Steve Irwin

CRIKEY! His energy, enthusiasm, and constant temptation of death
made him the most popular man ever to grace Animal Planet.
 

REAL NAME: Stephen Robert Irwin

BIRTH PLACE: Victoria, Australia

BIRTH DATE: February 22, 1962

SELECTED FILMOGRAPHY:
    "Crocodile Hunter" (1996-??)
    The Ten Deadliest Snakes in the World (1998)
    "Croc Files" (1999-??)
    Dr. Dolittle 2  (2001)
    "The Crocodile Hunter Diaries" (2002)
    The Crocodile Hunter: Collison Course (2002)
    Wiggles: Wiggly Safari (2002)

MARRIAGE: Terri Raines, his constant companion in the animal world. They had one daughter (Bindi) and one son (Bob) together.

DEATH: September 4, 2006. He was killed by a stingray while filming the "Ocean's Deadliest" documentary for Animal Planet.

OTHER INTRIGUING FACTS:
    Steve Irwin got most of his interest in animals from his father, Bob Irwin.
    When he was a child, he just about got his nose bitten off by his father's pet cockatoo. Since then, he has been incredibly afraid of parrots. 
    He got involved with Queenland's Crocodile Relocation Program, in which reptiles are transferred and relocated to more sufficient locations in a completely humane manner.
    He actually has a species of turtle named after him: the Elseya Irwini.
    He is the director of the Australia Zoo - this is actually where he met his wife.
    There have been several occasions where rumours have circulated that he died. A snake bite, crocodile attack, falling out of a helicopter, drowning...the list of claims goes on. Steve asserts that he has never been bitten by a snake.
    They named their daughter Bindi Sue Irwin. "Bindi" comes from Steve's favourite crocodile, and "Sue" comes from the name of their dog. When asked what she wants to do when she grows up, she happily says she wants to be "just like daddy."
    Steve saved his best mate, Wes Marrion, when he was attacked by a crocodile.
    In The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course, there were no scripts used for the Irwins. Whatever they said was improvised, in order to allow Steve's "natural charm" to go through. All stunts were performed by Steve himself.
    In 2004, Irwin decided to take his son to a crocodile feeding with him, as he did with Bindi. However, because it was shortly after the Michael Jackson baby-dangling incident, the public became outraged with him. Fortunately, upon further investigation, no "bad parenting" charges were put against him.

For more information, see www.crocodilehunter.com