The Real Crocodile Dundee

From Nicole Kidman to Russell Crowe, there’s no shortage of famous Aussies out there. But few personalities embodied Australia’s spirit quite like the late Steve Irwin. The real-life “Crocodile Dundee” was a zookeeper and environmentalist best known for his wildlife videos, in which he got dangerously close to some of Australia’s meanest predators.

Eventually, Irwin’s love for dangerous animals proved too much, and he passed away tragically after being pierced by a short-tail stingray. Nicknamed “The Crocodile Hunter,” Irwin was only 44 years old at the time. His two children, Bindi and Robert, now work as zookeepers and TV personalities.