Jeff Probst

Jeffrey Lee "Jeff" Probst is the host of Survivor. He also acts as an Executive Producer, working alongside the show's creator, Mark Burnett.

Biography
Probst was born in Wichita, Kansas, but grew up primarily in Bellevue, Washington. After graduating from Newport High School in 1979, he attended Seattle Pacific University and worked at Boeing Motion Picture/Television studio as a producer and narrator of marketing videos.

Probst was ordained as a minister by the Universal Life Church in 1999. He remarried his parents for their 35th wedding anniversary. He also officiated at the marriage of Jenna Fisher, star of "The Office."

One World
Executive Producer, SURVIVOR: ONE WORLD

Emmy Award-winning host and executive producer Jeff Probst returns for the 24th installment of the phenomenally successful series, SURVIVOR.

Probst is a four-time Emmy Award winner for "Outstanding Reality Host," the only winner since the awards inception in 2008. He has traveled the world serving as both host and executive producer for this popular series. Probst also received an Emmy in 2001 when the show won the first-ever "Outstanding Non-Fiction Program (Special Class)."

In 2009, Probst partnered with Mark Burnett as creator and More... executive producer for "Live for the Moment," for CBS, which featured a person with a daunting diagnosis who wants to live the best life possible and fulfill their dreams.

In 2002, Probst wrote and directed the feature film "Finder's Fee," starring Ryan Reynolds, James Earl Jones, Robert Forster and Matthew Lillard. The film won many awards and, thanks to the critical success, Probst was selected as one of 2001's "Ten Directors to Watch" in a series presented by the American Cinematheque showcasing innovative and exciting new directors from around the world.

Probst is a regular fill-in for Regis Philbin on "Live with Regis and Kelly." He was also a regular guest host for Larry King on "Larry King Live."

Probst hosts the "Howard Stern Celebrity Fan Roundtable" for Howard Stern on Sirius/XM radio. Probst previously served as host of VH1's "Rock and Roll Jeopardy"; hosted several programs for FX and traveled around the world as a correspondent for "Access Hollywood." In 2001, he was voted one of People Magazine's "Most Beautiful."

In 2007, Probst founded The Serpentine Project, a non-profit organization designed to help young adults transition out of the foster care system. In 2011, they joined forces with the larger non-profit organization Alliance for Children's Rights, which has provided 100,000 kids in L.A. with free legal assistance and advocacy. Each season, SURVIVOR memorabilia is auctioned off and, to date, the auctions have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the organization.

Probst is also an ordained minister and has served as the officiant at the weddings of several friends. He was ordained by the Universal Life Church of Modesto, California.

A native of Wichita, Kan., Probst lives in Los Angeles when not traveling the world. His birthday is November 4. He can be followed on twitter @JeffProbst.

Caramoan
Host and Executive Producer, SURVIVOR: CARAMOAN – FANS VS. FAVORITES

Emmy Award-winning host and executive producer Jeff Probst returns for the 26th installment of the phenomenally successful series, SURVIVOR. Probst is a four-time Emmy Award winner for "Outstanding Reality Host." He has traveled the world serving as both host and executive producer for this popular series. Probst also received an Emmy in 2001 when the show won the first-ever "Outstanding Non-Fiction Program (Special Class)."

In the fall of 2012, Probst premiered his daytime talk show “The Jeff Probst Show,” encouraging viewers to get off the couch and accomplish what they want in their lives. The one-hour daytime talk show covers topics ranging from newsmakers of the day to families and individuals facing challenges. Probst produced and directed the feature film “Kiss Me,” starring John Corbett, Sarah Bolger, Rita Wilson, Emily Osment, Missy Pyle and Jenna Fisher. The film is currently in post-production. In 2002, Probst wrote and directed the feature film "Finder's Fee," starring Ryan Reynolds, James Earl Jones, Robert Forster and Matthew Lillard. The film won many awards and, thanks to the film’s critical success, Probst was selected as one of 2001's "Ten Directors to Watch" in a series presented by the American Cinematheque showcasing innovative and exciting new directors from around the world. In 2009, Probst partnered with Mark Burnett as creator and executive producer for "Live for the Moment," for CBS, which featured a person with a daunting diagnosis who wants to live the best life possible and fulfill their dreams.

Probst was a regular fill-in for Regis Philbin on "Live with Regis and Kelly." He was also a regular guest host for Larry King on "Larry King Live.” Probst hosts the "Howard Stern Celebrity Fan Roundtable" for Howard Stern on Sirius/XM radio.  He previously served as host of VH1's "Rock and Roll Jeopardy"; hosted several programs for FX and traveled around the world as a correspondent for "Access Hollywood."  In 2001, he was voted one of People Magazine's "Most Beautiful."

In 2007, Probst founded The Serpentine Project, a non-profit organization designed to help young adults transition out of the foster care system. In 2011, they joined forces with the larger non-profit organization, Alliance for Children’s Rights, which has provided 100,000 kids in Los Angeles with free legal assistance and advocacy. Each season, SURVIVOR memorabilia is auctioned off and, to date, the auctions have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the organization. Also, Probst is an ordained minister and has served as the officiant at the weddings of several friends. A native of Wichita, Kan., Probst is married and lives in Los Angeles with his wife and two children, when not traveling the world. His birthday is November 4. He can be followed on twitter @jeffprobst.

Television career
In addition to Survivor, Probst previously hosted the FX network's original half-hour show dedicated to answering viewer letters, Backchat along with Sound FX, and a series of afternoon shows surrounding parenting, relationship and medicine. (1996). Probst's also hosted the VH1 series Rock & Roll Jeopardy! from 1998 to 2001, and was a correspondent for the syndicated program "Access 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 to Jeopardy! by giving Survivor related clues from the show's venues, has twice appeared on Celebrity Jeopardy!, first in 2001 and again in 2003, and made several cameo appearances during the April 1, 2010 episode.

He was also a frequent guest star on the sketch show MADtv, guest starring once a season since the show's 9th season.

Probst also hosts "Celebrity Superfan Roundtable" for Howard Stern.

In 2007, Probst founded The Serpentine Project, a non-profit organization that empowers youth transitioning out of foster care to reach for their dreams by opening the door to possibilities. The organization recently merged with The Alliance For Children's Rights.

On October 20, 2008, TV Guide reported that Probst is developing a new reality TV series for CBS called Live For The Moment that will feature people with terminal illnesses being taken on "the last adventure of their life" before they die. As of now, no production nor filming took place.

On April 1, 2009, Probst appeared on the CBS reality television special I Get That a Lot, in which he worked a cash register. Probst had extended his contract to host another two seasons of Survivor, contracting him through season 24.

In 2011 it was announced Probst would be hosting a daytime talk show in conjunction with CBS Distribution for launch in 2012.

Probst made a guest appearance on an episode of the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother on October 3, 2011.

He spoke to Entertainment Tonight about both his new talk show and the appearance on HIMYM in this interview: http://www.etonline.com/tv/114801_Survivor_s_Probst_on_New_Talk_Show_HIMYM_Cameo/

Hosting Survivor
He has hosted Survivor since 2000. He later stated that he had worked hard to get a meeting with series creator Mark Burnett, because he believed the show was "something special." He delivers the series' signature catch-phrase to losing contestants, "The tribe has spoken. It's time for you to go."

As the show's host, he made several voice-overs during early seasons. Additionally, Probst is also present in almost all events of the game, such as challenges, Tribal Councils, and twists, where in challenges, Jeff serves as the official referee who also makes commentaries as challenge progresses (for the benefit of the viewers). While officiating a challenge, Jeff reserves the right to disqualify a player at any point during a challenge whenever foul play is caught (as seen in Taking Candy from a Baby, where he disqualified Ben Browning from the Immunity Challenge because he was tripping the members of the rival tribe). The only time that Jeff did not officiate a challenge was during Do-It-Yourself Challenges, where the castaways conducted the challenge themselves. If injuries occur at any point during a challenge, Jeff would temporarily hold the challenge, while medics check the contestant in question. Depending on the severity of the injury, or if the injured player is forcibly eliminated from the game to seek further medical attention, Jeff holds the right to continue or postpone a challenge.

Over the years, Probst apparently developed a keen eye for body language. At Tribal Councils, whenever he sees an interesting gesture from any of the players (whether good or bad), he immediately notices and makes it a conversation piece, inducing controversy. Also, when players make a fatal, game-changing mistake, he would either criticize or make sarcastic jokes about it.

In Survivor: Pearl Islands, Jeff is revealed to have a distaste for people who quit the game, as seen in Osten Taylor's decision to voluntarily leave the competition. After Taylor left Tribal Council, Jeff was visibly disgusted. This feeling has been consistent over the years, during the double quits of NaOnka Mixon and Kelly Shinn in Survivor: Nicaragua, as well as Colton Cumbie quitting in Survivor: Blood vs. Water. Despite this, there have been exceptions: first was Jenna Morasca quit Survivor: All-Stars because she was having bad omens about her dying mother. The second is Janu Tornell, who became fed up with her tribe, but decided to "throw a wrench" in her tribe's plan to oust Stephenie LaGrossa by quitting the game at Tribal Council, thus canceling the voting process for that episode. The third time that Jeff was compassionate about a quitter was Kathy Sleckman, when she quit because the constant raining sent her into depression (Sleckman, an avid fan of the show, who applied several times). The fourth time was when Dana Lambert quit in Survivor: Philippines, but it was due to the illness she felt while in the game, even though she was still permitted to continue and observing her for the next 12 hours if her condition is fit to continue the game. Jeff said that even though Dana's status in the game is "Quit", Jeff said that he respected Dana's decision, and even said that he might do the same thing if he's in Dana's position, Nevertheless, Jeff is largely spiteful on contestants who leave the show because they cannot handle the harsh environments anymore, which he felt as a weak reason to leave.

Personal life
Probst was previously married to Shelly Wright, a psychotherapist. They divorced in 2001.

Jeff once dated a former Survivor contestant, Julie Berry of. But he revealed in the Philippine Daily Inquirer that they have broken up, but still remained friends.

Probst in now married to Lisa Ann Russell, ex-wife to actor Mark-Paul Gosselaar. They tied the knot in December 5, 2011.

According to Carter Williams, Jeff "is terrified of butter knives".

Trivia

 * While most of the show's memorabilia were auctioned for charity, Jeff keeps the Snuffers as personal souvenirs.
 * Revealed in his Tout page, Jeff does not read the votes cast at the Final Tribal Council beforehand.
 * In an interview with Dalton Ross, Jeff revealed that from all the Tribal Councils he conducted, his favorite was when Erik Reichenbach gave up his Immunity Necklace to Natalie Bolton back from . His favorite challenge was the Buh-buh-buoy challenge from.
 * Jeff cried for the first time during an episode of Survivor in Don't Say Anything About My Mom when Brenda Lowe reunited with her father.