Steve Irwin and Son Robert Have One Big Difference, Terri Irwin Jokes: 'Steve Never Took His Shirt Off for Wildlife' (Exclusive)
Steve Irwin and Son Robert Have One Big Difference, Terri Irwin Jokes: 'Steve Never Took His Shirt Off for Wildlife' (Exclusive)
Desiree Anello, Melinda SheckellsSun, May 3, 2026 at 8:17 PM UTC
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Steve Irwin; Robert Irwin and Terri IrwinCredit: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic;SGranitz/WireImage -
Terri Irwin joked to PEOPLE about the one thing that sets her son, Robert Irwin, apart from his late father, Steve Irwin
“Steve never took his shirt off for wildlife,” she quipped at the Steve Irwin Gala on May 2
Robert also opened up about what he's learned from the late wildlife conservationist, who still serves as his “greatest inspiration"
Terri Irwin is pointing out the one thing that sets her son, Robert Irwin, apart from his late father, Steve Irwin.
While speaking to PEOPLE exclusively at the Steve Irwin Gala in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 2, the mother-son duo reflected on how “incredibly special” it has been to carry on the late conservationist's legacy together.
“Everything started so small,” Terri, 61, recalled of her husband transforming the Queensland Reptile and Fauna Park into the Australia Zoo. “It was two acres, it was a few animals, and it was no filming. And so to see where we've gone, and to have Steve embrace that, was so impressive.”
Inspired by Steve's desire to bring wildlife “to the world” without hiding his “light under a bushel,” Terri hosts the annual Steve Irwin Gala alongside Robert, 22, and daughter Bindi Irwin to fund and continue the conservation work the Crocodile Hunter star was so passionate about.
Terri Irwin and Robert Irwin at the Steve Irwin Gala in Las Vegas on May 2, 2026Credit: Ethan Miller/Getty
“It was a lot of work, it was a lot of grief,” Terri explained of her and Robert's journey to where they are now. “There were times of great joy. And to be able to have shared that with him was incredibly special — and carry it on.”
“But I will say the one thing that Robert's got that Steve didn't — Steve never took his shirt off for wildlife," she added jokingly.
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In addition to appearing shirtless on live television while performing alongside dance partner Witney Carson during season 34 of Dancing with the Stars, Robert left little to the imagination in a racy underwear campaign for Australian brand Bonds last year.
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Robert Irwin stars in Bonds underwear campaignCredit: Bonds
In response to his mother's comment, Robert simply insisted that he's been doing “whatever gets the job done.”
He also went on to emphasize that his late father, who died in 2006 after being pierced by a stingray barb, will always serve as his “greatest inspiration” in everything he does.
“He would really exemplify what it is to give everything 100 percent,” Robert said. “And that's what I take into everything I do. You know, if you have a passion, you really owe it to yourself to give it everything.”
“I think a night like tonight is the culmination of his passion, his love for conservation, but also the fact that family and fun — that was the most important thing, too,” he added of the gala. “I think he'll always be my greatest role model in life, alongside my mom.”
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
