Adam Richman

While some people sought fame by climbing mountains, Adam Richman found his by conquering mammoth-sized burgers and mile-high pancake stacks. An actor by trade, Richman became the king of competitive eating as the star of the Travel Channel's hit show, "Man v. Food" (2008-12), which followed him across America in search of the best and biggest pig-out food.

Amped up by a throng of locals who chanted, "Ad-am, Ad-am!," Richman typically faced gut-busting challenges such as eating a plate of devilishly hot wings, a hamburger the size of a barstool, or a 5-lb. grilled cheese sandwich. He won many of the challenges, but sometimes the sheer size of his edible opponents toppled the unrelenting Richman, whose insatiable appetite and every-guy appeal made him one of television's most exciting and entertaining food personalities.

Adam Richman was born on May 16, 1974 in Brooklyn, NY. Growing up in a food Mecca like New York City triggered in him a passion for food at a young age. Years later, as an undergraduate at Emory University in Atlanta, GA, Richman began keeping a food journal to document the restaurants and unique culinary finds he was discovering throughout the Southeastern United States.

After graduating with a degree in International Studies from in 1996, the future television star went on to graduate from the Yale School of Drama in May 2003, but he never forgot his zest for food. He traveled all over the country to act in regional theaters, but supported himself by taking on various restaurants jobs - from the counter to the kitchen - coast to coast. While building up his culinary, résumé, Richman also landed minor roles on primetime shows like "Joan of Arcadia" (CBS, 2003-05) and daytime dramas such as "All My Children" (ABC, 1970- ) and "Guiding Light" (CBS, 1952-2009).

Richman, who was a relative unknown in the TV food business dominated by celebrity chefs such as Paula Deen and Rachael Ray, became an overnight sensation as host of the popular series, "Man v. Food," in which he traveled to various American cities in search of the most scrumptious dishes and to participate in challenges involving sinfully large portions of food. The energetic show appealed not only to foodies and more traditional home cooks, but also to a new generation of viewers with a taste for competitive eating, unconventional chefs, and bizarre cuisine.

Richman's fans tuned in week after week to see if he succeeded in devouring a 72-ounce steak in Amarillo, TX; five pounds of cheesy nachos in Ann Arbor, MI; or if he won the 12-lb burger challenge in Boston, MA. While most of the challenges involved enormous volumes of food, Richman sometimes faced off against the spiciest food on the planet like hot wings and ramen, all to the delight of the locals who cheered him on.

However, not everyone was a fan of Richman's gastronomic adventures. Alton Brown, host of the food science show, "Good Eats" (Food Network, 1999- ), told the Huffington Post in September 2010 that he deemed Richman's show "disgusting" because it promoted gluttony. Richman responded via Twitter that his show was about indulgence, and that it brought business to many Mom-and-Pop eateries around the nation.