Mike Rowe facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mike Rowe
Rowe interviewed by Reason TV, 2023
Born	(1962-03-18) March 18, 1962 (age 63) Baltimore County, Maryland, U.S.
Alma mater	Towson University
Occupation	Television host, narrator
Television	Dirty Jobs Somebody's Gotta Do It

Michael Gregory Rowe (born March 18, 1962) is an American television host and narrator. He is famous for hosting the Discovery Channel show Dirty Jobs, where he tried out many difficult and unusual jobs. He also hosted Somebody's Gotta Do It, which started on CNN.

Mike Rowe also hosted a show for Facebook called Returning the Favor. On this show, he found people doing good things for others and then did something special for them in return. He also has a popular podcast called The Way I Heard It with Mike Rowe.

Besides hosting, Rowe is a well-known narrator. He has lent his voice to many shows on channels like the Discovery Channel and National Geographic Channel. Some of these shows include Deadliest Catch, How the Universe Works, and Shark Week. You might have also heard his voice in commercials for companies like the Ford Motor Company.

Mike Rowe's Early Life and Education

Mike Rowe grew up in Baltimore County, Maryland. His parents, John and Peggy Rowe, were both teachers. He often says that Dirty Jobs is a way to honor his dad and grandpa.

Becoming an Eagle Scout

In 1979, Mike became an Eagle Scout, which is the highest rank in the Boy Scouts. For his Eagle Scout project, he read books to students at the Maryland School for the Blind. He says this experience helped him become interested in narrating and writing stories.

High School and College Years

Rowe went to Kenwood Presbyterian Church in Nottingham, Maryland, where his parents still go. He finished Overlea High School in 1980. While there, he was very good at theater and singing. After high school, he studied at Essex Community College. In 1985, he earned a degree in communication studies from Towson University.

Mike Rowe's TV Career

Mike Rowe has had a long and interesting career in television, both as a host and a narrator.

Hosting TV Shows

Mike Rowe has hosted many different TV shows. Early in his career, he hosted On-Air TV for American Airlines and No Relation for FX. He also hosted New York Expeditions for PBS.

Working at QVC

In the early 1990s, Mike worked as a host for QVC, a TV network where people sell products live on air. He has joked that QVC fired him three times, but kept hiring him back! He finally left on his own in 1993.

The Start of Dirty Jobs

From 2001 to 2005, Mike hosted Evening Magazine in San Francisco. During this time, he had a special news segment called "Somebody's Gotta Do It." In this segment, he explored many jobs that most people might find unpleasant or messy. This idea later grew into his famous show, Dirty Jobs.

Rowe on Dirty Jobs in April 2010 with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Mike's first work with the Discovery Channel was hosting Egypt Week Live!. He explored ancient tombs live with a famous Egyptian archaeologist named Zahi Hawass.

Somebody's Gotta Do It and Dirty Jobs: Rowe'd Trip

In 2014, CNN announced that Mike Rowe would host a new show called Somebody's Gotta Do It. On this show, he met and highlighted "unique individuals" who were passionate about their work, hobbies, or interests. The show later moved to the TBN.

In 2020, the Discovery Channel aired a short series called Dirty Jobs: Rowe'd Trip. It was a mix of a reunion, a road trip, and a look back at some of the best moments from the original Dirty Jobs show.

Narrating TV Shows

Besides hosting, Mike Rowe is also a very busy narrator. He has narrated many popular shows for the Discovery Channel, including American Chopper, American Hot Rod, and Wild Pacific.

Deadliest Catch and Shark Week

He is well-known as the narrator for Deadliest Catch, a show about crab fishing in the Bering Sea. Mike actually filmed some scenes on the crab boats himself. However, when Dirty Jobs was picked up, he had to choose which show to appear on-screen for. He chose to host Dirty Jobs and narrate Deadliest Catch. He did appear in a season finale of Deadliest Catch to interview the boat captains. He also hosted After the Catch, a related show about life on the Bering Sea.

Rowe poses for a photo during filming at Skulls Unlimited International

Mike Rowe also hosted the Discovery Channel's yearly Shark Week in 2006 and 2008. He has narrated other shows like How the Universe Works and Ghost Hunters. From 2009 to 2012, he was the announcer for ABC World News with Diane Sawyer.

His Podcast

Today, he hosts a popular podcast called The Way I Heard It with Mike Rowe. He partners with Red Seat Ventures for this podcast.

Other TV Appearances

Mike Rowe has made special appearances on other TV shows.

Sesame Street and American Dad!

In 2007, he was the voice of a meter maid on the animated show American Dad!. A year later, in 2008, he appeared on Sesame Street in a segment called "Dirtiest Jobs With Mike Rowe." He visited Sesame Street to find the dirtiest job, which belonged to Oscar the Grouch. Mike had to do all of Oscar's tasks, like finding stinky cheese and sorting trash. Oscar was surprised because Mike had so much fun!

Scout Jamborees and Sitcoms

As an Eagle Scout himself, Mike Rowe has spoken to tens of thousands of scouts and leaders at the 2010 National Scout Jamboree and the 2013 National Scout Jamboree. He talked about the importance of being clean, but also the need for scouts to get dirty and work hard.

In 2012, Mike appeared in an episode of the sitcom Last Man Standing. He played Jim Baxter, the brother of the main character, played by Tim Allen.

Supporting the Trades

In 2013, Mike spoke to over 15,000 people at the SkillsUSA conference. He told them how important it is to "Work Smart and Hard." In 2017, he was a guest on This Old House. This episode highlighted "Generation Next," an organization that helps train young people for jobs in the building trades. Mike's foundation, "mikeroweWORKS," supports this important effort.

Commercials and Spokesperson Roles

Mike Rowe has also been featured in many commercials. Starting in 2007, he appeared in several commercials for Ford Motor Company F-Series trucks. These ads were filmed in a style similar to Dirty Jobs.

In 2010, Mike became the spokesperson for Caterpillar, a company that makes heavy machinery. He spent time with their customers and dealers to understand their jobs better. In 2011, he even appeared in TV commercials for Viva paper towels with his parents.

Mike Rowe's Work for Trade Activism

Mike Rowe is very passionate about promoting skilled trades and vocational jobs.

The mikeroweWORKS Foundation

On Labor Day in 2008, Mike Rowe started the mikeroweWORKS Foundation. This foundation focuses on helping people learn about and get jobs in the skilled trades, like plumbing, welding, and construction. It also highlights the need to improve the country's infrastructure, like roads and bridges.

The foundation has a special website that provides information and resources for people who want to learn about or start a career in the trades. It also has a blog that shares news and stories from the trades and construction industry.

Promoting American Manufacturing

In 2010, Mike Rowe and the Association of Equipment Manufacturers started a campaign called "I Make America." This campaign aims to create more jobs in manufacturing by encouraging investment in infrastructure and better trade agreements. They believe this will help the U.S. economy and make the country more competitive globally.

In 2011, Mike Rowe even spoke to the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation about the importance of trade activism.

"Work Smart AND Hard"

In 2013, mikeroweWORKS launched a new idea called "Profoundly Disconnected." Mike Rowe says that many of the best job opportunities today require a skill, not just a college degree. The goal of this idea is to share this simple truth.

When he was in high school in 1979, Mike saw a poster that said "Work Smart, Not Hard." He didn't like it, so he changed it to "Work Smart AND Hard." Now, he prints posters with this new saying and wants them displayed everywhere to change how people think about hard work.

Mike Rowe sees himself as a supporter of both blue-collar workers (people who work with their hands) and white-collar workers (people who work in offices). He wants to encourage everyone to take initiative and think positively about the U.S. economy. He believes that problems like not enough job training can lead to unemployment.

He has also shared that he owns guns and supports the U.S. 2nd Amendment, which protects the right to bear arms. However, he is not a member of the National Rifle Association because he says he's "not much of a joiner."

Mike Rowe's Personal Life

Mike Rowe used to sing professionally with the Baltimore Opera. He once lived in San Francisco, California, and now lives in nearby Belvedere, California.

In 2014, he received some negative reactions after doing a voice-over for a Walmart ad. In 2016, there were false rumors that he had died. He joked about it by quoting Mark Twain, saying, "Reports of my death are greatly exaggerated." Mike Rowe is in a long-term relationship but is not married.

Awards and Honors

Mike Rowe has received several awards for his work.

In 2011, he was the first person to win the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Reality Show Host. In 2012, the Boy Scouts of America gave him the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award, a very high honor for Eagle Scouts.

In 2017, he was made an Honorary Lifetime Member of the Barbershop Harmony Society. In 2020, Mike Rowe won the Outstanding Host for a Daytime Program award at the Daytime Emmy awards for his show Returning the Favor.

Mike Rowe's TV Shows

Mike Rowe has been involved in many television shows as a host or narrator.