Jeff Probst and his wife, Lisa Ann Russell, at the 21st Annual Critics' Choice Awards in January 2016 in Santa Monica, California.Photo:Jason Merritt/Getty
Jason Merritt/Getty
Jeff Probsthas served as the host ofSurvivorsince 2000, but he’s also a devoted husband to his wife, Lisa Ann Russell, and stepdad to her two kids.
Probst and Russell met when they were guests at a mutual friend’s Christmas party, and the couple got together shortly after. In December 2011, they made it official with an intimate backyard wedding.
Russell had a modeling career through college and dabbled in acting, which led her to meet Probst. Now the mother of two enjoys spending time with their family and collaborating with her husband on projects.
In a2012 interviewwith hostLarry King, Probst shared his gratitude for Russell. When asked about married life, he said it was “awesome because I married the right person.”
She was previously married to Mark-Paul Gosselaar
Mark-Paul Gosselaar and ex-wife Lisa Ann Russell at the Paramount Studios in Los Angeles, California.Gregg DeGuire/WireImage
Gregg DeGuire/WireImage
Russell got her start in the entertainment industry as a model for Revlon before pivoting to acting in 1992. The following year, she landed a minor role inSaved By The Bell: The College Years, where she met Gosselaar, who playedZack Morrison the original sitcom and its sequel.
Russell and Gosselaar started dating and got married in August 1996. They share two children: Michael, born in 2004, and Ava, welcomed in 2006.
The pair announced their separation in June 2010 after nearly 14 years of marriage, and the former spouses share joint custody of their kids.
“They both remain focused on their family and are jointly committed to their children,” a rep for Gosselaar told PEOPLE at the time.
They met at a Christmas party
Jeff Probst and his wife Lisa Ann Russell at Malaria No More’s “Hollywood Bites Back!” event in April 2011 in Los Angeles, California.David Livingston/Getty
David Livingston/Getty
In his 2012 interview onLarry King Now, Probst revealed that he met Russell at the annual Christmas party of his friend, creator and producer ofSurvivor,Mark Burnett.
Noting that Burnett is “eclectic and hangs in weird circles” because of his variety of work, Probst discussed how “crazy” this Christmas party was.
“You haveGary Buseydoing pressure points on your arm,” he said, describing the scene. “Meanwhile, there’sBarbra Streisandtalking toParis Hiltonon the other couch.”
Other attendees includedArsenio HallandDavid Foster, but Probst noticed Russell in the crowd, who was with two of her friends witnessing “the spectacle.”
Probst and Russell wed in 2011
Jeff Probst and his wife Lisa Ann Russell at the 2011 Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards in September 2011 in Los Angeles, California.Tommaso Boddi/WireImage
Tommaso Boddi/WireImage
After meeting at Burnett’s Christmas party, Probst and Russell started dating. The couplemade their first public outingin August 2010 at the 62nd Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards.
The award-winning host and former model married on Dec. 5, 2011, in a private ceremony held in Probst’s backyard in L.A.
Before marrying Russell, Probst previously wed therapist Shelly Wright from 1996 to 2001, and he also dated formerSurvivorcontestantJulie Berryfrom 2004 to 2008.
She’s a mom of two children
Jeff Probst and his wife, Lisa Ann Russell, with her children, Michael and Ava, in March 2011 in Los Angeles, California.David Livingston/Getty
Russell and her ex-husband Gosselaar have two kids together, Michael and Ava.
“I always thought I would have this family and this great family unit, because that’s what I came from,” Probst told King in 2012. “And then, one day, I met this woman, and it happened. And she had two kids.”
Probst also spoke kindly about Russell’s previous marriage and Gosselaar.
“They raised these kids with the kind of love that they just see … us as two more parents,” Probst added, speaking of himself and Gosselaar’s second wife, Catriona McGinn, whom he married in 2012.
Probst revealed that Michael and Ava call him dad now, but before he and Russell married, they played with different names to call him, like “Jeff Dad 2” or “D2.” On their wedding day, though, Russell’s son called Probst “dad,” and it was a special moment.
They live in Los Angeles
Jeff Probst and his wife Lisa Ann Russell at the premiere of; ‘Office Christmas Party’ in December 2016.Albert L. Ortega/Getty
Albert L. Ortega/Getty
Probst admitted to PEOPLEin 2012 that he sometimes felt “guilty” about how spectacular his home was. “Outside is the best part of the house,” he said while showing off the pool.
“This is most definitely the house Survivor built,” he added, saying that he owesSurvivorcreator Burnett “a giant thank you for putting me in a situation to be able to live in a house like this.”
Viewers got a small sneak peek into the home that Probst, Russell and their kids share when he hosted the season finale ofSurvivor: Winners At Warfrom his garage during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I am getting ready for the season finale of #Survivor: Winners at War… from my garage,”Probst wroteon Instagram, posting behind-the-scenes photos.
A couple of days later, he also documented himself breaking down the makeshift seton Instagram, noting that it was “hopefully the last time” they’d have to film the show there.
She vacations in Hawaii with her family often
Jeff Probst and his wife Lisa Ann Russell arrive at the premiere of ‘The Wrong Side of Right’ in July 2015 in Hollywood, California.Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic
Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic
During the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in 2020, Probst, Russell and their children quarantined in Hawaii, where they were originally on vacation.
He explained that it’s their family’s go-to spring break trip in March when the kids are off from school and before he goes to Fiji to shootSurvivor. After the CBS reality competition serieswas canceled for the season, the family decided to stay longer.
“What we thought was gonna be … let’s just stay another couple days, turned into three and a half months,” Probst said, speaking to theReview Revuepodcastin September 2020. “It was … probably the best three and a half months of my last 20 years.”
Probst, Russell and their kids weren’t alone: two family friends were there with their kids, and they all quarantined together.
“We only saw each other, we had dinners every night, we played tennis in the morning,” he continued. “It was like life had stopped and nothing was happening and then I would call back to L.A. to my friends and they would say, ‘Could you please stop sending photos? It’s not like that here.' ”
Jeff Probst and his wife Lisa Ann Russell at the premiere of ‘Ben-Hur’ in August 2016 in Hollywood, California.Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic
Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic
From 2012 to 2013, Probst hosted his own talk show,The Jeff Probst Show. The hour-long episodes saw him in conversation with celebrity guests, including the likes ofTia Mowry,Hugh JackmanandJenna Fischer, among others. Russell helped facilitate some of these guests as a credited talent coordinator on the show.
She also appeared as a co-host on a taping ofThe Jeff Probst Showand she shared a story about celebrating a close friend’s 40th birthday with a group pole dancing lesson, even showing what she learned.
While Russell has yet to appear onSurvivoralongside her husband, Probst has an answer for what he would do if they were on the show together. WhenSurvivor: Blood vs. Water,which featured married couples, was airing in 2013,Entertainment Weeklyasked Probst what he would do if he and Russell were in the final four.
“We would both be assessing every scenario and we would, I think, probably come to an agreement that either given the jury you will be better at swaying them, or I will be,” he said.
It seems the couple also keeps their relationship alive with a little healthy competition. When asked if he would vote Russell out, Probst said, “It depends on the situation, but absolutely.“
source: people.com
