When Robert Irwin stripped off his shirt on the US TV show Dancing with the Stars, it marked a pivotal moment in the life of the 21-year-old.
The only son of the late Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin, Robert has grown up in the public eye and even attracted controversy when he was just one month old.
While it is little wonder Robert is comfortable in front of the lens, judging by his recent dance performance, he is ready for the world to see him in a different light.
Robert Clarence Irwin was born in Buderim, Queensland, on December 1, 2003, to Steve and Terri Irwin.
At the time, Steve had a worldwide following thanks to the TV show The Crocodile Hunter, as well as his work as a conservationist.
Steve and Terri Irwin lived and worked at the popular Sunshine Coast tourist attraction Australia Zoo when they weren’t travelling, making content or media appearances.
They welcomed their first child, daughter Bindi in 1998, then Robert. He was named after his paternal grandfather, Bob, who first started the zoo before handing the day-to-day running over to Steve and Terri in 1991.
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When Robert was just one month old, he found himself at the centre of media controversy after a visitor to Australia Zoo filmed his father appearing to walk his infant son along the ground just metres from a 3.8-metre crocodile during a show.
He was also seen feeding chicken carcasses to the croc while he held an infant Robert in his arms.
The footage was beamed around the world, attracting condemnation from wildlife experts and mums, who were outraged by the cavalier way Irwin was holding his son, whose unsupported head was seen flopped to one side.
Irwin eventually apologised for any alarm he caused but defended his actions.
However, the incident prompted the Queensland Government to change its crocodile-handling laws to ban children from enclosures unless they had taken part in a strict, long-term training program.
Robert was a chip off the block from a young age, often dressing in a khaki set that matched his famous dad’s.
But their time together would be cut short.
When Robert was just 21-months-old, his father died after a stingray barb struck him in the heart while he was swimming filming a documentary aptly titled, Ocean’s Deadliest.
Despite losing his father at such a young age, Robert was able to keep his memory alive by watching the numerous TV shows and home videos that he was featured in.
During the Mental as Anyone with J Mo podcast in 2024, Robert said he still watched videos and photos to stay close to his dad.
“The images and the pictures, the video and the sound, he’s still part of every day for me,” he said.
“Having lost someone at a very young age, I love getting little pieces of him back. That’s what it feels like.
“When I see a picture of Dad or footage, I actually love having his presence around.”
Australia Zoo
During the same podcast, Robert said his Dad was one of the reasons he loved living and working at Australia Zoo.
Earlier this year, Robert shared a poignant memory of his father in a video on social media, which documented him gathering fresh fruit and nuts for an afternoon snack.
During the video, he decided to hop on a small motorcycle which he said his father used to use to drive he and his sister around the zoo and surrounding property.
After their father’s death, Terri remained at Australia Zoo with her two children, who were both home schooled.
When they were not busy with their lessons, they mucked in and helped care for the animals, and by the time Robert was eight years and nine months, he was feeding the freshwater crocodiles that call the zoo home.
Robert continues to work and live at the zoo when he is not travelling for other commitments.
Along with his mother and sister, he is heavily involved in promoting the work of Wildlife Warriors, the charity his parents started in 2002 to aid the protection of injured, threatened or endangered wildlife.
TV career
Growing up in the spotlight, it made sense that Robert would soon follow in his older sister’s footsteps and spread his wings to include screen appearances.
In 2009, he made a brief appearance in the film Free Willy: Escape from Pirate’s Cove, which was released the following year and starred his sister.
Three years later he appeared alongside his sister and mother in the 26-part TV series, Steve Irwin’s Wildlife Warriors.
The role netted him a Logie nomination at nine for Most Popular New Male Talent in 2013, although he did not win.
Next he co-hosted TV series Wild But True on Discovery Kids Channel.
When he was 14, he appeared on an episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
The appearance was such a success he has returned to the show numerous times over the years.
Between 2018 and 2022, he appeared alongside his sister and mother on the TV show Crikey! It’s the Irwins, which aired on the US Animal Planet, discovery+ and Discovery Channel.
Robert Irwin recreates poignant childhood photo in dad’s ute
A year after it ended, Irwin landed his biggest role to date, and what many considered his first adult role, when he was announced as the new co-host for the Aussie version of I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!
The role saw him replace Dr Chris Brown in the 2024 season, and while many at first questioned his coupling with the much more mature Julia Morris, he soon had detractors eating their words with his polished performance.
It even saw him nominated for a Gold Logie.
He returned for the show’s 2025 season.
In April this year, Robert was the first celebrity announced for the 2025 line-up of the US Dancing with the Stars, where he was paired with professional dancer Witney Carson.
It was during an episode that aired in the US just over a week ago that Robert ripped off his shirt to an audience of millions.
The routine earned him a standing ovation from the crowd and ensured he progressed to this week’s show, which he blitzed thanks to a strong cha-cha-cha performance to the Shakira song Try Everything from the film Zootopia.
Robert is today considered a front-runner to win the competition, as his sister did in 2015.
He is also set for his first starring role in a film, having signed to voice a koala named Robert Furwin in Zootopia 2, which hits cinemas in November.
Family life
Robert is extremely close to his mum Terri, sister Bindi, and her husband Chandler Powell and their daughter, Grace.
During the Mental as Anyone with J Mo podcast, he even went as far to say they never fight.
“For us, there’s never a dull moment. But there’s never this sense of drama,” he said.
“There’s never like the fighting and the bickering and this and that. It’s just this tight-knit family unit.”
They are so close, the entire family has relocated to the US with Robert while he appears on Dancing with the Stars.
Conservation
Robert considers himself a conservationist first and foremost, which he combines with his work at the zoo and his love of nature photographer, which has seen him awards.
He has travelled to “every corner of the globe pursuing his work as an advocate for the environment”, according to his bio on the Australia Zoo website.
“Whether that is catching up with the various global conservation projects that Wildlife Warriors supports, embarking on a photography expedition, or working on a new show to broaden his message,” it says.
In 2024, Robert was named an ambassador of the Earthshot Prize started by Prince William to recognise and support innovative solutions for environmental issues.
Relationships
Robert’s most public relationship was with Rorie Buckey, the niece of late actor Heath Ledger.
The two were first linked in November 2022 but did not publicly confirm their relationship until the following July, when they attended the Earthshot Prize Awards together.
The couple announced they had split up in February 2024.
After that, he was linked to an Australia Zoo employee after a media outlet published photos of the them visiting Sydney together in July 2024.
In April this year, Robert told People he was single but open to meeting someone.
“It’s funny, I’m at this point in my life where I’m like, I’m so open to that, but I’m just waiting for the stars to align,” he said.
In the same interview, he said he wouldn’t be surprised if he met his future partner at work.
“Everyone met here at our wildlife sanctuary,” Robert said, adding his parents met there, as did his sister and her husband.
“In both instances, there were American tourists that were coming over and visiting the zoo, so I’m waiting,” he said.
“I’m waiting for that American tourist to come into the zoo and for it all to happen.”
Just last month he told People he was still waiting for his ‘American love story’ to begin.
“I’ve been saying, when is that going to happen for me?” he said.
Judging by the many female fans he has won since his Dancing with the Stars turn, we are guessing it won’t be long before Robert embarks on his very own love story.
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