Les Stroud

Outdoor Adventurer, Filmmaker, Singer-Songwriter

Best known as star of the three time Gemini nominated hit TV series Survivorman (OLN Canada, The Science Channel US, Discovery Channel International), Les Stroud continues to forge new pathways as a prolific, creative force. In 2000 Stroud took a few small cameras out into the wilderness of Northern Ontario, Canada and spent a week surviving alone without food, water, equipment or camera crew. He single-handedly created, produced, wrote, filmed, hosted, edited and composed the theme music for these first two original, one-hour pilots for what would eventually become the Survivorman series. He remains the only producer in the history of television to produce an internationally broadcast series entirely written, videotaped and hosted alone. Survivorman has gone on to become the highest rated show in the history of both OLN Canada and the Science Channel US and quickly became one of the most popular shows on the Discovery Channel US. Survivorman Productions Inc. was listed as one of the 'Global Top 100' on the coveted list for Realscreen magazine. The show was also the number one pick of Wired Magazine's 'Top Ten' list for February 2007, and Stroud made the 2007 'Top 100 People We Love To Watch' list for Entertainment Weekly magazine. He has appeared on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Canada AM, MTV Live, The View, The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos (his interview posted on The Hour website was the most watched for January 2008), as well as Larry King Live, twice. His second appearance on Larry King was a full hour dedicated to Les and his involvement with the 20th Anniversary of Shark Week on Discovery International.

'This is my favorite new TV show ... absolutely amazing' Ellen DeGeneres

'This show is extremely addicting, I love it! ... it's the only guest my brother asked me to have on The View this year' Rosie O'Donnell

Les Stroud has more than 20 years experience as a naturalist, outdoor adventurer and instructor in survival, white water paddling, sea kayaking, hiking, dog sledding and winter travel. His career in film began in the early 1980s working on rock videos and eventually becoming a producer of MuchMusic TV; the Canadian music video channel.

Combining his love for the outdoors and his skills as a filmmaker, Stroud has appeared in and/or produced numerous television specials and interstitials including hosting in 2007 the twentieth anniversary of Discovery Channel's Shark Week, The Mad Trapper – Cineflix, The True Story of Robinson Crusoe – Cinenova, Discovery Channel's Shark Feeding Frenzy, I Shouldn't Be Alive, Expedition Everest, Surviving Urban Disasters, as well as Off the Grid with Les Stroud. He was also a featured subject of the series Extraordinary Lives.

His documentary film Snowshoes and Solitude, about the year he and his wife spent living in the remote Boreal Forest of Northern Ontario, has won numerous independent awards. In 2008 he hosted Surviving Sharks for Discovery Channel International's Shark Week as well as a special called Surviving Alaska for Discovery Channel International's Alaska Week. He also hosted "The Alaska Experiment: Back from the Wild" in April 2008.

In August 2008 Survivorman/Les Stroud was nominated for 3 Gemini Awards; Best Direction in a Lifestyle/Practical Information Series, Best Original Music for a Lifestyle/Practical Information Series and Best Host in a General/Human Interest Series.

In addition to his success in film and television, Stroud is an avid musician having released an album with Canada's hit band The Northern Pikes (renamed Les Stroud and The Pikes) and having composed the theme to Survivorman. Les had his World Premiere of "Voices in the Wilderness: An Evening of Film and Music" at the Huntsville Festival of the Arts in July of 2008. This was a multi media evening filled with his film-work and music as well as highlights from his highly acclaimed documentary series.

Les is a proud member of the prestigious Explorers Club. In November 2008 Les released a survival book with Harper Collins called "Survive! - Essential Skills and Tactics to Get You Out of Anywhere--Alive!" This follows on the heels of his 2008 nomination by the Canadian National Magazine awards for best travel writer. "Survive!" was listed on The Globe and Mail Bestsellers list in non-fiction.

Les contributes to dozens of charities and benefits. He is a regular attendee to charitable events such as hockey and fishing tournaments. His prominent charities are those that benefit children.