Crikey. He was a beautiful creature.

Apparently Steve Irwin has been killed off the coast of Australia. I distinctly remember watching one of his specials in the summer of 1997 -- I think it was Ten Most Dangerous Snakes or some such thing -- and thinking "this guy is insane, but he's gonna be huge." Mr. T, with all his phobia of crocs and reptiles, watched Steve Irwin with a sort of horrified but admiring fascination. (He even dressed up as Irwin for one of our annual Halloween costume parties one year.)

Irwin is one of those guys who, crazy as he seems while he's waxing eloquent over the crocodile he's standing next to, make the world a better place just by knowing he's in it. So wildly passionate about animals and conservation, you just knew progress was being made, and people were being educated.

I hope this isn't true. Australian authorities have been unable to confirm it so far.

Update: CNN is reporting that the Queensland Police Services is confirming Irwin's death.

Shit.