Robert Irwin Says 'Not a Day Goes By' Without Wondering What He'd Ask His Late Dad Steve Irwin

Mar. 15, 2025

(L-R) Robert Irwin,Steve Irwin.Photo:Paul Archuleta/Getty; Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic

Paul Archuleta/Getty; Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic

Robert Irwinkeeps his late father’s memory alive every day.

“When you lose someone, a father figure, at such a young age, who is such a commanding presence of positivity and everything that is good in the world, of course all I want is for him to be here for me; to go, ‘What do you think about this, what do you think about that?” he continued. “There are so many things I wish I could ask him on so many levels.”

Steve Irwin and his son Robert.Newspix/Getty

Although Robert was only 3 years old when his father died, he credits his mom,Terri, and sister,Bindi, for helping him grieve.

“When you are three, you don’t really even quite know what death means. Whereas for Mum and Bindi, it was pure, unfiltered devastation and loss. And it’s the same loss for me but in a different way,” he said.

“So, the way they helped me to navigate my life, I am so grateful for it,” continued Robert. “I will always feel like I am missing a part of myself, but I never feel like I missed out on anything.”

Robert Irwin.Jono Searle/Getty

Jono Searle/Getty

Robert has memories with his father that he reflects on through “little things,” like photos or old videos.

“Even something like a shirt I wore, and it will just come flooding back. I remember it was always the littlest tickle and I’d just start cacking myself laughing,” he said.

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“Every time I start that thing, it brings back so many memories, and I absolutely love it. Every time I get on that bike and ride the same route around Australia Zoo that he did, it means so much that this piece of machinery that he loved and used everyday keeps on running,” Robert wrote onInstagram.

source: people.com