‘Survivor’ host Jeff Probst threw a huge twist out into the universe this week when he turned 60 years old.
No, that is not a typo. Jeff Probst is 60!
Many believe Probst used the controversial “Turn Back Time” advantage –which was introduced last week on Survivor 41– on himself as the newly minted sexagenarian looks like he’s barely scratching 40.
So, as Probst celebrates 60 years on the planet with a hidden immunity against aging idol in his back pocket, we will celebrate the best way we know how…by gushing about his awesomeness.
Any Survivor fan worth their salt knows Probst, with his sick burns during challenges and unique ways to get castaways to spill their guts at tribal council has directed and produced many, and hosted all 41 seasons of the reality competition show which, over the past 21 years has been filmed across 4 continents. But here are some facts you may not know about the host with the most.
‘Survivor’ Host Jeff Probst Celebrates the Big 6-0!
- Probst grew up in Wichita and took his first job at 15 years old, bussing tables for $2.20 an hour. He had to lie to get the job, saying he was 16, not 15 at the time- hmmm, would you trust him on your tribe?
- Probst has two brothers, Brent and Scott. Scott actually worked on Survivor between 2011 and 2012 with the camera crew, as a grip and as a video engineer. Blood really IS thicker than water.
- Survivor isn’t for the faint of heart and it’s not just contestants that can get hurt out there. While filming in Borneo, Probst was stung in the genitals while taking a quick dip in the ocean. Another time a scorpion crawled into his boot and stung him in the Achilles’ heel. The funniest (in hindsight) injury occurred when Probst decided to relieve himself in the great outdoors of the outback. Unfortunately the fence he decided to pee on was an electric fence and he received a shock. So did the fence!
- Probst isn’t afraid to poke fun at himself and the contestants on Survivor and is known to be quick with a snarky comment here and there. Many diehard fans may also know he likes to talk about balls…A LOT…and he thinks he’s pretty hilarious when he does it. Okay, he is. Yes, all those times you excessively hear Probst talking about the castaways handling their balls in the challenges, it is an inside joke for himself, the crew, and the fans now, too.
- He once slid into one of the contestants DMs. Kind of. It was way back in the day, before DMs were a thing, but Probst did fall for Survivor Vanuatu castaway, Julie Berry, back in 2004. Though nothing is said to have happened between the two during the filming of season 9, after the show wrapped, Probst decided to shoot his shot and emailed Julie, telling her how he felt. Julie felt it back the two became official at the season nine finale (filmed way after the contest had ended). They split after four years and Probst ended up marrying Lisa Ann Russell- a model/actress who was previously married to Zach Morris, er, we mean Mark-Paul Gosselaar. Jeff and Lisa Ann will celebrate their tenth wedding anniversary next month.
- Speaking of marriages- Probst officiates them! Yes Jeff Probst wants to marry you…or at least he wants to officiate for his friends including Jenna Fischer, aka Pam from the Office. Jeff once asked Survivor couple Rob Mariano and Amber Brkich if they would like to use his officiating services (which set him back a whopping $25 to obtain). Rob and Amber declined.
- After each season of ‘Survivor’ has wrapped, Probst nabs himself a souvenir of that series. He is now the proud owner of 41 torch snuffers he uses while pronouncing the infamous words “The tribe has spoken”. Interestingly, that line was a last minute add to the show. Probst and series creator, Mark Burnet were desperately trying to come up with a catch phrase for the host to utter. Less than 48 hours before Probst would have to say it on camera, Burnet spat out the legendary line and Probst knew it was winner, winner chicken dinner…well, not for the tribesperson he is saying it to.
- Probst has earned himself 4 Primetime Emmy Awards for hosting Survivor, and they were all awarded to him in consecutive years between 2008 and 2011. However, he has never been nominated again since his 2011 win! Maybe he took himself out of the running, you know, to give the other hosts a chance. After all, Probst has also been named as one of the 20 most beautiful people in a list published in People Magazine. Who needs a Prime Time Emmy for all their hard work after that distinction?
- Probst definitely plays favorites and has a list of his top ten favorite winners of all 41 seasons. At the top is John Cochran, the victor from season 26. Probst explains that he chose Cochran as his number one because the player was an underdog who unexpectedly pulled off the million dollar win by being aware of himself and turning his negative traits into assets. Legions of fans agree with Probst, there.
- Back in 2007, Jeff Probst founded a charity called the Serpentine Project. The aim of the Serpentine Project is to assist young adults in California who are ‘aging out’ of the foster care system Probst’s charity helps these kids-becoming-adults and need help finding jobs and places to live. Probst is outspoken about his passion for the cause and dedicates a lot of his time to it. The charity has now merged with the Alliance for Children’s Rights organization.
There you go, ten awesome things about our favorite host, the birthday boy himself, Mr. Jeff Probst.
Now if only he’d tell us where, along his travels, he found that fountain of youth that he must have bathed in…twice!
Happy 60th birthday, Jeff!
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