Robert Irwin has been in the public eye since childhood thanks to his famous father, Steve Irwin.
Robert, now 20, is the youngest child of Steve ‘The Crocodile Hunter’ and Terri Irwin, and joins older sister Bindi to form one of Australia’s most recognizable families.
When Robert was a month old, he got his first taste of fame when his dad held him while feeding a crocodile at the Australian Zoo.
When he was only two years old, tragedy struck.
In the years following his father’s death, the toddler was always spoken of in reference to his father, and anyone who came into contact with him was met with questions about the Australian icon.
Robert himself admitted that he thinks about his father every day, telling the media that at such a young age, losing “the dominant presence of positivity and all that is good in the world” makes you question everything.
Over the years, he has been called “Steve Irwin’s son” or “Bindi Irwin’s brother.”
But now the wildlife warrior is making a name for himself, slowly building a career that includes hosting I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! and walked the runway at the Melbourne Fashion Festival earlier this year.
He even became the face of a Queensland tourism campaign aimed at luring overseas visitors to the sunshine state.
For the ad, which features a montage of iconic Queensland holiday destinations such as the Great Barrier Reef, Gold Coast and Brisbane, he teamed up with cartoon character Bluey, encouraging visitors to pack their bags.
Last week, the advert was mocked in an episode of a cartoon by One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, sparking outrage from Robert Irwin’s camp.
Lawyers for Robert Irwin say the episode – which includes a cartoon of Mr Irwin mocking Queensland’s problems with housing, youth crime and health care in an attempt to show cartoon character Bluey the best of Queensland – is defamatory and involves “unauthorized and fraudulent use” of the image of the 20-year-old.
The story dominated the media over the weekend, and Senator Hanson responded and told Irwin to “cheer up.”
Being in the spotlight is nothing new for Mr. Irwin, who was born to famous parents Steve (“The Crocodile Hunter”) and Terri Irwin.
His parents, both conservationists and animal guardians, have already achieved incredible success and international fame thanks to the popular television show The Crocodile Hunter and its spin-off film.
Steve was famous for his conservation efforts, enthusiasm for wildlife and his slogan “Crikey!”
The couple also co-owned the Australian Zoo in Beerwah, Queensland, founded in 1970 by Steve’s parents as the “Beerwah Reptile Park”.
First media storm:
Robert first came into the spotlight in January 2004, when he was just one month old.
Steve held him by the arms while feeding a crocodile at Australia Zoo, sparking public outrage and debate around the world and even causing the Queensland government to change its regulations on the handling of crocodiles.
But 18 years later, Robert has dismissed those fears, describing that day as “one of the best days of my life” and insisting he “couldn’t be safer” in his father’s arms.
“Dad was wild, passionate and enthusiastic, but most of all… he was the best dad in the world,” he said.
Father’s death:
Robert was just two years old and Bindi just eight when Steve died in 2006 after having his chest pierced by a stingray spine while filming in the Great Barrier Reef.
Steve’s death caused a worldwide outpouring of shock and grief, with the public memorial service watched by over 300 million viewers around the world.
In the years that followed, the family continued to build on Steve’s legacy, and Bindi and Robert grew up around the animals at Australia Zoo, where Robert fed freshwater crocodiles until he was 8 years old.
Childhood successes as a TV personality:
As a child, Robert published a series of books, Robert Irwin: Dinosaur Hunter, and appeared on television shows including Steve Irwin’s Wildlife Warriors with his mother and sister, as well as a television show he co-hosted called Wild But True.
Viewers around the world couldn’t get enough of Robert and at the age of 13 he began appearing on the popular American talk show The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where he showed various animals.
There was also a love and talent for nature and wildlife photography, which resulted in awards and photography exhibitions around the world.
Most recently, he appeared alongside his mother and sister in three seasons of the reality show Crikey! These are the Irwins who focused on the family’s work at the Australian Zoo.
Passion for wildlife conservation:
Robert’s passion for animals and their conservation, alongside his sister and mother, was evident throughout his career.
He continues to educate Australia Zoo visitors about crocodiles and supports conservation projects around the world, including by participating in Australia Zoo’s annual crocodile research expedition to the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve in Far North Queensland.
Bindi and Robert have over 11 million followers on Instagram and have met with world leaders, including King Charles, to discuss protecting natural habitats. The Irwin family’s influence and success is undeniable, and it seems the public simply can’t get enough of wildlife warriors.