age, including daily animal feeding and care and maintenance work.
His sixth birthday present was a 12-foot (4-meter) scrub python. He began handling crocodiles at the age of nine, after his father had trained him. He also wrestled his first crocodile at the age of nine, under the supervision of his father.
Similarly, he volunteered with Queensland’s East Coast Crocodile Management program, where he captured over 100 crocodiles. Similarly, he is of Australian nationality and of Irish ethnicity.
In terms of his educational background, he attended Landsborough State School. He then transferred to Caloundra State High School to complete his education.
Quick Facts
| Full Name: | Steve Irwin |
|---|---|
| Born Date: | 22 Feb, 1962 |
| Age: | 60 years |
| Horoscope: | Pisces |
| Lucky Number: | 6 |
| Lucky Stone: | Aquamarine |
| Lucky Color: | Sea Green |
| Best Match for Marriage: | Cancer, Scorpio |
| Death Date: | September 4, 2006 |
| Gender: | Male |
| Profession: | Naturalist, zoologist, conservationist, television personality, herpetologist |
| Country: | Australia |
| Marital Status: | married |
| Married Date: | June 4, 1992 |
| Wife | Terri Raines |
| Birth Place | Essendon, Victoria |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Ethnicity | Irish |
| Education | Caloundra State High School |
| Father | Bob Irwin |
| Mother | Lyn Irwin |
| Kids | (two) Bindi Sue Irwin and Robert Clarence |
| IMDB | Steve Irwin IMDB |
| Wiki | Steve Irwin Wiki |
Relationship status
In 1991, while visiting wildlife rehabilitation facilities in Australia, Steve Irwin met Terri Raines, an American naturalist from Eugene, Oregon, who had decided to visit the zoo.
They were smitten at first sight. They were engaged four months later and married on June 4, 1992, in Eugene. They had two children as well: a daughter, Bindi Sue Irwin (born July 24, 1998), and a son, Robert Clarence Irwin (born 1 December 2003).
Despite their successful marriage, they did not wear wedding bands since they believed in their area of business but not in wearing jewelry. However, it may endanger them and/or the animals.
Scandals
His work life was riddled with scandals. Various claims were made that Steve had disturbed the wildlife. Similarly, he was chastised for his simplistic vision of conservation in Australia, which appeared to be more concerned with tourists than with the challenges the continent confronted.
Career and Professional Life
Irwin and his wife filmed crocodiles during their honeymoon. That clip was used in their 1992 Australian television show The Crocodile Hunter. Four years later, the series was picked up by the American cable network Animal Planet.
At their heyday, the programs were broadcast in over 200 countries. His perilous encounters with animals frequently astound audiences. Furthermore, his daring exploits regarded him as a wildlife educator, as he shared his expertise and excitement for animals with his audience.
Work in film and television
He was famous for his catchphrase “Crikey!” which is an Australian term for surprise or enthusiasm. There had been numerous parodies and spoofs of the famous adventurer. Even The Simpsons and South Park made fun of him.
He wasn’t hesitant to mock himself as an exuberant naturalist and showman. Similarly, he co-starred with Eddie Murphy in the 2001 film Dr. Dolittle 2. He and his wife also appeared in The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course the same year.
In addition, he and his family performed in the 2002 Wiggles video/DVD release Wiggly Safari, which was set in Australia Zoo and featured singing and dance inspired by Australian fauna.
He also had to deal with an advertisement for The Ghan, a passenger train that runs between Adelaide, Alice Springs, and Darwin. During the campaign, a Pacific National NR class locomotive was named Steve Irwin.
In 2005, he lent his voice to the 2006 animated picture Happy Feet as Trev, an elephant seal. He died during post-production, therefore the film was dedicated to him.
Similarly, they recreated another previously unfinished scene in which he provided the voice of an albatross and virtually played himself for the DVD release.
Furthermore, he has been involved in other media campaigns to which he has made significant contributions. The advertising campaign money was sent to his wildlife fund.
Honors
Steve Irwin discovered a new species of the turtle while fishing with his father off the coast of Queensland in 1997. He was then honored by naming the newly discovered species Irwin’s turtle after him.
In 2009, they named another newly discovered Australian critter, Crikey Steve Irwin, a kind of air-breathing land snail.
Furthermore, Irwin was granted the Centenary Medal by the Australian government for his “contribution to global conservation and Australian tourism” in 2001. In 2004, he was named Tourism Exporter of the Year.
He was nominated for Australian of the Year in 2004, but did not win. He was later named the 2004 Queensland Australian of the Year. On November 14, 2007, he was awarded the adjunct professorship posthumously.
In May 2007, the Rwandan government named a young gorilla after Irwin in honor of his conservation efforts.
In 2007, the Kerala state government named the Crocodile Rehabilitation and Research Centre at Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary in his honor.
More
In 2009, he was inducted into the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame for his international entrepreneurship. He had made substantial contributions to Queensland and its international image in both business and wildlife conservation.
Similarly, he received a Queensland Greats Award posthumously in 2015. He was posthumously honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on June 22, 2017. They revealed the star on April 26, 2018.
On his 57th birthday, February 22, 2019, Google released a Google Doodle honoring him in the form of a slide show.
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