Jim Fowler
zoologist · television presenter
- April 9, 1930 · Albany
- May 8, 2019 · Omaha
- 89 years
About Jim Fowler
Jim Fowler, 89, American zoologist and television host (Wild Kingdom).
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Full Biography
|James Mark Fowler (April 9, 1930 – May 8, 2019) was an American professional zoologist and host of the acclaimed wildlife documentary television show Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom.
Early years
Born in Albany, Georgia,[better source needed] Fowler spent his youth in the town of Falls Church, Virginia, exploring all things in nature in the stream valley of Four Mile Run near his family home. He graduated from Westtown School in 1947, a Quaker college preparatory school in Chester County, Pennsylvania, and Earlham College in 1952.
Career
Fowler first served as co-host of Wild Kingdom with Marlin Perkins, and became the main host in 1985 following Perkins' retirement. During this time he received four Emmy awards and an endorsement by the National PTA for family viewing.[citation needed]
Fowler was the official wildlife correspondent for NBC's The Today Show starting in 1988 and made forty appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, bringing various wild animals on the show.[citation needed]
In 1997, Fowler joined Discovery Communication's Animal Planet channel as a wildlife expert and appeared as himself in the Seinfeld episode “The Merv Griffin Show”. Fowler later launched the television program Jim Fowler's Life in the Wild in 2000.[citation needed]
Death
Fowler died on May 8, 2019, at the age of 89 at his home in Norwalk, Connecticut, from complications of heart disease. The Silvermine Fowler Preserve of the New Canaan Land Trust lies on the site of the former family home in New Canaan, Connecticut.[citation needed]
Awards
- In 1991, Earlham College recognized Fowler for his distinguished career with an Outstanding Alumni Award.
- In 1995, the Global Communications for Conservation (GCC) organization presented Fowler with the 1995 Safari Planet Earth award for his "outstanding achievements in caring for our The National Council of State Garden Clubs, Inc., also awarded him with its highest achievement award, the Gold Seal, in recognition of his contributions to environmental causes.[citation needed]
- In 1998, the Environmental Media Association (EMA) presented Fowler with their first-ever Lifetime Achievement award in recognition of his strong support and on-going commitment to the environment.
- In 2003, Fowler was the recipient of the Lindbergh Award for his 40 years of dedication to wildlife preservation and education.
Quotes
"The continued existence of wildlife and wilderness is important to the quality of life of humans. Our challenge for the future is that we realize we are very much a part of the Earth's ecosystem, and we must learn to respect and live according to the basic biological laws of nature." — Jim Fowler
"Almost all of the social tragedies occurring around the world today are caused by ignoring the basic biological laws of nature ... The quicker we humans learn that saving open space and wildlife is critical to our welfare and quality of life, maybe we'll start thinking of doing something about it." — Jim Fowler
Content from Wikipedia — licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Fowler
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- View record
- October 20, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Jim Fowler's archived record and the sources above.
1.In what city was James Mark Fowler born?
- A.Norwalk, Connecticut
- B.Falls Church, Virginia
- C.New Canaan, Connecticut
- D.Albany, Georgiacorrect
James Mark Fowler was born in Albany, Georgia, on April 9, 1930.
Source: Early years section
2.What is the name of the Quaker college preparatory school James Mark Fowler graduated from in 1947?
- A.Four Mile Run Academy
- B.Westtown Schoolcorrect
- C.Earlham College
- D.New Canaan Preparatory
James Mark Fowler graduated from the Westtown School, a Quaker college preparatory school, in 1947.
Source: Early years section
3.James Mark Fowler became the main host of Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom in what year?
- A.1952
- B.1997
- C.1988
- D.1985correct
Following Marlin Perkins' retirement, James Mark Fowler became the main host of the show in 1985.
Source: Career section
4.Which television network hired James Mark Fowler as their official wildlife correspondent in 1988?
- A.ABC
- B.Animal Planet
- C.NBCcorrect
- D.CBS
James Mark Fowler served as the official wildlife correspondent for NBC's The Today Show starting in 1988.
Source: Career section
5.How many times did James Mark Fowler appear on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson?
- A.Fortycorrect
- B.Twenty
- C.Eighty-nine
- D.Four
James Mark Fowler made forty appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson during his career.
Source: Career section
6.In which television sitcom did James Mark Fowler appear as himself?
- A.Cheers
- B.Friends
- C.Seinfeldcorrect
- D.The Tonight Show
James Mark Fowler appeared as himself in the Seinfeld episode titled The Merv Griffin Show.
Source: Career section
7.What was the cause of James Mark Fowler's death in 2019?
- A.Natural causes
- B.A respiratory illness
- C.Heart disease complicationscorrect
- D.A wildlife-related accident
James Mark Fowler died on May 8, 2019, from complications of heart disease.
Source: Death section
8.In what state did James Mark Fowler pass away?
- A.Pennsylvania
- B.Connecticutcorrect
- C.Georgia
- D.Virginia
James Mark Fowler died at his home in Norwalk, Connecticut.
Source: Death section
9.Which organization presented James Mark Fowler with the Safari Planet Earth award in 1995?
- A.Environmental Media Association
- B.Global Communications for Conservationcorrect
- C.New Canaan Land Trust
- D.National Council of State Garden Clubs
The Global Communications for Conservation organization presented the 1995 Safari Planet Earth award to James Mark Fowler.
Source: Awards section
10.What award did the Environmental Media Association give to James Mark Fowler in 1998?
- A.Outstanding Alumni Award
- B.Gold Seal
- C.Lifetime Achievement awardcorrect
- D.Lindbergh Award
In 1998, the Environmental Media Association presented James Mark Fowler with their first-ever Lifetime Achievement award.
Source: Awards section
11.For how many years of dedication to wildlife preservation did James Mark Fowler receive the Lindbergh Award in 2003?
- A.20 years
- B.30 years
- C.40 yearscorrect
- D.50 years
James Mark Fowler was the recipient of the Lindbergh Award in 2003 for his 40 years of dedication to wildlife preservation.
Source: Awards section
12.Where is the Silvermine Fowler Preserve located?
- A.Albany, Georgia
- B.New Canaan, Connecticutcorrect
- C.Chester County, Pennsylvania
- D.Falls Church, Virginia
The Silvermine Fowler Preserve of the New Canaan Land Trust is located on the site of the former family home in New Canaan, Connecticut.
Source: Death section
13.Which college did James Mark Fowler graduate from in 1952?
- A.The Today Show University
- B.National Council of State Garden Clubs
- C.Earlham Collegecorrect
- D.Westtown School
James Mark Fowler graduated from Earlham College in 1952.
Source: Early years section
14.What is the name of the television program James Mark Fowler launched in 2000?
- A.Safari Planet Earth
- B.Wilderness Perspectives
- C.Jim Fowler's Life in the Wildcorrect
- D.Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom
James Mark Fowler launched the television program Jim Fowler's Life in the Wild in 2000.
Source: Career section
15.What award was presented to James Mark Fowler by the National Council of State Garden Clubs, Inc.?
- A.Outstanding Alumni Award
- B.Lifetime Achievement award
- C.Safari Planet Earth award
- D.Gold Sealcorrect
The National Council of State Garden Clubs, Inc. awarded James Mark Fowler its highest achievement award, the Gold Seal.
Source: Awards section
16.James Mark Fowler spent his youth exploring nature in the stream valley of which location?
- A.Four Mile Runcorrect
- B.Silvermine Preserve
- C.Albany River
- D.Norwalk Valley
James Mark Fowler spent his youth exploring nature in the stream valley of Four Mile Run near his family home.
Source: Early years section
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