Editing Jeff Probst

{{short description|American television host and producer (born 1961)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| image              = Jeff Probst 2017 (cropped).png
| caption            = Probst in 2016
| name               = Jeff Probst
| birth_name         = Jeffrey Lee Probst
| birth_date         = {{Birth date and age|1961|11|4|mf=y}}
| birth_place        = [[Wichita, Kansas]], U.S.
| occupation         = {{hlist|Television presenter|television producer|author}}
| years_active       = 1996–present
| spouse             = {{unbulleted list | {{marriage|Shelley Wright|1996|2001|end=divorced}} | {{marriage|Lisa Ann Russell|2011}}}}
}}

'''Jeffrey Lee Probst''' ({{IPAc-en|p|r|oʊ|b|s|t}}; born November 4, 1961)<ref name="ArchiveInterview" /> is an American television presenter and producer and young adult fiction writer. He is best known as the [[Emmy Awards|Emmy Award]]–winning host of the American version of the reality television show ''[[Survivor (American TV series)|Survivor]]'' since 2000. He was also the host of ''[[The Jeff Probst Show]]'', a [[Broadcast syndication|syndicated]] daytime talk show produced by [[CBS Media Ventures|CBS Television Distribution]] from September 2012 to May 2013.

==Early life==
Probst was born at [[Wesley Medical Center]] in [[Wichita, Kansas]], the oldest of three sons to Jerry and Barbara Probst.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Silcox |first=Beth |date=2023-02-12 |title=Jeff Probst: A Survivor's Perspective on Life's Adventure |url=https://www.success.com/jeff-probst-a-survivors-perspective-on-lifes-adventure/ |access-date=2024-03-17 |website=SUCCESS |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ranker |first=Luke |title=Distinguished Kansan: 'Survivor' host attributes success to Kansas upbringing |url=https://www.cjonline.com/story/entertainment/local/2016/12/31/distinguished-kansan-survivor-host-attributes-success-kansas-upbringing/16561785007/ |access-date=2024-03-17 |website=The Topeka Capital-Journal |language=en-US}}</ref> His family moved to [[Bellevue, Washington]], when Probst was 15 years old.<ref name="ArchiveInterview">{{Cite web |title=Jeff Probst Interview |url=http://www.emmytvlegends.org/interviews/people/jeff-probst |access-date=March 23, 2014 |website=Archive of American Television}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> After graduating from [[Newport High School (Bellevue, Washington)|Newport High School]] in 1979, Probst attended [[Seattle Pacific University]] but left before graduating to pursue a career in television.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Autumn 2000 Online Response: Castaway |url=https://spu.edu/depts/uc/response/fall2k/castaway.html |access-date=2024-03-17 |website=spu.edu}}</ref> Soon after leaving college, he began working at [[Boeing]] Motion Picture/Television studio as a producer and later narrator of [[marketing]] and training videos.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Carley |first=Brennan |date=2021-09-18 |title=Jeff Probst Is the Ultimate 'Survivor' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/18/style/jeff-probst-survivor.html |access-date=2024-03-17 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

==Career==
[[File:Jeff Probst.jpg|thumb|Probst in 2008]]
In addition to ''Survivor'', Probst once hosted [[FX (TV channel)|FX]]'s original half-hour show dedicated to answering viewer letters, ''[[Backchat (1995 TV series)|Backchat]]'', along with ''Sound FX'', a music series featuring [[Orlando Jones]] (1996). Probst 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)|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 [[List of Jeopardy! tournaments and events#Celebrity Jeopardy!|Celebrity ''Jeopardy!'']], first in 2001 and again in 2003, and made several cameo appearances during the April 1, 2010, episode.<ref>{{cite web |title=Show #5889 - Thursday, April 1, 2010 |url=https://j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=3356 |website=j-archive.com | date=December 26, 2021 |access-date=9 May 2025}}</ref> He was a frequent guest star on the sketch show ''[[MADtv]]'', guest-starring once a season since the show's 9th season. He hosted "Celebrity Superfan Roundtable" for [[Howard Stern]]. 

Probst is the host of ''[[Survivor (American TV series)|Survivor]],'' 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 creator [[Mark Burnett]] as he believed the show was "something special." Probst caught Burnett's eye in 1999 when he interviewed [[Sandra Bullock]] while working for ''[[Access 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."<ref name=":1" /> Probst has won four [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Competition Program|Primetime Emmy Awards]] as the host of ''Survivor''. He delivers the series' signature catchphrase to losing contestants, "The tribe has spoken. It's time for you to go," which was included in [[TV Land]]'s "The 100 Greatest TV Quotes and Catch Phrases" special in 2006.<ref>The Star Ledger. December 11, 2006.</ref> 

On October 20, 2008, ''[[TV Guide]]'' reported that Probst was developing a new reality TV series for [[CBS]] called ''Live for the Moment''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Adalian |first=Josef |date=December 18, 2009 |title=Probst Spills the Beans on New Project |url=https://www.thewrap.com/probst-spills-beans-new-project-11975/ |access-date=January 29, 2022 |publisher=The Wrap}}</ref> that was to feature people with terminal illnesses being taken on "the last adventure of their life" before they die.<ref>[https://www.tvguide.com/news/jeff-probst-creating-27376/ Jeff Probst Hopes to "Inspire" with New Reality Series]" ''[[TV Guide]]''. October 20, 2008. Retrieved on January 29, 2022.</ref> Only the pilot was aired, on January 28, 2010.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Live for the Moment |url=http://www.tv.com/shows/live-for-the-moment/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130602014916/http://www.tv.com/shows/live-for-the-moment/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 2, 2013 |access-date=January 24, 2020 |website=TV.com }}</ref>

On April 1, 2009, Probst appeared on the [[CBS]] reality television special ''[[I Get That a Lot]]'', in which he worked a cash register.<ref>{{cite web |title=Heidi Klum, Jeff Probst, Ice-T, LeAnn Rimes, Jessica Simpson, Mario Lopez, Jared Fogle |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2387999/ |website=imdb.com |publisher=IMDb, Inc. |access-date=9 May 2025}}</ref>

In October 2011, he appeared as himself on the [[sitcom]] ''[[How I Met Your Mother]]'', in the episode "[[The Stinson Missile Crisis]]".<ref>{{cite news | newspaper=The Picayune Item | date=October 2, 2011 | page=30 | title=Best Bets | location=Picayune, Mississippi | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-picayune-item-probst/168956717/}}</ref>

In January 2012, Probst was announced as director of his second feature film, coming-of-age story ''[[Kiss Me (2014 film)|Kiss Me]]'', starring [[John Corbett (actor)|John Corbett]] and [[Sarah Bolger]], with production scheduled to begin in Los Angeles the following month.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Sneider |first=Jeff |date=January 11, 2012 |title=Jeff Probst Sets Directorial Follow-up |url=https://variety.com/2012/film/news/jeff-probst-sets-directorial-follow-up-1118048463/ |url-status=live |journal=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120115000000/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118048463 |archive-date=January 15, 2012 |access-date=January 29, 2022}}</ref>

Probst hosted ''[[The Jeff Probst Show]]'', a [[Broadcast syndication|syndicated]] daytime talk show produced by [[CBS Television Distribution]] from September 2012 to May 2013. CBS did not pick up the show for a second season, citing low ratings.<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 14, 2013 |title=Jeff Probst talk show is canceled |url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/14/showbiz/tv/probst-talk-show-canceled-ew/ |work=CNN}}</ref> Between October 2012 and January 2014, Probst hosted the recurring [[Adult 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 of [[Scholastic Corporation|Scholastic]]'s adventure series ''Stranded'', 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 sitcom ''[[Two and a Half Men]]'' in two [[Two and a Half Men (season 11)#Episodes|season 11]] episodes, "Some Kind of Lesbian Zombie"<ref>{{Cite web |title=""Two and a Half Men" Some Kind of Lesbian Zombie (2013) |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3293108/reference |access-date=March 6, 2017 |website=IMDb |publisher=[[IMDb|IMDb.com, Inc.]]}}</ref> and "Baseball. Boobs. Boobs. Baseball.".<ref>{{Cite web |title=""Two and a Half Men" Baseball. Boobs. Boobs. Baseball. (2014) |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3457430/reference |access-date=March 6, 2017 |website=IMDb}}</ref>

In December 2016, Probst appeared as himself on the sitcom ''[[Life in Pieces]]'', in the episode "Swim Survivor Zen Talk".<ref>{{Cite web |title="Life in Pieces" Swim Survivor Zen Talk (2016) |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6241704/reference |access-date=March 6, 2017 |website=IMDb}}</ref>

In October 2022, Probst appeared on ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' in the [[Saturday Night Live season 48|season 48]] episode hosted by [[Jack Harlow]]. He appeared in the "Joker Wedding" sketch.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=2022-10-30 |title='SNL': Jeff Probst Makes Cameo When Wedding Skit With Best Man Dressed As Joker Takes 'Survivor' Turn |url=https://deadline.com/2022/10/snl-jeff-probst-cameo-wedding-joker-survivor-1235158431/ |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref>
[[File:Jeff Probst 2017.png|thumb|Probst with his wife Lisa Ann Russell]]

==Personal life==
Probst was married to his first wife, psychotherapist Shelley Wright, from 1996 to 2001.<ref name="people2004">{{Cite news |last=Wang |first=Cynthia |date=December 15, 2004 |title=Jeff Probst Admits to Survivor Romance |url=https://people.com/celebrity/jeff-probst-admits-to-survivor-romance/ |access-date=January 29, 2022 |work=People}}</ref> In 2004, after filming on ''[[Survivor: Vanuatu]]'' wrapped, he began dating one of the contestants, Julie Berry.<ref name="people2004" /> They broke up in early 2008.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Keck |first=Will |date=April 27, 2008 |title=Celeb Watch: 'Survivor' host Jeff Probst will survive – and thrive |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/people/celebwatch/2008-04-27-jeff-probst_N.htm |access-date=September 27, 2013 |work=USA Today}}</ref> 

Probst married his second wife, Lisa Ann Russell, on December 5, 2011.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wang |first=Cynthia |date=December 8, 2011 |title=Jeff Probst Weds Lisa Ann Russell |url=https://people.com/tv/jeff-probst-marries-lisa-ann-russell/ |access-date=January 29, 2022 |work=[[People (magazine)|People]]}}</ref> 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 actor [[Mark-Paul Gosselaar]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 7, 2006 |title=Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Wife Have a Girl |url=https://people.com/celebrity/mark-paul-gosselaar-wife-have-a-girl/ |access-date=January 29, 2022 |work=[[People (magazine)|People]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=December 8, 2011 |title=Survivor Host Jeff Probst Marries Lisa Ann Russell! |url=http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/survivor-host-jeff-probst-marries-lisa-ann-russell-2011812 |access-date=May 13, 2013 |work=Us Weekly}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bricker |first=Tierney |date=December 12, 2012 |title=Survivor's Jeff Probst Talks Sharing Custody With Mark-Paul Gosselaar on Larry King Now |url=https://www.eonline.com/news/371012/survivor-s-jeff-probst-talks-sharing-custody-with-mark-paul-gosselaar-on-larry-king-now |access-date=January 29, 2022 |work=E Online}}</ref>

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 of ''Survivor''.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Keck |first=Will |date=April 27, 2008 |title=Celeb Watch: 'Survivor' host Jeff Probst will survive – and thrive; see video |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/people/celebwatch/2008-04-27-jeff-probst_N.htm |access-date=May 6, 2010 |work=USA Today}}</ref>
He has written a book called ''Stranded'', based on the show ''Survivor.'' As an ordained minister, he has presided over the weddings of several of his friends.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Rizzo |first1=Monica |last2=Wang |first2=Cynthia |date=September 23, 2016 |title=Jenna Fischer's Minister at Her Wedding: Jeff Probst |url=http://people.com/celebrity/jenna-fischers-minister-at-her-wedding-jeff-probst/ |work=People.com}}</ref>

==Awards==
[[File:Jeff Probst at 2009 Primetime Emmy Awards.jpg|thumb|Probst at the 2009 Emmy's]]
On September 21, 2008, Probst won the first [[Primetime Emmy Award]] for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program|Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program]]. He won the same award in 2009, 2010, and 2011. The ''[[Los 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.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 14, 2011 |title=Emmy secret revealed: Why 'Survivor' host Jeff Probst is unbeatable |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/blogs/awards-tracker/story/2011-09-14/emmy-secret-revealed-why-survivor-host-jeff-probst-is-unbeatable |access-date=March 1, 2024 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Filmography ==
{| class="wikitable"
|+TV
!Year
!Title
!Role
!Notes
|-
|1999–2001
|''[[Rock & Roll Jeopardy!]]''
|Host
|100 episodes
|-
|2000–present
|''[[Survivor (American TV series)|Survivor]]''
|Executive director, producer and host
|48 seasons, 701 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)
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|+Film
!Year
!Title
!Role
!Notes
|-
|2001
|''[[Finder's Fee]]''
|Director, writer
|
|-
|2014
|''[[Kiss Me (2014 film)|Kiss Me]]''
|Director, producer
|
|}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
* {{Official website}}
* {{IMDb name|0698251}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080202171929/http://www.cbs.com/primetime/survivor16/about/host.php CBS.com profile]
* {{EmmyTVLegends name|jeff-probst|Jeff Probst}}
* Jeff Probst on [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69maC97umUQ Backchat]

{{EmmyAward RealityHost}}

{{Portal bar|Biography|Television|United States}}

{{Authority control}}{{Survivor (American TV series)}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Probst, Jeff}}
[[Category:1961 births]]
[[Category:American game show hosts]]
[[Category:American television talk show hosts]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Bellevue, Washington]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Seattle]]
[[Category:People from Wichita, Kansas]]
[[Category:Primetime Emmy Award winners]]
[[Category:Seattle Pacific University alumni]]
[[Category:Film directors from Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Film directors from Kansas]]
[[Category:Survivor (American TV series)]]