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| {{Infobox Celebrity | |||
| | name = Steve Irwin | |||
| | image = Steve Irwin.jpg | |||
| | caption = | |||
| | birth_date = ], ] | |||
| | birth_place = ], ], ] | |||
| | death_date = ], ] | |||
| | death_place = ], ], ] | |||
| | occupation = ], ] | |||
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| | spouse = ] | |||
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| | children = 2 | |||
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| '''Stephen Robert "Steve" Irwin''' (] ] – ] ]) was an ]n ] and television personality. He was best known for the television program '']'', an unconventional ] series which he hosted with his wife ]. Irwin's personality and outrageous antics in the series made him an international celebrity. He also owned and operated the ] at ] in ]. | |||
| ==Early years== | |||
| Born to Lyn and Robert Irwin in ], a suburb on the outskirts of Victoria's capital ], Irwin moved with his parents as a child to Queensland in 1970. Bob was a reptile enthusiast and when the family moved, his parents started the small Queensland Reptile and Fauna Park, where Steve grew up around ]s and other reptiles. He became a crocodile ], removing crocodiles from near populated areas, performing the service for free with the '']'' that he kept them for the park. | |||
| ==Career== | |||
| ===Rise to fame=== | |||
| The park was a family business, with Lyn and Bob turning it over in 1991 to Steve. He took over the running of the park, now renamed the "Australia Zoo", and in 1992 met (at the park) and married Terri. The footage, shot by ], of their crocodile-trapping ] became the first episode of '']'', which became wildly successful in America. His exuberant and enthusiastic presenting style, broad Australian accent, constant wearing of ] and catch-phrase "Crikey!" became known worldwide: '']'' aired in over 122 countries worldwide.<ref>, June 18, 2000.</ref> | |||
| Under Irwin's expansive leadership, the operations grew to include the zoo, the television series, The Steve Irwin Conservation Foundation, and International Crocodile Rescue. Improvements to his Australia Zoo include the Animal Planet Crocoseum, the rainforest aviary, and Tiger Temple. | |||
| ===Film=== | |||
| In 2001, Steve appeared in a cameo role in the ] film '']''. In 2002, his first feature film, '']'', was released. In general, reviews of this film were negative. In 2003 Irwin was reportedly in line to host a ] on Australian network television, a series that never eventuated. | |||
| ===Animal Planet=== | |||
| ] then released a Crocodile Hunter special called "Crocodiles & Controversy", which attempted to explain both the "Baby Bob Incident" and the Antarctica incident (see below). This special argues that Irwin's son was never in danger of being eaten by the crocodile, and that Irwin could not have endangered animals in Antarctica. | |||
| Animal Planet ended ''The Crocodile Hunter'' with a series finale entitled "Steve's Last Adventure". The last Crocodile Hunter documentary went for three emotional hours with footage of Steve's across-the-world adventure, visiting locations like the ], the ], ], and the ]. | |||
| Irwin went on to star in other ] documentaries, including '']'', '']'', and '']''. | |||
| ===Later projects=== | |||
| ].]] | |||
| In January 2006 as part of ''Australia Week'' celebrations in the USA, Steve appeared at the ], ] ], ]. During an interview on '']'', Steve announced that ] will be developing a show for his daughter, Bindi Sue.<ref>'']'', ] ].</ref> The show, '']'', was tipped to be similar to ] movies, with songs that surround a story. A feature-length episode of Australian kids TV show '']'' entitled "Wiggly Safari" appears dedicated to Steve, and he features in it heavily with his wife and daughter. The show includes the song "Crocodile Hunter, Big Steve Irwin". | |||
| Steve Irwin was active in politics and was a supporter of the conservative ]. In particular, he strongly supported the incumbent Prime Minister ], describing him once as "the greatest leader Australia has ever had" and the "greatest leader in the entire world"; comments which drew a cynical reaction in the Australian media. <ref>, November 9, 2003.</ref> | |||
| ===Media work=== | |||
| As well as being a general ambassador for Australia due to the nature of his work, Irwin was also involved in several media campaigns. He was employed by the ] to promote Australia's strict ]/customs requirements, with advertisements and posters featuring slogans such as, "Quarantine Matters! Don't muck with it" . | |||
| In 2004 he was appointed ambassador for ], an ] to ] train that began operations in 2004. | |||
| He was also a keen promoter for Australian tourism and in general and Queensland tourism in particular. In 2002 the ] was voted Queensland's top tourist attraction. <ref>, June 10 2003.</ref> | |||
| ===Honours=== | |||
| In 2004 he was nominated for ], which was won by ]. Doubts were cast over his nomination when the "baby Bob" incident occurred in January that year. <ref>, January 6, 2004.</ref> | |||
| ===Environmentalism=== | |||
| Irwin believed in promoting environmentalism by sharing his excitement about the natural world rather than preaching to people. He was concerned with conservation of ] and ] leading to loss of habitat. He urged people to take part in considerate tourism and not support illegal poaching through the purchase of items such as turtle shells. He considered conservation to be the most important part of his work: "I consider myself a wild-life warrior. My mission is to save the world's endangered species." <ref> , June 10 2003.</ref> | |||
| ==Personal life== | |||
| ===Family=== | |||
| Steve Irwin was married to Terri Irwin (1992) and had two children: a daughter, Bindi Sue Irwin (born ] ]), and a son, Robert Clarence "Bob" Irwin (born ] ]). Bindi Sue is jointly named after two of Steve's dogs: Bindi, who was accidentally killed by a hunter, and Sui, who died in June 2004. | |||
| Irwin was as enthusiastic about his family as he was about his work. He once described his daughter Bindi as "the reason he was put on the Earth". His wife Terri once said, "The only thing that could ever keep him away from the animals he loves are the people he loves even more."<ref>, airdate November 25, 2004.</ref> | |||
| ===Baby Bob incident=== | |||
| Major controversy arose during a public show on ] ], when Irwin carried his infant son, Bob, in one arm while feeding a chicken carcass to a crocodile with the other hand. The infant was close to the crocodile, and comparisons were made in the press to ]'s dangling of his son outside a German apartment window. In addition, child welfare groups, ] groups, and many of Irwin's television viewers criticised his actions as being irresponsible and tantamount to ]. Irwin claimed that any danger to his son was only a perceived danger and that he was in complete control of the situation, and consistently refused to apologize for his actions despite considerable public outcry both in Australia and abroad. His defenders pointed to his many decades of hands-on experience and direct interaction with crocodiles. Terri Irwin claimed that their child was in no more real danger than a child being taught to swim would be. No charges were filed (although the police did visit Irwin at his home and advised him not to repeat the incident).<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/01/04/1073151212433.html | title = Croc hunter ducks for cover | first = Claire | last = O'Rourke | publisher = ] | date = ], ]}}</ref> | |||
| The incident prompted the Queensland government to change its crocodile-handling laws, banning children and untrained adults from entering crocodile enclosures. <ref>, February 24, 2005.</ref> | |||
| ===Antarctica incident=== | |||
| In June 2004, allegations were made that he came too close to and disturbed some wildlife (namely ], ] and ]) while filming a documentary in ].<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/06/14/1087065037593.html | title = Crocodile Hunter's frolic with whales gets frosty reception | first = Karen | last = Middleton | publisher = ] | date = ], ]}}</ref> Subsequently, the matter was closed without charges being filed.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3896685.stm | title = Irwin cleared after Penguin Probe | publisher = ] | date = ], ]}}</ref> | |||
| ===Death=== | |||
| On ], ], Irwin was fatally pierced in the chest by a ] off the ] in ], ] while filming an underwater ]. The ] reported that this was only the second known fatality in Australian history from a stingray attack.<ref></ref> | |||
| Shortly after 11:00 a.m. ] (01:00 ]), Irwin was filming in the ], ] near ], north of ], ], ], where he was stung either through his heart <ref>{{cite news | title = Steve Irwin dead | publisher = ABC Australia | date = ] | url = http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200609/s1732439.htm | accessdate = 2006-09-04}}</ref> or through the left side of his chest<ref>{{cite news | last = Williams | first = David | title = Steve Irwin killed by stingray | publisher = The Sydney Morning Herald | date = ] | url = http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/steve-irwin-killed-by-stingray/2006/09/04/1157222051512.html | accessdate = 2006-09-04}}</ref> and suffered ].<ref>{{cite news | title = Irwin's stingray death unusual: doctor | publisher = ] | date = ] | url = http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Irwins-stingray-death-unusual-doctor/2006/09/04/1157222051588.html | accessdate = 2006-09-04}}</ref> After he was stung, his crew called for medical help and the Queensland Rescue Helicopter responded, taking him to Cairns Base Hospital.<ref>{{cite press release | title = Australian wildlife personality Steve Irwin has died | publisher = Queensland Police Service | date =] | url = http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Croc-Hunter-Steve-Irwin-died-instantly/2006/09/04/1157222051588.html | accessdate =2006-09-04}}</ref> However, Irwin was pronounced dead at noon.<ref>{{cite news | title = Steve Irwin dead | publisher = The Courier-Mail | date = ] | url = http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,20349534-952,00.html | accessdate = 2006-09-04}}</ref> The ] notified his family and released a concerning the event. | |||
| ==Trivia== | |||
| * Irwin was a great fan of the ], which he considered a sister institution of the ].<ref>{{cite web|title=Singapore Sling!|work=International Crocodile Rescue|url=http://www.crocodilerescue.com/singapore.html|accessdate=16 March|accessyear=2006}}</ref> | |||
| * Irwin loved mixed martial arts competitions and trained with Greg Jackson in the fighting/grappling system of ]. | |||
| * Irwin appeared in a 2006 ] television commercial in their ] series. In the commercial, he wrestled the Gator mascot of the ] to the ground in an ESPN studio hallway. | |||
| * A parody of Steve and Terri forms one of the themes of '']'' | |||
| * A parody of Steve, Strewth Irwin, is a recurring character on the ] ]. | |||
| * He appeared in '']'' as The Crocodile Hunter who tried to wrestle an alligator and lost his arm. | |||
| * In 2004, during an interview with Larry King, he admitted that after receiving many painful bites he had a fear of parrots.<ref> Aired 25 November 2004. Retrieved 4 September 2006. </ref> | |||
| * Irwin was a fan of the ] in the ], Essendon being where he grew up as a boy. Steve made several appearances with players and was part of an ] promotion in Los Angeles as part of Australia week in early 2006 . | |||
| * Three generations of his family have had Robert as one of their given names: His father's full name was Robert Eric Irwin, his full name was Stephen Robert Irwin and his son's full name is Robert Clarence Irwin. | |||
| ==References== | |||
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| ==External links== | |||
| {{wikinewsart|Crocodile Hunter's Steve Irwin dies at 44}} | |||
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| {{commons}} | |||
| *Steve and Terri's website called The Crocodile Hunter | |||
| *Animal Planet | |||
| *{{imdb name|id=0410455|name=Steve Irwin}} | |||
| *'']'': , ], ] ]. | |||
| *'']'': , ], ] ]. | |||
| {{Persondata | |||
| |NAME=Irwin, Stephen Robert | |||
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| |SHORT DESCRIPTION=Australian environmentalist and television personality | |||
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| |PLACE OF DEATH=], Low Isles off ], ] | |||
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Revision as of 10:12, 4 September 2006
YOU SUCK