Everyone knows Steve Irwin. Whether by proxy through the various pop culture cameos and depictions or being fans of all things related to animals.
Steve Irwin, also known as The Crocodile Hunter, was a conversationalist, environmentalist, wildlife expert, documentarian, and one of the most Australian men who ever lived.
He popularized the word “Crikey” to where it became synonymous with his home country as kangaroos.
As part of his profession, he crossed paths with many animals that are considered deadly.
From gigantic saltwater crocodiles with the bite strength to chew through a car bumper to snakes long enough to wrap a man his size twice over, he was a friend and caretaker to all of them as the head of the Australia Zoo.
But even the best can make mistakes, and when dealing with such aggressive creatures, one mistake can cost a life.
10 /10 All Australian Male
Steve was born to his parents, Bob and Lyn Irwin, and spent most of his childhood in Queensland from 1970 onward.
Bob Irwin was a wildlife expert, and his mother was a wildlife rehabilitator. He was very much born into his profession and grew up around more crocodiles and lizards than cats or dogs.
His parents started what would become the Australia Zoo, which Steve took over and renamed in 1991.
9 /10 The Pitch
That was also when he met his wife, Terri Raines. They were in love immediately and married the following year. They spent their honeymoon trapping crocodiles.
The footage of their excursion then became the pilot episode of The Crocodile Hunter.
This show chronicled Steve’s pursuits of dangerous wildlife as he wrestled crocs and gators while educating the audience about their true nature in the wild.