Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Steve Irwin

Role / Field:

Iconic Australian conservationist, famed for his passion for wildlife and crocodiles.

Born:

1962-02-22

Died:

2006-09-04

Century / Era:

1962s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Stephen Robert Irwin (22 February 1962 – 4 September 2006) was an Australian conservationist, environmentalist, zookeeper, television personality, and wildlife educator. Nicknamed the "Crocodile Hunter", he is regarded as an Australian cultural icon, and as one of the greatest conservationists. Irwin grew up around crocodiles and other reptiles and was taught about them by his father, Bob. He achieved international fame in the late 1990s through The Crocodile Hunter, an internationally broadcast wildlife documentary series that he co-hosted with his wife, Terri.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

The couple also hosted Croc Files, The Crocodile Hunter Diaries, and New Breed Vets. They co-owned and operated Australia Zoo, founded by Irwin's parents in Beerwah, Queensland. They had two children, Bindi and Robert. On 4 September 2006, Irwin died from an injury caused by a stingray while filming an underwater documentary in the Great Barrier Reef. His death became international news and was met with expressions of shock and grief from fans, the media, governments, and non-profit organisations.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Numerous parks, zoos, streets, the vessel MY Steve Irwin, the snail species Crikey steveirwini, and the asteroid 57567 Crikey have...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Adolf Eichmann — Contemporary (Died in 1962) (1962): Nazi SS officer and key organizer of the Holocaust's logistics.
• Alain Robert — Contemporary (Born in 1962) (1962): French rock and urban climber, nicknamed 'the French Spider-Man'.
• Aleksandr Dugin — Contemporary (Born in 1962) (1962): Leading theorist of Russian neo-Eurasianism, advocating for a 'conservative revolution'.
• Aaron Spelling — Contemporary (Died in 2006) (2006): Pioneering American producer of hit TV series like Dynasty and Beverly Hills, 90210.
• Abu Musab al-Zarqawi — Contemporary (Died in 2006) (2006): Jordanian jihadist militant known for orchestrating violence in Iraq (1966–2006)
• Alexander Litvinenko — Contemporary (Died in 2006) (2006): Russian defector and critic of the Kremlin, known for exposing state corruption.
• Adam Ferguson — Shared historical date (02-22 · Died) (1816): Scottish philosopher, historian, and 'father of modern sociology'.
• Adolphe Quetelet — Shared historical date (02-22 · Born) (1796): Pioneering Belgian statistician, founder of anthropometry, and social scientist.
• Al-Biruni — Shared historical date (09-04 · Born) (973): Khwarazmian polymath, pioneering in science, history, and comparative religion.
• Albert Schweitzer — Shared historical date (09-04 · Died) (1965): German polymath renowned for theology, music, and 'Reverence for Life'
• 1962 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1962
• February 22 (02-22) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on February 22
• 2006 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 2006
• September 4 (09-04) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on September 4

Frequently Asked Questions about Steve Irwin