Graham Kerr

Although Graham Kerr is now an expert on nutrition and healthful eating, he's best known for his decadent cooking on The Galloping Gourmet, a classic show now airing on Food Network. Lots of butter, cream and healthy doses of humor helped make The Galloping Gourmet one of the most beloved cooking shows of all time.

Born in London in 1934, Graham grew up around some of Europe's finest chefs. He began working for his parents, well established hoteliers, at an early age. His formal culinary and management training began at age 15, when he became a manager trainee at the nationally acclaimed Roebuck Hotel in East Sussex, England. After serving five years in the British Army as catering adviser with a captain's rank, he returned to the hotel business to become General Manager of England's Royal Ascot Hotel.

In 1958, Graham moved to New Zealand and was appointed chief catering adviser for the Royal New Zealand Air Force. It was here that he made his debut as a TV personality - dressed in uniform, cooking an omelet - at the orders of his senior officer. Graham's spontaneity and lighthearted humor were an instant hit.

When the military moved him to Australia, he starred in a successful cooking show called Eggs With Flight Lieutenant Kerr. In 1969 he moved to Canada, where he caught the world's attention with The Galloping Gourmet, produced by his wife, Treena Kerr. The Galloping Gourmet quickly became the most successful cooking show on TV, earning Treena two Emmy nominations as producer of the year for daytime television.

The Galloping Gourmet ended in 1971 after a tragic accident left Graham temporarily paralyzed and Treena suffering from long lasting complications. Following years of rehabilitation, they co founded Creative Lifestyle International, an organization that teaches people how to live better with less money. But more tragedy was to come: Treena's heart attack in 1986 prompted Graham to create a new cooking style called "Minimax," food with minimized health risks and maximum aroma, color, texture and taste. Both Graham and Treena have since fully recovered.

In 1988, Graham returned to the TV screen with the cooking show Simply Marvellous, followed by a daily half hour television series called Graham Kerr. Other public television shows include Graham Kerr's Kitchen, Swiftly Seasoned and The Gathering Place. A best selling author, Graham has published numerous books, including Smart Cooking (Doubleday, 1991), Graham Kerr's Swiftly Seasoned (Putnam, 1997), Minimax (Doubleday, 1992), Graham Kerr's Kitchen (Putnam, 1996), Graham Kerr's Best (Putnam, 1996) and The Gathering Place (Camano, 1997).

Graham received an honorary doctorate in 2003 for culinary arts and nutrition.