Does Steve Irwin Have Kids? Family and Children Explained

The Short Answer

Yes, Steve Irwin had two children. The "Crocodile Hunter" was the father of Bindi Irwin, born July 24, 1998, and Robert Irwin, born December 1, 2003. Both children are with his wife Terri Irwin, whom he married in 1992 after meeting her at his family's Australia Zoo. Steve Irwin, born Stephen Robert Irwin on February 22, 1962, in Essendon, Victoria, died on September 4, 2006, at age 44, after being struck by a stingray while filming.

Regarded as an Australian cultural icon and one of the greatest conservationists, Irwin's children have carried on his legacy: Bindi won Dancing with the Stars and stars on Crikey! It's the Irwins, while Robert has become a wildlife photographer and TV personality in his father's mold.

Who Is Steve Irwin?

Stephen Robert Irwin was born on February 22, 1962, in Essendon, Victoria, Australia, to wildlife experts Bob and Lyn Irwin. He grew up at his parents' Queensland reptile park, handling crocodiles from age nine and becoming an expert in wildlife by his teens. In 1991 he took over the family park, renaming it Australia Zoo.

His television series The Crocodile Hunter (1996–2004), co-hosted with Terri, made him a global phenomenon — his khaki uniform, boundless enthusiasm and catchphrase "Crikey!" turned wildlife education into must-see TV. He starred in the film The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course (2002) and became Australia's most famous international export, using his fame to fund conservation work worldwide.

Early Life and Birthday

Steve Irwin was born on February 22, 1962, in Essendon, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia. When he was eight, the family moved to Queensland, where his parents opened the Beerwah Reptile Park. By nine he was wrestling crocodiles under his father's supervision; by his teens he was volunteering in Queensland's crocodile relocation program, catching and relocating problem crocodiles solo.

He met American-born Terri Raines in 1991 when she visited the reptile park while on holiday in Australia. They married in 1992, and instead of a honeymoon they went crocodile trapping together — footage that became the first episode of The Crocodile Hunter.

Children and Family

Steve Irwin had two children with his wife Terri: daughter Bindi Sue Irwin, born July 24, 1998, and son Robert Clarence Irwin, born December 1, 2003. Bindi was named after one of Steve's favorite crocodiles and his dog Sui; Robert was named after Steve's father, Bob. When Steve died in 2006, Bindi was 8 and Robert was not yet 3.

Both children grew up at Australia Zoo and became conservationists: Bindi won Dancing with the Stars (US) at 17, starred in films and now co-hosts Crikey! It's the Irwins with her family — she married Chandler Powell in 2020 and welcomed daughter Grace in 2021, making Steve a posthumous grandfather. Robert, now in his twenties, is an award-winning wildlife photographer who appears on The Tonight Show continuing his father's animal segments. Terri never remarried and runs Australia Zoo.

Relationships and Marriage

Steve Irwin was married to Terri Irwin (née Raines) from 1992 until his death in 2006. An American naturalist from Eugene, Oregon, Terri was on holiday in Australia when she visited the Queensland Reptile Park in 1991 and met Steve; she later said it was love at first sight. She co-hosted The Crocodile Hunter with him and became a naturalized Australian citizen.

Their partnership was both romantic and professional — they built Australia Zoo into a world-class conservation facility together. After Steve's death, Terri kept the zoo running and raised Bindi and Robert there, expanding the family's wildlife hospital. She has said she never considered remarrying.

Career Highlights

Irwin's career made wildlife conservation mainstream entertainment. The Crocodile Hunter aired in over 130 countries, and his fearless hands-on style — wrestling crocodiles, handling venomous snakes — educated a generation about animals. He founded the Steve Irwin Conservation Foundation (now Wildlife Warriors) and purchased vast tracts of land in Australia, Vanuatu, Fiji and the US as wildlife preserves.

He was not without controversy: a 2004 incident in which he held his infant son Robert near a crocodile during a feeding demonstration drew global criticism, though no charges were filed. His death on September 4, 2006 — struck in the chest by a stingray barb while filming Ocean's Deadliest off Queensland — shocked the world; Australia held a public memorial attended by thousands, and his funeral's "khaki" dress code became iconic.

Global Fame and Conservation Impact

Steve Irwin's The Crocodile Hunter aired in over 130 countries, making him arguably Australia's most famous international export. His khaki uniform, boundless enthusiasm and "Crikey!" catchphrase turned wildlife education into appointment television. He starred in the feature film The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course (2002) and hosted numerous documentaries, using every platform to preach conservation.

His tangible conservation legacy is vast: the Steve Irwin Conservation Foundation (now Wildlife Warriors) has purchased hundreds of thousands of acres of wildlife habitat across Australia, Vanuatu, Fiji and the United States. Australia Zoo, which he transformed from his parents' small reptile park into a world-class facility, now anchors a conservation empire run by his family. In 2018 he received a posthumous Hollywood Walk of Fame star.

The Irwin Family Today

Steve's legacy lives most vividly through his children. Bindi Irwin, now a mother herself to daughter Grace Warrior (born 2021) with husband Chandler Powell, won Dancing with the Stars at 17 and co-hosts Crikey! It's the Irwins. Robert Irwin has become an award-winning wildlife photographer — his images have won global competitions — and a natural TV presenter who continues his father's animal segments on The Tonight Show, earning comparisons to Steve himself.

Terri Irwin never remarried and has expanded Australia Zoo, including its wildlife hospital treating thousands of animals yearly. The family collectively reaches millions through television and social media, making the Irwins arguably the world's most famous conservation family — all tracing back to the khaki-clad man who wrestled crocodiles with joy.

The Stingray Tragedy and Global Mourning

On September 4, 2006, Steve Irwin was filming Ocean's Deadliest off Queensland's Batt Reef when a stingray barb pierced his chest. He was 44. The news shocked the world: Australia's prime minister offered a state funeral (the family declined, holding a private service), and thousands gathered for a public memorial at Australia Zoo — khaki the dress code, per the family's request.

The tragedy was a freak accident — stingray fatalities are extraordinarily rare — and footage was never released. Bindi, then 8, and Robert, not yet 3, grew up in the zoo their father built, raised by Terri, who never remarried. In 2018, Steve received a posthumous Hollywood Walk of Fame star. Twenty years on, "Crikey!" remains shorthand for his joy — and his children, now adults, carry the khaki forward.

Lesser-Known Facts About Steve Irwin

Steve Irwin was wrestling crocodiles by age nine under his father Bob's supervision, and by his teens was catching problem crocodiles solo for Queensland's relocation program. He met wife Terri in 1991 when she visited his family's reptile park as a tourist — they married in 1992 and spent their honeymoon trapping crocodiles, footage that became the first Crocodile Hunter episode.

His daughter Bindi was named after one of his favorite crocodiles (and his dog Sui); son Robert was named after his father Bob. He once fed a crocodile while holding infant Robert in 2004 — a stunt that drew global condemnation but no charges. His catchphrase "Crikey!" is now inseparable from Australian identity, and his 2006 death remains one of the most mourned celebrity passings in history.

Legacy

Steve Irwin died on September 4, 2006, at 44. His legacy thrives through Australia Zoo, still run by Terri, Bindi and Robert, and through Wildlife Warriors conservation projects worldwide. In 2018 he was posthumously awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Bindi's daughter Grace — born in 2021 — carries the middle name Warrior in his honor, and Robert's television work has made him, in many eyes, the Crocodile Hunter's heir. He would have been 64 in 2026.

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