Rob Dyrdek

Robert Stanley Dyrdek (born June 28, 1974) is an American entrepreneur, actor, producer, reality TV personality, and former professional skateboarder.

He is best known for his roles in the MTV reality and variety shows Rob & Big, Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory, and Ridiculousness.

In addition to his television ventures, Dyrdek is a serial entrepreneur, founding several businesses through his venture studio, Dyrdek Machine, including Street League Skateboarding and Superjacket Productions (now Thrill One Media).

Dyrdek was born on June 28, 1974, in Kettering, Ohio, to Gene and Patty Dyrdek.

He was involved in sports as a child and began skateboarding at the age of 11.

Of his early interest in the sport, Dyrdek has stated, "I was so focused on becoming a pro skateboarder. I would sit in school and think about all the tricks I was going to do, then I'd get out of school and skate until they made me come inside."

Dyrdek attended Fairmont High School in Kettering.

At the age of 11, Dyrdek earned a sponsorship to represent Surf Ohio, a local skate shop in Dayton, Ohio.

He began competing at age 12.

Gordon and Smith Skateboard Company (G&S), a national brand, began sponsoring him around that time.

In July 1989 at age 15, Dyrdek placed first at a National Skateboard Association North Central District competition.

At the age of 16, he decided to forgo his senior year of high school and instead moved to Southern California to continue his professional skate career.

He officially turned pro in 1991, competing at the Skateboard World Cup in Germany and placing fifth.

He also appeared in the Alien Workshop skate video, Memory Screen, that year.

Alien Workshop, a Dayton, Ohio-based skateboarding company, began sponsoring Dyrdek at that time.

The company began producing signature Dyrdek skateboards soon after the endorsement.

Dyrdek also founded his own skateboard accessory company, Orion Trucks, at age 17.

By 1995, Dyrdek was competing at events and performing at exhibitions throughout North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.

Around that time, Droors Clothing, which later became known as DC Shoes, began sponsoring Dyrdek.

During 1995, he launched his first signature shoe (the RD 1) with DC, beginning a 20-year partnership that included 29 signature shoes.

In 1999, Dyrdek expanded into the business world by founding Dyrdek Enterprises.

In 2000, Dyrdek placed sixth in park skating at that year's X Games in San Francisco.

In 2003, he founded Silver Trucks, a skateboarding accessories company.

It was born from a skit Dyrdek wrote for a 2003 DC Shoes video, The DC Video.

In the skit, he hired Boykin as a bodyguard for protection from security guards while filming street skating videos.

The show featured instances of these interactions along with other facets of Dyrdek's daily life.

In 2005, he drafted, designed, developed, and raised funding for the world's first skate plaza, the Rob Dyrdek/DC Shoes Skate Plaza, in his hometown of Kettering.

The park emphasized elements of street skateboarding, incorporating urban artifacts like stairs, ledges, planters, and railings.

It was the first project funded by the Rob Dyrdek/DC Shoes Skate Plaza Foundation.

In November 2006, the MTV reality series Rob & Big premiered, which starred Dyrdek and his best friend and bodyguard, Christopher "Big Black" Boykin, as well as his cousin, Chris "Drama" Pfaff, and friend, Rashawn "Bam Bam" Davis.

As part of Rob & Big in 2007, Dyrdek set 21 skating world records in one day, according to the Guinness Book of World Records.

Some of these included the longest board slide—100 ft—, the highest skateboard ramp jump into water—10 ft—, and the most nollie kickflips in one minute (22).

The series ended its run in April 2008 after three seasons.

In February 2009, Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory, featuring Dyrdek, Pfaff, and his Dyrdek Enterprise staff, was first broadcast.

It covered Dyrdek's "Fantasy Factory", a converted warehouse where Dyrdek runs his businesses.

He also built a recording studio for Pfaff inside the factory.

During the course of the first season, he opened his first SafeSpot SkateSpot.

At the grand-opening, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa rode with Dyrdek on the world's largest skateboard.

Fantasy Factory aired a total of seven seasons, with the season finale airing on March 13, 2014.

On that final episode, Dyrdek set the Guinness World Record for the longest reverse ramp jump by a car at 89 feet, 3.25 inches.