Matt Gallant
Matt Gallant (born June 25, 1964) is an American Emmy Award-winning television host. He is well known as the former host of The Planet's Funniest Animals on Animal Planet. Gallant has hosted shows on MTV, ESPN2, G4, NFL Network, Fine Living, ABC, DirecTV to name a few. Matt hosted Simon Cowell's American Inventor in 2006. Matt Gallant is currently Co-Hosting "The List" on the Scripps Network. TheListtv.com
Early career
Born on June 25, 1964 in Syracuse, New York and raised in Westport, Connecticut, Gallant studied communications and theatre at the University of Rhode Island. In his senior year, Gallant worked in the sports information department and broadcast university basketball and football games. He held an internship covering sports news at Channel 6 in Providence, Rhode Island.
After graduating, Gallant moved to New York where he became a page at NBC and filled audiences for shows such as Late Night with David Letterman. He then hired an agent who managed to get him minor roles in television ads and soaps. He then moved on to Los Angeles where he auditioned for some small roles. Eventually, Gallant hosted a few shows, including X-Treme Energy, The Planet's Funniest Animals, and American Inventor.
In 2004 Gallant gave the Commencement speech at the University of Rhode Island and received an Honorary Doctorate of Arts for his career achievements and fundraising/ volunteer work with the Make a Wish Foundation that helps children with life-threatening illnesses. Gallant is managed by Marki Costello at Creative Management Group (cmeg.com)