Meet Robert Irwin, a young and talented Australian television artist, author, nature photographer, and wildlife enthusiast. Despite the tragic loss of his father, Steve Irwin, at a young age, Robert has fearlessly followed in his footsteps as an ecologist. From making cameo appearances in films to co-hosting television series, Robert has already made a name for himself in the entertainment industry. With a passion for wildlife photography, he has captured breathtaking images of animals from around the world. Not only is he a successful artist, but Robert is also dedicated to wildlife conservation, partnering with Scouts Australia to inspire the younger generation to protect and preserve our natural world.
Quick Facts
- Australian Celebrities Born In December
- Also Known As: Robert Clarence Irwin
- Age: 20 Years, 20 Year Old Males
- Family: father – Steve Irwin, mother – Terri Irwin, siblings – Bindi Irwin
- Born Country: Australia
- TV Presenters
- Photographers
- Ancestry: English Australian, Australian American
- More Facts
- Awards: Logie Award for Most Popular New Male Talent, Dahsyatnya Award for Outstanding Guest Star
Childhood & Early Life
Robert Irwin was born on 01 December 2003 in Buderim, Queensland, Australia, to Steve and Terri Irwin. He is of English and Irish descent. His father was a famous Australian environmentalist and television personality who died due to injuries and blood loss after a stingray attack. He was two years old at the time of his father’s death. Though he remembers very little of his father, he has been influenced by him to take up conservation of wildlife as a passion more than a career.
His father had earlier caused a controversy when he carried one-month-old Robert in his arms while feeding saltwater crocodiles at a public show. After the incident, a law was passed banning children from entering crocodile enclosures during such shows.
Robert was brought up with his elder sister, Bindi, at Australia Zoo in the state of Queensland, which was founded by his grandfather, Bob Irwin. Due to the remoteness of the location, he and his sister were both homeschooled. He was greatly influenced by his father and his early years in Australia Zoo that brought him face-to-face with animals and nature.
Career
In 2012, Robert publicly fed Australia Zoo’s American alligators for the first time. This was followed by his performance on his 10th birthday, where he fed his first saltwater crocodile. This is something he does regularly.
Robert Irwin made a cameo appearance in the fourth installment of the direct-to-home video family film ‘Free Willy: Escape from Pirate’s Cove’ when he was five years old. Later, he acted along with his mother and sister in the television serial titled ‘Steve Irwin’s Wildlife Warriors’ in 2013.
As his popularity and confidence grew, he was selected to co-host the television series called ‘Wild But True’ on Discovery Kids Channel from 2014 to 2015.
Robert made a guest appearance in the British wildlife serial ‘Ten Deadliest Snakes’ in 2015. He was seen guiding presenter Nigel Marven while they looked for a red-bellied black snake in the billabong of the Australia Zoo in the episode that centered on Australia’s venomous reptiles.
Robert took up wildlife photography in a professional manner and started taking photo shots of flora and fauna that appeared in magazines and wildlife publications around the world. He started his own channel on Australia Zoo and also has his photo gallery and retail outlet in the zoo. He has visited the African savannah, mountains of New Zealand, and most of the bushland of Australia in search of wildlife.
In 2017, he started appearing on the late-night television show titled ‘The Tonight Show’ with Jimmy Fallon, where he presented various animal species including an African dwarf crocodile, screaming armadillo, binturong, and a green aracari.
He became a member and ambassador for Scouts Australia and formalized a partnership to encourage Australia’s younger generation to get involved in wildlife conservation. He has also authored a series of books on wildlife conservation.
Major Works
He has appeared in the film ‘Free Willy: Escape from Pirate’s Cove’ and the television serial titled ‘Steve Irwin’s Wildlife Warriors’ in 2013.
He has also co-hosted the television series ‘Wild But True’ on Discovery Kids Channel from 2014 to 2015.
He made a guest appearance in the British wildlife serial ‘Ten Deadliest Snakes’ in 2015.
He has co-created his own popular book series called ‘Robert Irwin: Dinosaur Hunter’ for which he has personally done all the illustrations.
Awards & Achievements
He was nominated for the 2013 Logie Award for Most Popular New Male Talent for his performance in ‘Steve Irwin’s Wildlife Warriors’.
His show ‘Wild But True’ on Discovery Kids Channel was nominated for an International Emmy Kids Award in the factual category in 2016.
He was the runner-up for the 2016 Australian Geographic Natural Photographer of the Year competition in the junior category.
In 2017, he won the Wondai Regional Art Gallery People’s Choice Award and the first prize in the Glass House Mountains Rotary Calendar Photographic Competition.
Personal Life
There were rumors that Robert and the teenage wildlife photographer Tess Poyner were building a relationship after they met at the Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year Awards in Adelaide. They had uploaded many photographs of themselves together on Instagram that made fans speculate. His sister, Bindi, is also a good friend of Tess and has encouraged their friendship. However, Robert has denied having any romantic relationship.
Robert loves to be with animals and is an outdoor person with hobbies like mountain biking, paleontology, and photography.
His father was known as the Crocodile Hunter.