Who Is Jeff Probst’s Wife? All About Lisa Ann Russell

Jeff Probst hosted Survived since 2000, but is also a devoted husband to his wife, Lisa Ann Russell, and stepfather to her two children.

Probst and Russell met when they were guests at a mutual friend’s Christmas party, and the couple tied the knot soon after. In December 2011, they officially celebrated it with an intimate wedding in the yard.

More than a decade later, the couple live in Los Angeles with Russell’s two children – Michael and Ava – from her first marriage to Saved by the bell actor Mark-Paul Gosselaar.

Russell had a modeling career through college and dabbled in acting, which led her to meet Probst. Now the mother of two children likes to spend time with their family and collaborate with her husband on projects.

In a 2012 interview with host Larry King, Probst shared his appreciation for Russell. When asked about his married life, he said it was “terrible because I married the right person.”

So who is Jeff Probst’s wife? Here’s everything you need to know about Lisa Ann Russell and her relationship with the TV personality.

She was previously married to Mark-Paul Gosselaar

Mark-Paul Gosselaar and ex-wife Lisa Ann Russell at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles, California.

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Russell started out in the entertainment industry as a model for Revlon before turning to acting in 1992. The following year, she landed a minor role in Saved by the bell: college yearswhere she met Gosselaar, who played Zack Morris in the original sitcom and its sequel.

Russell and Gosselaar began dating and married in August 1996. They have two children: Michael, born in 2004, and Ava, born in 2006.

The couple announced their separation in June 2010 after nearly 14 years of marriage, with the ex-spouses sharing joint custody of the children.

“They both remain focused on their family and are committed to their children together,” 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 “Hollywood Bites Back!” event in April 2011 in Los Angeles, California.

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In his 2012 interview Larry King nowProbst revealed that he met Russell at his friend, creator and producer’s annual Christmas party survived, Mark Burnett.

Noting that Burnett is “eclectic and going in weird circles” because of his variety of work, Probst talked about how “crazy” this Christmas party was.

“You’ve got Gary Busey putting pressure on your arm,” he said, describing the scene. “Meanwhile, Barbra Streisand is talking to Paris Hilton on another couch.”

Other attendees included Arsenio Hall and David Foster, but Probst noticed Russell in the crowd, who was witnessing the “spectacle” with two of his friends.

Probst and Russell married 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.

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After meeting at Burnett’s Christmas party, Probst and Russell began dating. The couple first went public in August 2010 at the 62nd Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards.

The award-winning host and former model tied the knot on December 5, 2011 in a private ceremony held at Probst’s backyard in LA

Before marrying Russell, Probst was previously married to therapist Shelly Wright from 1996 to 2001, and dated an ex Survived contestant Julie Berry from 2004 to 2008.

She is the mother of two children

Jeff Probst and his wife, Lisa Ann Russell, with their children, Michaela and Ava, in March 2011 in Los Angeles, California.

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Russell and her ex-husband Gosselaar have two children, Michael and Ava.

“I always thought I would have this family and this great family unit, because that’s where I came from,” Probst told King in 2012. “And then, one day, I met this woman, and it happened. And she had two children.”

Probst also spoke fondly of 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, referring to himself and Gosselaar’s second wife, Catriona McGinn, whom he married in 2012.

Probst revealed that Michael and Ava now call him Dad, but before he and Russell got married, they played around with different names to call him, like “Jeff Dad 2” or “D2.” However, on their wedding day, Russell’s son called Probst “Daddy”, and it was a special moment.

They live in Los Angeles

Jeff Probst and his wife Lisa Ann Russell at the film premiere; ‘Office Christmas Party’ in December 2016.

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In 2011, the same year Probst and Russell married, they bought a house in LA from the estate of Gene Autry. According to Los Angeles Times, the Monterey-style home was built in 1949 and has two floors spanning approximately 8,000 square feet. The five-bedroom, seven-bathroom home sits on nearly four acres and sold for $5 million.

Probst is recognized by PEOPLE in 2012 that he sometimes felt “guilty” about how spectacular his home was. “Outside is the best part of the house,” he said as he pointed to the pool.

“This is definitely a house built by Survivor,” he added, saying he owes Survived creator Burnett “a huge thank you for putting me in a situation where I can live in a house like this.”

Viewers got a sneak peek into the home shared by Probst, Russell and their children when he hosted the season finale Survivor: Winners At War from his garage during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Getting ready for the season finale of #Survivor: Winners at War… from my garage,” Probst wrote on Instagram, posting behind-the-scenes photos.

A few days later, he also documented himself tearing up the makeshift set on Instagram, noting that it was “hopefully the last time” they have to film the show there.

He often goes on vacation to Hawaii with his family

Jeff Probst and his wife Lisa Ann Russell arrive at the premiere of ‘The Wrong Side of Right’ on July 2015 in Hollywood, California.

Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic

During the start of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic shutdown, Probst, Russell and their children were quarantined in Hawaii, where they were originally vacationing.

He explained that it was their family’s spring break trip in March when the kids were off school and before he went to Fiji to film. Survived. After the CBS reality competition series was canceled due to the season, the family decided to stay longer.

“What we thought would be … let’s stay a few more days turned into three and a half months,” Probst said, speaking Magazine for review podcast in September 2020. “It was … probably the best three and a half months of my last 20 years.”

Probst, Russell and their children were not alone: ​​there were two family friends with their children and all quarantined together.

“We just saw each other, we had dinner every night, we played tennis in the morning,” he continued. “It was like life stopped and nothing was happening, and then I’d call my friends in LA again and they’d say, ‘Can you please stop sending the photos? Not so here.’ ”

She and Probst share a love of reality TV

Jeff Probst and his wife Lisa Ann Russell at the premiere of ‘Ben-Hur’ in August 2016 in Hollywood, California.

Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic

Probst’s long career as a presenter Survived shows her love for reality TV, but Russell is also a fan. On Magazine for review podcast, Probst revealed that he and Russell enjoy watching shows like HGTV House hunterjoking that couples on shows have unrealistic expectations.

From 2012 to 2013, Probst hosted his own talk show, The Jeff Probst Show. In hour-long episodes, he chatted with celebrity guests, including Tia Mowry, Hugh Jackman and Jenna Fischer, among others. Russell helped make some of those guests possible as the show’s talent coordinator emeritus.

She also appeared as a co-host on set The Jeff Probst Show and shared a story about celebrating a close friend’s 40th birthday with a group pole dance class, even showing off what she learned.

While Russell has yet to appear on Survived along with her husband, Probst has the answer to what he would do if they were together on the show. When Survivor: Blood Against Water, which featured married couples, was broadcast in 2013. Entertainment Weekly asked Probst what he would do if he and Russell were in the final four.

“We’d both evaluate each scenario and, I think, we’d probably agree that, given the jury, you’re going to be better at swaying them or I’m going to be,” he said.

The couple also seems to be keeping their relationship alive with a bit of healthy competition. Asked if he would vote for Russell, Probst said, “It depends on the situation, but absolutely.”

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Source: HIS Education