Les Stroud - Survivorman Biography
General
Les Stroud, the popular adventurer who pits himself against nature on Survivorman, was born on October 20,1962, in Mimico, Ontario. After receiving a diploma from Mimico High in 1980, Stroud attended Fanshawe College and completed their Music Industry Arts program.
This led Les Stroud to work in the music industry for a few years. Stroud was employed by MuchMusic as an associate producer. He also served as assistant director of music videos for many well-known artists. Stroud then spent some time playing lead guitar in a band called New Regime.
A single canoe trip created a desire for more. Stroud took a job with Black Feather Wilderness Adventures. This gave him the opportunity to help others enjoy the beauty of northern Ontario as he guided their canoe course.
While working as a guide, Les Stroud became intrigued with a photographer named Sue Jamison. They proved to be a great team and wed in 1994. The wedding had an appropriate setting. The couple said their vows on a dogsled next to a small pond. Stroud and his new bride took great care to document their honeymoon, a year long adventure in the wilds of Wabakimi, Ontario.
Taking only a supply of basic food sources, the Strouds managed to live in the area around Goldsborough Lake for twelve months. During that period, they only left the area two times to take care of emergency situations. Without modern tools, they managed to build a cabin and to feed themselves by hunting and trapping.
They used the materials from their honeymoon adventure to produce a documentary, Snowshoes and Solitude. The documentary was highly praised. The Strouds’ work even received a Best Documentary Award at the Muskoka Film Festival. The Waterwalker Film Festival also gave it the honor of Best Film.
The Strouds then settled in Yellowknife, part of the Northwest Territories. Les Stroud signed on to work with individuals with special needs who were native to the area. He worked with Gino Ferri and David Arama, a couple of survivalist experts. He later added to this experience by training with Prairie Wolf.
After honing his survival skills to perfection, Les and Sue moved to Huntsville, Ontario. This is where the Strouds’ dream began. They started a company called Wilderness Voice and a began a sister media company which they dubbed Wilderness Spirit Productions.
Les Stroud developed a keen interest in the new Survivor television series. He felt that more realism would add to the program and presented his vision to The Discovery Channel Canada. The executives were interested enough in Stroud’s idea to allow him to produce two specials. The first show was called One Week in the Wilderness. Winter in the Wilderness followed quickly, and both programs were highly successful.
This led to the Les Stroud’s next project. The science news show @ discovery.ca asked Stroud to produce a couple of specials in 2001. He completed the project using the same programming design as Survivorman. This involved Stroud taping his own trials and tribulations as he pitted himself against the perils of nature.
When these two pilots aired, the public had found a new hero and were fascinated with Les Stroud. In 2004, Stroud was asked to work with Dave Brady, a producer from the Discovery Channel in the United States. Working together, they created nine episodes of Survivorman. The show was so successful that a second season was produced and began airing on the U.S. Discovery Channel on August 10, 2007.
Although busy with film work, Les Stroud has never lost his love for music and continues to work in the industry. He has even managed to turn out a CD which features him playing the harmonica. The self-titled album is a selection of acoustical blues and folk songs, reflecting the true free spirit of its creator. In New Liskeard, Ontario, at the Spirit of the North Music Festival, Stroud received both the “Best Blues Act” award and the “Best Overall” label. He has also joined with The Northern Pikes to create a cd .
Les and Sue Stroud currently have two children. Their daughter Raylan is eleven, and their son Logan is nine. The entire family has been involved in Stroud’s unusual lifestyle.
Les Stroud sees his television program as an opportunity to teach while entertaining. He encourages his viewers to show respect for the environment and to maintain control in dangerous situations. Conservation, to Les Stroud, is everyone’s responsibility. Survivorman is his venue for getting these points across to the public.
Posted on December 23rd, 2008
December 27th, 2008 at 7:01 pm
I LOVE YOUR SHOW & LES STROUD. MY FAVORITE WAS “BAFFIN ISLAND”. WELL DONE. CAMERA DUTY IS A REAL BITCH. I DO NOT KNOW HOW YOU DO IT.
THANKS,
January 18th, 2009 at 2:35 am
hey man “I LOVE YOUR SHOW” nd i live in michigan i would LOVE to go on a andventure and day with you….i would pay.
p.s ur harmonica is sweet
dennis
January 21st, 2009 at 5:06 pm
hey I Love your show me and my friends wonts to be like u win we grow up
we made a promise that we would go every place you,ve been but right nall why were 11 we go to my backyard and act like you
January 21st, 2009 at 5:08 pm
but first were starting at georgia swamp the smae place u went
February 2nd, 2009 at 9:35 pm
I’m already missing… Love the location picks. Really enjoyed the South American trip, especially when he was fishing with his hands on the river banks, exciting! What a beautiful man…
February 3rd, 2009 at 8:42 am
I LOVE YOUR SHOW its the best show ever we have to do a biography on some famous at school and im doing it on YOU!!
February 11th, 2009 at 9:56 am
ur so cool ur way better than man vs wild
February 15th, 2009 at 7:05 pm
i love your show i have all of the seasons on dvd i watch them all the time
February 21st, 2009 at 12:25 pm
From Frankfort Michigan- Wife & I honeymooned on Isle Royale-8 nights out of a backpack…very spiritual experience, that’s why we love watching your show with our ten year old son. We find the values and perspective of your show instills a respectful vision we hope to instill in our young ones. THANKS !!!!
February 21st, 2009 at 6:38 pm
Les,I’m a beginning Backpacker.What is your choice of a good Backpack And sleeping bag for weekend trips in the Nothern California Sierras during late spring to early fall.I’m 51 years old 185lbs.,I was looking at the Gregory Baltoro 70.I still haven’t decided on the right sleepig bag.Any suggestions would be greatly appreiciated.Rondo
February 23rd, 2009 at 10:46 pm
I love the show. Must respect to Les for doing this! He’s awesome! He will be missed!
February 26th, 2009 at 9:13 pm
My husband and I love your show. If we’re ever to be stranded I’m sure your tips will come in handy! :D THANK YOU!
March 13th, 2009 at 11:00 am
Hey Les, excellent show, I never miss it and even watch repeats. It’s about time someone put on a “real” show and not something staged or faked. I’ve seen you succeed and I’ve seen you fail, just like real life. I know this series must be extremely hard on you both mentally and physically and I applaud your courage. I wish there were hundreds of episodes to watch but as you are a family man I can’t say that I blame you for stopping after season 3. You are the ultimate survivor !
March 20th, 2009 at 8:34 am
THANK YOU FOR BEING THE BEST SHOW ON TV! MY HUSBAND AND I WATCH
EVERYTIME YOU ARE ON! WE WILL MISS YOU! GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR
FAMILY! WE HAVE LEARNED ALOT!
March 25th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
You are amazing, ill give you 34 million dallors If you put back your tv show! K THANKS BAI!
March 31st, 2009 at 8:15 am
this is probably one of the best show on t.v because you go out to a place you’ve never been before and survive for 7 days that is probably hard to do
April 5th, 2009 at 11:58 am
I luvvvvvvvvvvvv your show!!!!!! My favorite is when u went to the Georgia Swamps and ate that rattlesnake! I luv watchin your shows over n over!!!
April 5th, 2009 at 11:59 am
u r wayyyyyy better than that phony guy in man vs wild. I saw a deleted scene from one of his episodes and he was right next to a highway with a film crew!!!! What a fake!!
April 14th, 2009 at 9:09 pm
Less u are ammasing, I love your show and u have inspired me to go into the air forse after i graduate high school as a S.E.R.E thanks!!!!
April 23rd, 2009 at 7:18 am
i heard you died and im just glad to see you made it through another death defying act… thanks for the great show
May 4th, 2009 at 2:56 am
Ive been watching Surviorman for a couple of years . While it’s a very entertaining program to watch , It’s been instramental in my life. Due to unforseen misfortunes , Ive found myself unemployed and subsequently , with out a home . I decided to use the survival techniques I learned by watching Survivorman . Ive been living in a lean to shelter I built using Techniques that Les uses to build his shelters . The result is , Ive been warm when its cold and dry when its wet and left with a feeling of satisfaction knowing I created my own living quaters when I could not afford a home . Ive been able to provide sustainance the conventional way , but I wouldve been very uncomfortable , not to mention very suseptable to exposure related injuries and illness had I not learned to make a shelter . So , thank you Survivorman , for your entertaining and very informative program , because survival in the urban jungle can be just as dangerous without the proper knowledge on shelter building.
May 4th, 2009 at 7:48 pm
best show ever, very good learning experience and big fan of les stroud, when is the season 4 comming out.
May 6th, 2009 at 5:24 pm
me and my friends think Survivorman is awesome and that you’d beat Bear Grylls at survival any day.
p.s. both of my parents went to Mimico High school at the same time you did
May 17th, 2009 at 7:57 pm
I am saddened to hear that Les is quitting his series. I admired his show and have watched it from the beginning. My wife does not watch much TV, but she would always watch Survivorman with me. There was a rumor that Les had died and my wife almost had a stroke! She even cried. I wish Les the very best in all his endeavors and would hope that he would periodically make a ” SURVIVORMAN ” episode for all of his loyal fans, myself being near the top of the list. God bless you and your family, Les, and thank you for the wonderful hours that you shared with us………..
June 17th, 2009 at 5:11 pm
your show is amazing… way better than man vs wild. bear grylls is just an entertaining idiot. continue to make a few shows here and there PLEASE