The star of the hit television reality show “Man vs. Wild,” known as “Bear” Grylls, was born Edward Michael Grylls in 1974 in County Down, Northern Ireland. Grylls spent most of his childhood growing up on the Isle of Wight, and from a very young age he was an outdoorsman and thrill seeker. He learned to sail while still in elementary school, and by the time he was a teenager he was skydiving.
At Eton College, where he pursued a degree in Hispanic Studies, he helped the institution found its first mountaineering club. Between his graduation and debut of Man vs. Wild, Grylls embarked on dozens of highly publicized adventures, including: a circumnavigation of the UK, an unassisted crossing of the Atlantic in an inflatable boat, a paramotoring expedition over the Himalayas, a climb of a previously uncharted Antarctican peak, and an expedition of the ice-covered Northwest Passage.
Some of these endeavors, such as the paramotoring expedition over the Himalayas, were broadcast on various networks, including the Discovery Channel, leading to worldwide notoriety. In 2006, the network launched Bear Gryll’s first series, Man vs. Wild, based on his UK series Born Survivor: Bear Grylls. Additional shows and specials since the start of Man Vs. Wild include: Get Out Alive with Bear Grylls, Escape from Hell, The Island with Bear Grylls, and Running Wild with Bear Grylls, which features celebrities accompanying Bear on a two-day trip into the wild. Grylls also frequently appears on such television programs as Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, and The Tonight Show.
In addition to his television work, Bear Grylls has also authored multiple books, including his autobiography, Mud, Sweat and Tears: The Autobiography. Most recently, Bear Grylls launched his CITV series Bear Grylls Survival School. Grylls is also a motivation speaker for schools, churches, and corporations throughout the world.
