Robert Irwin (conservationist)

Last updated

Robert Irwin
WTTC - 2JB09838 (54056477863).jpg
Irwin in 2024
Born
Robert Clarence Irwin

(2003-12-01) 1 December 2003 (age 21)
Buderim, Queensland, Australia
Citizenship
  • Australia
  • United States
Occupations
Years active2007–present
Parents
Relatives
Website robertirwinphotos.com

Robert Clarence Irwin (born 1 December 2003) [1] is an Australian conservationist, television personality, wildlife photographer, and actor. He is the only son of conservationists Steve and Terri Irwin. Irwin is a manager at Australia Zoo in Beerwah, Queensland, [2] and is frequently involved in activities that his father originally participated in.

Contents

Irwin starred in and co-produced the Animal Planet television series Crikey! It's the Irwins (2018–2022) with his mother and older sister, Bindi. He currently co-hosts the Network 10 program I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here alongside Julia Morris, which earned him a Logie Award nomination for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television.

Early life

Robert Clarence Irwin was born on 1 December 2003 in Buderim, Queensland. [1] His father, Steve Irwin (1962–2006), was an Australian conservationist best known for his wildlife documentary series The Crocodile Hunter (1996–2004). [3] He owned and operated Australia Zoo with his wife Terri Irwin ( née  Raines), an American zoologist from Eugene, Oregon. [4] Irwin was named after his paternal and maternal grandfathers, Bob Irwin and Clarence Raines. [5] He has an older sister, Bindi, who is also a conservationist and television personality. [6] The siblings are dual citizens of Australia and the United States, [7] and are of English, Irish, and Swedish descent. [8]

During a public show one month after Irwin was born, his father carried him in his arm while hand feeding a chicken carcass to a 3.8-metre (12 ft 6 in) saltwater crocodile. [9] Irwin was close to the reptile, and comparisons were made in the press to the singer Michael Jackson dangling his son Prince outside of a German hotel window. [10] The incident prompted the Queensland Government to change its crocodile handling laws, banning children and untrained adults from entering crocodile enclosures. [11] Special dispensation, however, was granted to a child who met a very strict set of guidelines and training requirements. [11]

When Irwin was two years old, his father was killed by a stingray injury to the heart while filming an underwater documentary. [12] His mother was named the sole owner of Australia Zoo, where he and his sister were homeschooled following their father's death. [13] In 2012, at age 8 years and nine months, and after extensive training and under expert supervision, Irwin was allowed to feed freshwater crocodiles for the first time, [14] whose males max out at about 3 metres (9.8 ft). [15]

Career

Irwin in 2011 Bob Irwin (6221785081) (cropped).jpg
Irwin in 2011

Irwin made small appearances in his sister's television series Bindi the Jungle Girl (2007–2008). [16] In 2009, he had a cameo role in the family film Free Willy: Escape from Pirate's Cove and won Biggest Greenie at the Nickelodeon Australian Kids' Choice Awards alongside his sister. [17] Irwin earned a Logie Award nomination for Most Popular New Male Talent in 2013 for his role in the television series Steve Irwin's Wildlife Warriors . [18] He also released a series of books, titled Dinosaur Hunter, which he co-authored with Lachlan Creag and Jack Wells. [19] Irwin co-hosted the Discovery Kids series Wild But True (2014–2015), [17] which was nominated for the International Emmy Kids Award for Best Kids: Factual. [20] In 2015, he made a guest appearance on the British wildlife series Ten Deadliest Snakes with Nigel Marven . [17]

From February 2017 to August 2019, Irwin made frequent appearances on the American late-night television series The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to present various animals to its host, Jimmy Fallon. [21] [22] He was invested as a member and ambassador of Scouts Australia on 6 April 2017, [23] formalising a partnership between the organisation and Australia Zoo that aims to encourage Australia's young people to become involved with wilderness and conservation. [24] [25] With his mother and sister, Irwin starred in and co-produced the Animal Planet series Crikey! It's the Irwins (2018–2022). [26] He had to make an emergency escape from a crocodile enclosure while filming an episode after an overzealous 3.7-metre-long (12 ft), 350-kilogram (770 lb) saltwater crocodile, named Casper, ignored the food Irwin was offering him and instead made a beeline for Irwin himself. Irwin managed to scale the enclosure walls just in time and avoided injury. [27] [28]

Irwin made a guest appearance on the animated television series Bluey in February 2021 as a dingo retail clerk named Alfie. [29] In October 2023, he replaced Chris Brown as the co-host of Network 10's reality series I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! alongside Julia Morris. [30] [31] Irwin's work on its tenth season resulted in a Logie Award nomination for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television. [32] [33] In September 2024, he and South African actress Nomzamo Mbatha were named the first two global ambassadors for the Earthshot Prize. [34]

In April 2025, Irwin was announced as the first contestant on the thirty-fourth season of the American competition series Dancing with the Stars . [35] He was partnered with professional dancer Witney Carson. [36]

Wildlife photography

As the leading photography contributor to the Australia Zoo Crikey magazine, Irwin has embarked upon many photography expeditions around the globe. [37] His photos have been featured in galleries throughout Australia and have toured in exhibitions around the world. [37] In 2016 and 2020, he was named the junior runner-up of Australian Geographic's Nature Photographer of the Year competition. [38] [39] His work was highly commended in the 2018 Wildlife Photographer of the Year Awards, and he won the People's Choice Award during the 2020 ceremony. [37] Irwin uses his love for wildlife photography to help raise awareness about wildlife conservation. [37] He has also raised tens of thousands of dollars for the Irwins' non-profit organization Crocodile Diaries by auctioning canvas prints of his work at events worldwide. [37] He has also met with world leaders such as Charles III and Prince William to discuss the protection of natural habitat. [37]

Personal Life

In November 2025, Irwin revealed how he had a near-death experience while competing in the 34th season of Dancing with the Stars. He revealed that he choked on a piece of confetti during the group dance and couldn't breathe before being able to cough out the confetti. [40] [41]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2010 Free Willy: Escape from Pirate's Cove The Pirate BoyCameo
2015 The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water Kyle the SeagullVoice; Australian version
2025 Zootopia 2 Robert FurwinVoice

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2007 Bindi the Jungle Girl Himself1 episode
2011 Kate Plus 8 Episode: "Australia Zoo Visit"
2014 Dino Dan: Trek's Adventures Foreign Exchange Student from AustraliaEpisodes: "Dino Pals" and "Dino Mommas"
2015 Ten Deadliest Snakes HimselfEpisode: "Australia"
2017–2019 The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon HimselfGuest; 13 episodes
2018–2022 Crikey! It's the Irwins HimselfSeries regular
Also co-producer
2019–2022 The Kelly Clarkson Show HimselfGuest; 5 episodes
2020 Bluey AlfieVoice; episode: "The Quiet Game"
Sesame Street Himself1 episode[ citation needed ]
Earth to Ned HimselfEpisode "A Ned's Best Friend"
2021Irwin Family AdventuresHimselfAlso co-producer
2022 RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under HimselfGuest; season 2 episode 1
Kurt Fearnley's One Plus One HimselfEpisode: Robert Irwin [42]
Have You Been Paying Attention? HimselfGuest quizmaster, episode 25
2024– I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! Himself/ HostReplacing Chris Brown after a contract was signed between him and 7 Network. He works alongside Julia Morris
2025 Dancing with the Stars Himself / Contestant Season 34 [43]
Appearances on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon
DateAnimals
16 February 2017 [44] Dwarf crocodile, screaming hairy armadillo, red-tailed boa, two-toed sloth
20 April 2017 [45] [46] [47] Scorpion, two baby black bears, two legless lizards, binturong, green aracari
7 June 2017 [48] Baby American badger, 100-year-old alligator snapping turtle and a baby one, baby red kangaroo (joey), [49] three baby warthogs
23 November 2017 [50] Tamandua, two leopard cubs, prehensile-tailed porcupine, albino Burmese python
25 January 2018 [51] Beaver, tarantula, baby muntjac, hyacinth macaw
2 May 2018 [52] Six American Pygmys, kookaburra, capybara, American alligator
19 September 2018 [53] Baby ostrich, two kingsnakes, tarantula, lanner falcon (with Kevin Hart)
22 November 2018 [54] Two baby Asian small-clawed otters, two baby crested porcupines, aardvark, baby zebra
23 January 2019 [55] Sugar glider, peppered cockroaches, three baby servals, dromedary
25 February 2019 [56] Asian water monitor, owl, American Shorthair
30 April 2019 [57] Giant African millipede, miniature horse, mandrill

References

  1. 1 2 "The Irwin Family". The Crocodile Hunter – Steve Irwin's Biography. Archived from the original on 4 March 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2001.
  2. ↑ "Board of Directors". Wildlife Warriors. Archived from the original on 28 February 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2025– via Australia Zoo.
  3. ↑ Brown, Malcolm; Anderson, Wendy (11 September 2006). "Wildlife warrior took his passion to the world". Sydney Morning Herald . Archived from the original on 9 March 2016. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
  4. ↑ Arnold, Gary (12 July 2002). "The Steve and Terri Show; Crocodile Hunters Move to the Big screen". The Washington Post . Archived from the original on 24 April 2017. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
  5. ↑ Steve Irwin hears the news about his 2nd child. 3 October 2008. Retrieved 5 June 2023– via YouTube.
  6. ↑ Green, Glenis (9 September 2006). "Mantle passes to Bindi". The Courier-Mail . Archived from the original on 22 December 2008. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  7. ↑ Cooper, Nathanael (23 July 2016). "Bindi Irwin has big plans as she marks her milestone birthday". Brisbane Times . Archived from the original on 3 March 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  8. ↑ "Record number of Irish immigrants to celebrate St. Patrick's Day in Australia". Ancestry Europe. Archived from the original on 28 June 2016. Retrieved 10 July 2016.
  9. ↑ "Inquiry into croc baby stunt". BBC News. 3 January 2004. Archived from the original on 15 January 2007. Retrieved 4 September 2006.
  10. ↑ Barkham, Patrick (5 September 2006). "It's like a part of Australia has died". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 5 September 2006.
  11. 1 2 "Steve Irwin baby concerns prompt law change". The Sydney Morning Herald . Fairfax Media. AAP. 24 February 2005. Archived from the original on 25 February 2005. Retrieved 4 September 2006.
  12. ↑ McIlveen, Luke (4 September 2006). "Irwin's Death was Filmed". The Daily Telegraph. UK. Archived from the original on 20 September 2006. Retrieved 9 February 2007.
  13. ↑ Chatfield, Katherine (26 January 2013). "It's reading, writing and reptiles for Bindi and Robert Irwin". PerthNow. News Corp Australia. Archived from the original on 20 February 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  14. ↑ Robert Irwin Feeds Crocs for First Time. View News. 3 October 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2023– via YouTube.
  15. ↑ "Discover the Fascinating World of Freshwater Crocodiles". Billabong Sanctuary. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  16. ↑ Bellafante, Ginia (8 June 2007). "A Snake Around Her Neck and a Tragedy in Her Past". The New York Times . Archived from the original on 16 January 2018. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
  17. 1 2 3 "Robert Irwin". Australia Zoo. Archived from the original on 13 September 2016. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  18. ↑ Knox, David (10 March 2013). "Logie Awards 2013: nominations". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 16 May 2013. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  19. ↑ "Introducing Robert Irwin – Dinosaur Hunter". Australia Zoo. 5 March 2013. Archived from the original on 26 April 2013. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
  20. ↑ "2016 INTERNATIONAL EMMY® KIDS AWARDS NOMINEES ANNOUNCED" (Press release). Cannes: International Emmy Awards. 17 October 2016. Archived from the original on 23 October 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  21. ↑ Matheson, Anna & Staff writers (18 February 2017). "Robert Irwin looks every bit a chip off the old block as he makes his Tonight Show debut". news.com.au . News Corp Australia . Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  22. ↑ King, Brittany (20 April 2017). "'Proud Beyond Words' Bindi Irwin Gushes at 'Extraordinary' Brother Robert with Boyfriend Chandler Powell in Tow". People . Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  23. ↑ "Robert Irwin Invested by Scouts Queensland". Scouts Newsletter. Scouts Australia. May 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  24. ↑ Devine, Robyn (26 July 2017). "Visionary Wildlife Warriors!". Scouts Queensland - Join the Adventure. Scouts Queensland. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  25. ↑ Lee, Tionah (15 October 2023). "Robert Irwin Emotional as He Completes Dad Steve's Wildlife Mission". Entertainment Tonight. Paramount Global . Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  26. ↑ Watch Robert Irwin's CLOSE Call With a 12-Foot Croc. Entertainment Tonight. 9 February 2022. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  27. ↑ Kearney, Georgina (8 February 2022). "Robert Irwin forced to flee crocodile enclosure at Australia Zoo after close call". Seven News . Seven West Media . Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  28. ↑ Langdon, Allison; Stefanovic, Karl (8 February 2022). "Robert Irwin's horror close encounter with aggressive crocodile". Today. Nine Network . Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  29. ↑ Kennedy, Mark (25 February 2021). "Gone to the dogs: Robert Irwin voices a character on Bluey". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 15 May 2024. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
  30. ↑ Scott, Madison (24 October 2023). "Robert Irwin named as new host of I'm a Celebrity....Get Me Out of Here!". Who . Are Media . Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  31. ↑ Balaam, Kellie (24 October 2023). "Robert Irwin to host I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here alongside Julia Morris in 2024". PerthNow. Seven West Media . Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  32. ↑ Baumann, Jasper (25 July 2024). "Robert Irwin and Julia Morris on twin Gold Logie nominations". mediaweek. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
  33. ↑ Laidlaw, Kyle (12 November 2024). "Sneak Peek: Robert Irwin & Julia Morris Tease a Jungle Dance-Off for I'm a Celebrity Season 11". TV Blackbox. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
  34. ↑ "Five environmental champions join Earthshot Prize Council and new Ambassador Programme". The Earthshot Prize. 3 September 2024. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
  35. ↑ Lynette Rice (22 April 2025). "Dancing With The Stars Renewed For Season 34 At ABC; Robert Irwin Joins Cast As First Celebrity". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved 22 April 2025.
  36. ↑ Rice, Lynette (3 September 2025). "Dancing With The Stars Cast Reveal: Hilaria Baldwin, Andy Richter & Corey Feldman To Compete In Season 34". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on 3 September 2025. Retrieved 3 September 2025.
  37. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "About Robert Irwin". Robert Irwin Photography. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  38. ↑ Teideman, Jess (19 August 2016). "Winners of the 2016 AG Nature Photographer of the Year competition". Australian Geographic . Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  39. ↑ Peddie, Clare (5 September 2016). "Robert Irwin, son of Steve Irwin, wins Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year junior award for crocodile photo" . The Advertiser . Adelaide: News Corp Australia . Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  40. ↑ Entertainment Tonight (5 November 2025). "Robert Irwin nearly didn't survive this week's episode of 'Dancing With the Stars.'". Twitter/X. Retrieved 5 November 2025. I almost died tonight
  41. ↑ "Robert Irwin Opens Up About Terrifying DWTS Moment: 'I Couldn't Breathe'". EntertainmentNow. 5 November 2025. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
  42. ↑ Fearnley, Kurt (29 September 2022). "Feeding Crocodiles: Robert Irwin on fame, photography & growing up in a zoo". One Plus One. ABC TV. Retrieved 20 October 2022– via YouTube.
  43. ↑ Lynette Rice (22 April 2025). "Dancing With The Stars Renewed For Season 34 At ABC; Robert Irwin Joins Cast As First Celebrity". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved 22 April 2025.
  44. ↑ Fallon, Jimmy (17 February 2017). "Robert Irwin and Jimmy Cuddle a Sloth". The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. NBC . Retrieved 25 April 2017– via YouTube.
  45. ↑ "Robert Irwin Guests on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon". NBC . NBCUniversal. 29 January 2015. Archived from the original on 25 April 2017. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  46. ↑ Fallon, Jimmy (20 April 2017). "Robert Irwin and Jimmy Play with Baby Black Bears". The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. NBC – via YouTube.
  47. ↑ Chen, Joyce (21 April 2017). "Robert Irwin Channels Dad, Plays With Baby Black Bears on 'Tonight Show'". Us Weekly . Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  48. ↑ Fallon, Jimmy (7 June 2017). "Robert Irwin and Jimmy Feed a Baby Kangaroo". The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. NBC . Retrieved 19 June 2017– via YouTube.
  49. ↑ Weule, Genelle (18 March 2013). "Wallabies do 'Australian crawl' in the womb". ABC Science. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  50. ↑ Fallon, Jimmy (23 November 2017). "Jimmy Gets Attacked by Robert Irwin's Anteater". The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. NBC . Retrieved 25 November 2018– via YouTube.
  51. ↑ Fallon, Jimmy (25 January 2018). "Robert Irwin and Jimmy Play with an Adorable Baby Deer". The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. NBC . Retrieved 25 November 2018– via YouTube.
  52. ↑ Fallon, Jimmy (2 May 2018). "Robert Irwin and Jimmy Feed Baby Pygmy Goats". The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. NBC . Retrieved 25 November 2018– via YouTube.
  53. ↑ Fallon, Jimmy (19 September 2018). "Kevin Hart Is Terrified of Robert Irwin's Animals". The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. NBC . Retrieved 25 November 2018– via YouTube.
  54. ↑ Fallon, Jimmy (22 November 2018). "Robert Irwin's Baby Porcupine Finds a Home on Jimmy's Lap". The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. NBC . Retrieved 25 November 2018– via YouTube.
  55. ↑ Fallon, Jimmy (23 January 2019). "Robert Irwin's Baby Camel Kisses Jimmy on the Lips". The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. NBC . Retrieved 25 January 2019– via YouTube.
  56. ↑ Fallon, Jimmy (25 February 2019). "Jimmy Loses It with Robert Irwin on a Hot Mic Before Animals Segment". The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. NBC . Retrieved 26 February 2019– via YouTube.
  57. ↑ Fallon, Jimmy (30 April 2019). "Robert Irwin and Jimmy Bottle Feed a Baby Miniature Horse". The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. NBC . Retrieved 1 May 2019– via YouTube.
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