Jeff Probst | |
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.png) Probst in 2016 | |
| Born | Jeffrey Lee Probst (1961-11-04)November 4, 1961 (age 64) Wichita, Kansas, U.S. |
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| Years active | 1996–present |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 2 (Stepchildren) |
Jeffrey Lee Probst (/proʊbst/; born November 4, 1961)[1] is an American television presenter, producer, and young adult fiction writer. He is best known as theEmmy Award–winning host of the American version of the reality television showSurvivor since 2000. He was also the host ofThe Jeff Probst Show, asyndicated daytime talk show produced byCBS Television Distribution from September 2012 to May 2013.
Probst was born atWesley Medical Center inWichita, Kansas, the oldest of three sons to Jerry and Barbara Probst.[2][3] His family moved toBellevue, Washington, when Probst was 15 years old.[1][2] After graduating fromNewport High School in 1979, Probst attendedSeattle Pacific University but left before graduating to pursue a career in television.[4] Soon after leaving college, he began working atBoeing Motion Picture/Television studio as a producer and later narrator ofmarketing and training videos.[5]
In addition toSurvivor, Probst once hostedFX's original half-hour show dedicated to answering viewer letters,Backchat, along withSound FX, a music series featuringOrlando Jones (1996). Probst also hosted theVH1 seriesRock & Roll Jeopardy! from 1998 to 2001 and was a correspondent for the syndicated programAccess Hollywood. He also wrote and directed the Lionsgate released film,Finder's Fee.People magazine named Probst one of the "50 Most Beautiful People" in 2001. He often contributes toJeopardy! by givingSurvivor-related clues from the show's venues, has twice appeared onCelebrityJeopardy!, first in 2001 and again in 2003, and made several cameo appearances during the April 1, 2010, episode.[6] He was a frequent guest star on the sketch showMADtv, guest-starring once a season since the show's 9th season. He hosted "Celebrity Superfan Roundtable" forHoward Stern.
Probst is the host ofSurvivor, a globally syndicated American reality show which he has hosted since its inception in 2000. He has stated that he had worked hard to get a meeting with series creatorMark Burnett as he believed the show was "something special." Probst caught Burnett's eye in 1999 when he interviewedSandra Bullock while working forAccess Hollywood. Burnett was impressed by Probst's ability to garner honest answers from media trained celebrities and felt that his relative anonymity would allow the show to be built "from the ground up."[5] Probst has won fourPrimetime Emmy Awards as the host ofSurvivor. He delivers the series' signature catchphrase to losing contestants, "The tribe has spoken. It's time for you to go," which was included inTV Land's "The 100 Greatest TV Quotes and Catch Phrases" special in 2006.[7]
On October 20, 2008,TV Guide reported that Probst was developing a new reality TV series forCBS calledLive for the Moment[8] that was to feature people with terminal illnesses being taken on "the last adventure of their life" before they die.[9] Only the pilot was aired, on January 28, 2010.[10]
On April 1, 2009, Probst appeared on theCBS reality television specialI Get That a Lot, in which he worked a cash register.
In October 2011, he appeared as himself on thesitcomHow I Met Your Mother, in the episode "The Stinson Missile Crisis".[11]
In January 2012, Probst was announced as director of his second feature film, coming-of-age storyKiss Me, starringJohn Corbett andSarah Bolger, with production scheduled to begin in Los Angeles the following month.[12]
Probst hostedThe Jeff Probst Show, asyndicated daytime talk show produced byCBS Television Distribution from September 2012 to May 2013. CBS did not pick up the show for a second season, citing low ratings.[13] Between October 2012 and January 2014, Probst hosted the recurringAdult Swim special, "The Greatest Event in Television History," which consisted of remakes of 1980s TV show title sequences.
In February 2013, Probst teamed up with Christopher Tebbetts to release the first ofScholastic's adventure seriesStranded, aimed at middle school students, grades 4–6. It follows the story of Vanessa, Buzz, Carter, and Jane as they are left on a deserted island and forced to fend for themselves. It started out as a regular vacation but when a storm sets in, the kids are shipwrecked in the middle of the South Pacific without any parents. They must find a way to work together if they are ever to get off the island.Stranded is the first of the three-book series.
In November 2013 and January 2014, Probst appeared as himself on the sitcomTwo and a Half Men in twoseason 11 episodes, "Some Kind of Lesbian Zombie" and "Baseball. Boobs. Boobs. Baseball".
In December 2016, Probst appeared as himself on the sitcomLife in Pieces, in the episode "Swim Survivor Zen Talk".
In October 2022, Probst appeared onSaturday Night Live in theseason 48 episode hosted byJack Harlow. He appeared in the "Joker Wedding" sketch.[14]
On January 14th 2026, Probst will appear as guest onseason 2 of Beast Games's fourth episode. A Survivor themed episode in which the 25 remaining contestants of the show will compete to win a private island. He will also be the second ever guest to appear on the show,Lil Yachty was the first one.[15]
Probst was married to his first wife, psychotherapist Shelley Wright, from 1996 to 2001.[16] In 2004, after filming onSurvivor: Vanuatu wrapped, he began dating one of the contestants, Julie Berry.[16] They broke up in early 2008.[17]
Probst married his second wife, Lisa Ann Russell, on December 5, 2011.[18] Through this marriage, Probst is a stepfather to Russell's two children, son Michael (b. 2004) and daughter Ava (b. 2006), from her former marriage to actorMark-Paul Gosselaar.[19][20] Probst has stated that he and his wife amicably share custody with Gosselaar and his second wife, and that the children consider all four to be parents.[21]
Probst keeps the snuffer that he uses to snuff the torches when a contestant is voted out of the game as a souvenir after every season ofSurvivor.[22]He has written a book calledStranded, based on the showSurvivor. As an ordained minister, he has presided over the weddings of several of his friends.[23]
On September 21, 2008, Probst won the firstPrimetime Emmy Award forOutstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program. He won the same award in 2009, 2010, and 2011. TheLos Angeles Times attributed Probst's track record in the category to his penchant for interacting with contestants on a compassionate personal level unseen in any of his competitors, transcending his role of host to that of counselor.[24]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999–2001 | Rock & Roll Jeopardy! | Host | 100 episodes |
| 2000–present | Survivor | Executive director, producer and host | 49 seasons, 714 episodes |
| 2001–2003 | Celebrity Jeopardy! | Contestant | 2 episodes |
| 2002–2004 | Fillmore! | Raycliff | 8 episodes |
| 2003–2007 | Mad TV | Guest star | 5 episodes |
| 2011 | How I Met Your Mother | Himself | 1 episode |
| 2012–2013 | The Jeff Probst Show | Host | 170 episodes |
| 2013–2014 | Two and a Half Men | Himself | 2 episodes |
| 2013 | Survivor: Blood vs Water Preview | Host and executive producer | |
| 2014 | The (206) | Actor | Season 2, Episode 12 |
| 2016 | Life in Pieces | Himself | Season 2, Episode 7 (Swim Survivor Zen Talk) |
| 2017 | Family Guy | Voice | Season 16, Episode 7 (Petey IV) |
| 2022 | Saturday Night Live | Himself | Season 48, Episode 4 (Jack Harlow) |
| 2026 | Beast Games | Guest | Season 2, Episode 4[15] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Finder's Fee | Director, writer | |
| 2014 | Kiss Me | Director, producer |
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