| Full Name | Edward Michael Grylls |
| Born | June 7, 1974 |
| Age | 48 years |
| Residence | London, England |
| Occupation | Adventurer, Writer, TV Host |
| Years active | 1998-present |
| Spouse | Shara Grylls |
| Children | 3 sons |
| Social Media |
Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube |
If you haven‘t heard of Bear Grylls, then you must have been living under a rock! As one of his biggest fans, I can‘t get enough of his wild adventures and survival stunts. Grab some bug spray and let‘s explore the incredible life of the "Man vs Wild" superstar!
Early Life
Edward Michael Grylls was born on June 7, 1974 in Northern Ireland. He grew up on the Isle of Wight off England‘s south coast, where he learned to climb and sail at an early age. His family nicknamed him ‘Bear‘ as an infant, and the name stuck.
"My childhood was all about boats, bikes and tree houses. I was a small scrappy kid." – Bear Grylls
Bear credits his father for instilling values like courage and resilience in him. He studied at the prestigious Eton College as a child, where he started the school‘s first mountaineering club. Bear sharpened his survival skills during camping trips in the Scottish Highlands.
Military Career
After finishing school, Bear Grylls briefly considered joining the Indian Army. But he later served for three years in the British troops, joining the elite Special Air Service (SAS) at the age of 23. He became one of the youngest people to climb Mount Everest the same year, despite almost dying from oxygen deprivation.
"Climbing Everest taught me that we can do more than we think we can."
Shortly after, a devastating freefall parachuting accident in Africa nearly paralyzed him from the waist down. After enduring excruciating rehabilitation, Bear went on to recover and become the youngest-ever recipient of the Chief Scout‘s Award for his services to scouting.
TV Career
Bear Grylls first shot to fame with his TV show Man vs. Wild (2006-2011), which was called Born Survivor in the UK. He quickly became synonymous with extremes survival as he parachuted into remote inhospitable locations and showed viewers how to hunt, eat bugs, drink urine, and stay alive using only a knife. Each episode was more insane than the last!
"The only failure is not to try. The bravest thing you can do is identify your fears and have the courage to talk about them."
His knowledge of martial arts, climbing, parachuting and special forces training helped him survive the wildest scenarios. Some of his craziest feats included climbing sheer cliffs, squeezing elephant dung for water, and traversing glaciers. Bear showed us that with courage and determination, humans can achieve the impossible.
Bear hosted several more hit survival shows over the years like Worst Case Scenario, Bear Grylls: Escape from Hell, Get Out Alive, and Running Wild featuring celebrity guests like Barack Obama and Roger Federer. He‘s eaten just about every insect and subjected himself to unimaginable dangers – and lived to tell the tale!
Writing Career
Bear Grylls is also an accomplished author, with over 85 books to his name – both fiction and non-fiction. His bestselling autobiography Mud, Sweat and Tears (2012) chronicled his childhood and military career. He also wrote survival guides like Extreme Food and inspirational books like Soul Fuel (2017).
Grylls has authored children‘s book series including the Mission Survival novels set in fictional landscapes. In 2020, Netflix announced an interactive animated show for kids based on his books. His latest book Never Give Up (2021) is a tribute to the power of perseverance and resilience.
"Courage is always the surest path to growth and freedom."
Charity Work
Bear Grylls has a strong spirit of philanthropy and believes in giving back to society. In 2010, he started The Bear Grylls Foundation to help teach youth vital life skills. He also supports charities like Global Angels, Laureus Sports, and the Prince‘s Trust. Grylls frequently volunteers as a scout leader and is the ambassador of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
"It‘s not about being the best, it‘s about doing your best."
He promotes awareness on climate change and protecting nature through his expeditions to remote regions. Bear Grylls is the true epitome of courage, compassion and resilience. It has been an honor to grow up alongside this incredible icon!