Michael Gregory Rowe (born March 18, 1962) is an American actor primarily known as a television host and narrator. He is known for his work on the Discovery Channel series Dirty Jobs and the CNN series Somebody's Gotta Do It. Rowe has narrated programs on the Discovery Channel, The Science Channel and National Geographic Channel such as Deadliest Catch, How the Universe Works, and Shark Week. He has appeared on commercials for firms such as the Ford Motor Company. He has served as a social activist on the causes of economic growth and job expansion as well. Past efforts include being an opera singer and a salesman.
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Rowe parents are John and Peggy Rowe. He was born in Baltimore, Maryland. Rowe graduated from Overlea High School, where he excelled in theater and singing. He then studied at Essex Community College, where he sang briefly in the Chorus of Chesapeake which at that time was under the direction of Freddie King. Afterwards, he graduated from the Townson University with a degree in the Communication studies. Later he was a professional singer and sang with the Baltimore Opera.
Mike Rowe started to work as an on-air host for the home-shopping TV network QVC in the 1990s. In an interview, he talked about how he got the opportunity to work in QVC. He said that his friend bet him $100 that Mike won’t get a callback, so later he went for the audition and got a job on the spot. Mike has also hosted for many other TV channels like WJZ-TV, TBS, American Airlines, The History Channel, Discovery Channel and FX. Worst Case Scenarios is also one of his most watched shows, which was broadcasted by the TBS.
Mike Rowe joined Discover Channel and his first work with them included a trip to the Valley of the Golden Mummies. Later in September 2012, he got an opportunity to host three-part series How Booze Built America. His one of the popular program in Discover Channel is Dirty Jobs. He hosted many other shows on Discovery Channel like Deadliest Catch, American Chopper, Ghost Lab, American Hot Rod and Wild Pacific.
He is the narrator for National Geographic Channel’s series Wicked Tuna. While talking about his narration work, he has done plenty for them like in Southern Steel, Mystery Diagnosis, Airplane Repo, Ghost Hunters and many others. He has narrated hundreds of documentaries. Recently on February 20, 2016, The Paramount did a program called “Dirty Talk with Mike Rowe” at the Paramount Theater.
Currently, he is the narrator for National Geographic Channel’s series Wicked Tuna. While talking about his narration work, he has done plenty for them like in Southern Steel, Mystery Diagnosis, Airplane Repo, Ghost Hunters and many others. He has narrated hundreds of documentaries. Recently on February 20, 2016, The Paramount did a program called “Dirty Talk with Mike Rowe” at the Paramount Theater.
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On Labor Day 2008, Rowe launched a website, mikeroweWORKS.com, which is focused on the decline in the blue collar trades and the crumbling state of the infrastructure. A trade resource center has been launched and provides information, resources, and forums for people interested in learning about, or pursuing a career in, the trades, as well as a new blog aggregator for the trades and construction industry called the "Trades Hub", which launched in April 2011.
On September 19, 2010, Mike Rowe and the Association of Equipment Manufacturers started a campaign called "I Make America". The campaign aims to create jobs in the manufacturing sector by encouraging infrastructure investment and export agreements. The group argues that this will improve the economy and global competitiveness of the United States.
Mike Rowe has contributed video content to The Alabama Construction Recruitment Institute's trade-worker recruiting campaign GoBuildAlabama.com, culminating in an Iron Bowl-themed commercial broadcast on local CBS affiliates during Thanksgiving weekend 2010.
In May 2011, Rowe testified on the issue before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Rowe sent a letter to President Obama at the start of his first term offering to help promote the 3 million "shovel-ready" jobs promised during the campaign, suspecting it might be a tough sell, "given the country's then-current relationship with the shovel." He did not receive a reply. During the 2012 presidential election, Rowe contacted GOP candidate Mitt Romney and appeared with him on September 26, 2012, at a campaign event in Ohio. "He's nonpartisan, he's not here to endorse me, he's not here to add support to one campaign or another," Romney said of his guest. "He's here to talk about his ideas about how to help America create more jobs."
In Spring 2013, mikeroweWORKS launched its newest initiative, Profoundly Disconnected. Rowe states, "many of the best opportunities that exist today require a skill, not a diploma. The purpose of this site is to promote that simple truth." While in high school in 1979, Rowe saw a poster in his guidance counselor's office that read "Work Smart, Not Hard". He hated it so much, he changed it to "Work Smart AND Hard"; he now prints such posters and wants them hanging all over the country to get people to change the way hard work is perceived.
Rowe describes himself as a cheerleader for both blue-collar workers and white-collar workers, hoping to promote individual initiative and positive thinking throughout the U.S. economy. He has stated that he feels alienated from the current U.S. political system given that both business owners and regular workers receive, in his opinion, unfair criticism, with issues such as geographical mismatching and a lack of job training causing unemployment. Rowe is a gun owner and a supporter of the U.S. 2nd Amendment; however, he's not a member of the National Rifle Association or any similar group.
Last Modified: Apr 9, 2020
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