Ross Mathews
{{short description|American television personality}}
{{For|the footballer|Ross Matthews (footballer)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| image = File:Ross Mathews.jpg
| name = Ross Mathews
| caption = Mathews in 2010
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1979|09|24}}
| birth_place = United States
| death_date =
| death_place =
| death_cause =
| resting_place =
| resting_place_coordinates =
| nationality = American
| other_names = Ross the Intern, Bossy Rossy, The Hilarious Ross Mathews
| alma_mater = University of La Verne
| employer =
| television = Tonight Show with Jay Leno, RuPaul's Drag Race, The Drew Barrymore Show
| occupation = Television personality
| years_active = 2001–present
| spouse = {{marriage|Wellinthon García|2022}}{{cite web |last1=Helling |first1=Steve |title=Ross Mathews Marries Fiancé Wellinthon García in Mexico — with Flower Girl Drew Barrymore! |url=https://people.com/tv/ross-mathews-marries-fiance-wellinthon-garcia-in-mexico/ |website=People |access-date=17 June 2022 |date=May 7, 2018}}
| website = {{URL|helloross.com}}
}}
Ross Mathews (born September 24, 1979){{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/pg/HelloRoss/about/| title=About|publisher=Ross Mathews verified Facebook page|access-date= February 11, 2018|archive-date= February 11, 2018|archive-url=https://archive.today/20180211223857/https://www.facebook.com/pg/HelloRoss/about/|url-status=dead}} is an American television host and personality. He rose to fame as an intern and a correspondent for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno; he was known as "Ross the Intern" on air.
Mathews has appeared on Celebrity Fit Club, The Insider, Celebrity Big Brother, and as a weekly panelist on Chelsea Lately. He is a judge on RuPaul's Drag Race, hosts a weekly podcast with Westwood One Studios, and assists with hosting The Drew Barrymore Show. He has been a co-host on Live from E! and a correspondent on The Jay Leno Show.
Early life
Raised in Mount Vernon, Washington,{{cite magazine|url= https://parade.com/26099/erinhill/ross-mathews-from-farm-town-to-hollywood/|title=Ross Mathews: From Farm Town Boy to Hollywood Fixture |magazine=Parade|first=Erin|last=Hill|date=June 27, 2013|access-date=February 28, 2021|archive-date=July 25, 2018|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180725122835/https://parade.com/26099/erinhill/ross-mathews-from-farm-town-to-hollywood/|url-status=live|quote=As a kid in Mount Vernon, WA...}} Mathews graduated from Mount Vernon High SchoolMathews in {{cite news|url=http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews41_19/page24.cfm|title=The out intern - Ross Mathews is living the Hollywood dream|newspaper=Seattle Gay News|date= May 10, 2013|volume= 41|issue=19|first=Albert|last=Rodriguez|access-date=February 28, 2021|archive-date=July 12, 2017|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170712082611/http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews41_19/page24.cfm|url-status=live|quote= I graduated high school in Mount Vernon, at Mount Vernon High School, and 30 seconds later I moved to the streets of L.A.}} and graduated from the University of La Verne, in La Verne, California, in 2002. He majored in communications{{cite press release|url=http://www.ulv.edu/ur/profiles/profile.phtml?id=9&type=alumni|title=Alumni Profile: Ross Mathews 2002|publisher=University of La Verne|date=August 16, 2004|access-date=July 17, 2007|first=Rusty|last=Evans|archive-date=September 27, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927045600/http://www.ulv.edu/ur/profiles/profile.phtml?id=9&type=alumni|url-status=dead}} and competed in speech and debate competitions.{{cite news|first=Terry|last=Birdsall|url=http://www.ulv.edu/comms/lvm/sp02/ross.htm |title=Ross, the Intern |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070626213601/http://www.ulv.edu/comms/lvm/sp02/ross.htm |archive-date=June 26, 2007| work=La Verne Magazine|date= Spring 2002|access-date= July 17, 2007|quote=Ross was president of the debate team his senior year. He performed individual events for the team, was state champion for two events and was sent to the nationals.}}
Career
Mathews began as an intern on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Beginning in December 2001, he covered movie premieres, the Academy Awards, two Winter Olympic Games, and other events.Tracy E. Gilchrist (June 10, 2008). [http://www.gaywired.com/article.cfm?id=19241§ion=67 "This Gay Week in Television: Bea Arthur, Courteney Cox"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080628205316/http://www.gaywired.com/article.cfm?id=19241§ion=67 |date=June 28, 2008 }}. Gay Wired. "Lest we forget that Jay helped launch the adorable gay intern Ross Mathews' career."
Mathews has contributed commentary to the E! networks various 101... specials, and appeared as a weekly panelist on E's late night talk show Chelsea Lately.Gilbert, Ted (May 2, 2013). [http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/02/showbiz/celebrity-news-gossip/ross-mathews-man-up/ "Why Ross Mathews decided to 'Man Up!'"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130719201024/http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/02/showbiz/celebrity-news-gossip/ross-mathews-man-up |date=July 19, 2013 }}. CNN. He appeared on the fifth season of VH1's reality television show, Celebrity Fit Club. During the course of the show, which premiered in April 2007, Mathews lost more than 40 lbs. (18 kg) and helped his team win the grand prize.{{citation needed|date=February 2018}} He was also a guest host on The View on July 17, 2007.{{citation needed|date=February 2018}}
Mathews appeared as a celebrity mob member on seven episodes of NBC's prime time game show 1 vs. 100 in early 2008. In 2009, he was a contributing correspondent on The Insider, and hosted a web show on The Insider called Inside Dish With Ross Mathews; he took viewers behind the scenes as an "outsider" in Hollywood. Inside Dish became the official online web-shows for CBS's Big Brother and The Amazing Race.{{citation needed|date=May 2017}} Also in 2009, he co-hosted GSN's Big Saturday Night, a weekly game show. His other 2009 appearances included The Howard Stern Show and the 2009 Game Show Awards with Diane.
Mathews joined the panel of judges for RuPaul’s drag race with occasional appearances in the earlier seasons and more frequent appearances beginning in Season 7.
In 2010, Mathews joined the E! Network's red carpet team, filling in for Ryan Seacrest as co-host with Giuliana Rancic for E! Live From the Red Carpet coverage of the 2011 Screen Actors Guild Awards, the 2010 Emmy Awards, the 2011 Golden Globe Awards, and the 2011 Academy Awards.
In January 2011, Mathews starred in a pilot that he produced and co-wrote with fellow Chelsea Lately round table regular Heather McDonald. Titled Love or Hate, the pilot was made for the E! Network and was executive produced by Chelsea Handler and her company Borderline Amazing Productions.Andreeva, Nellie. [https://deadline.com/2011/01/e-orders-pop-culture-show-presentation-produced-by-chelsea-handler-94099/ "E! Orders Pop Culture Show Presentation Produced By Chelsea Handler"] . Deadline Hollywood. January 5, 2011
He also appeared in the E! Network's After Lately, a show about the behind the scenes of Chelsea Lately.Nededog, Jethro (August 23, 2011). [https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/e-signs-ross-mathews-new-226212 "E! Signs Ross Mathews to New Talk Show Pilot Development and Talent Deal (Exclusive)"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111208105138/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/e-signs-ross-mathews-new-226212 |date=December 8, 2011 }}. The Hollywood Reporter. By September 2011, Mathews had left The Tonight Show returning for guest appearances including the "Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda" skit on December 14, 2011.{{cite episode|series=The Tonight Show with Jay Leno|number=56|season=20|airdate=December 14, 2011|title=Episode #20.56|network=NBC}}
Mathews appeared in the fourth episode of the Bravo series Interior Therapy with Jeff Lewis in 2012, in which Lewis redesigned his and his boyfriend's garage.{{cite episode|title=Ross is the Boss|series=Interior Therapy with Jeff Lewis|airdate=April 4, 2012|network=Bravo|season=1|number=4}}
On May 7, 2013, Mathews released his book Man Up! Tales of My Delusional Self-Confidence. He was the host of Hello Ross, an interactive talk show on E! from September 6, 2013, until May 16, 2014.Peeples, Jase (April 24, 2013). [http://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/television/2013/04/24/ross-mathews-scores-new-interactive-talk-show "Ross Mathews to Host New 'Interactive' Talk Show"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005094911/http://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/television/2013/04/24/ross-mathews-scores-new-interactive-talk-show |date=October 5, 2013 }}. The Advocate. In 2015, he and Carson Kressley were named as new regular judges for the 7th season of RuPaul's Drag Race.{{cite web|url=http://www.newnownext.com/rupauls-drag-race-season-7-premiere-date-announced/01/2015/|title="The "RuPaul's Drag Race" Season 7 Premiere Date—And Judges—Finally Revealed!" NewNowNext.com Accessed January 28th, 2015|publisher=newnownext.com|access-date=January 28, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150130212902/http://www.newnownext.com/rupauls-drag-race-season-7-premiere-date-announced/01/2015/|archive-date=January 30, 2015}} At the end of 2015, Mathews began filling in as a guest host on Hollywood Today Live, which is syndicated on Fox. He became a permanent host on January 4, 2016. He also had a lead role in the movie Pup Star. The sequel, Pup Star: Better 2Gether, premiered the following year. He guest-starred as himself in an episode of Mike Tyson Mysteries titled "Unsolved Situations" in 2016.
In 2017, he was the commentator of the Eurovision Song Contest 2017 together with Michelle Visage live for Logo TV.{{cite web|last1=Jordan|first1=Paul|title=Eurovision returns to the United States|url=https://eurovision.tv/story/eurovision-2017-broadcast-us|website=eurovision.tv|publisher=European Broadcasting Union|access-date=April 28, 2017|date=April 27, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170428142303/https://eurovision.tv/story/eurovision-2017-broadcast-us|archive-date=April 28, 2017}} He also commented alongside Shangela on the Logo TV broadcast of the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 final.[https://eurovision.tv/story/logo-air-eurovision-2018-grand-final-live-united-states Logo to air Eurovision 2018 Grand Final live in the United States – Eurovision Song Contest]
In 2018, Mathews was announced as one of the eleven houseguests competing on the first American edition of Celebrity Big Brother. He finished in 2nd place, winning $50,000, and was voted as America's Favorite Houseguest earning an additional prize of $25,000.{{Cite web |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/television/8099559/celebrity-big-brother-cast-pics-bios |title=Get to Know the 'Celebrity Big Brother' Cast: Mark McGrath, Omarosa & More |last=Maher |first=Natalie |date=February 13, 2018 |website=www.billboard.com |access-date=February 23, 2018}} He appeared in the second season as part of a Head of Household competition.
On November 28, 2019, Mathews was a field reporter for Verizon 360 at the 93rd Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.{{citation needed|date=November 2019}} Since fall 2020, he has appeared on the "Drews News" segment of The Drew Barrymore Show and has been hosting his own podcast, Straight Talk with Ross Mathews. In 2021, he appeared as a panelist on the comedy series, Adorableness on MTV.{{cite web|last=Ossad|first=Jordana|title=MTV is About to Get a Dose of Adorableness|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/3178380/mtv-new-comedy-show-adorableness/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210621185719/http://www.mtv.com/news/3178380/mtv-new-comedy-show-adorableness/|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 21, 2021|work=MTV|date=June 21, 2021}}
Personal life
Mathews is openly gay.{{cite news |title=Monkey Business: Short Takes |work=The Kansas City Star |date=June 23, 2007 |page=E6 |publisher=The McClatchy Company }}{{cite web |access-date=April 21, 2010 |url=http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/28879432/ |title=Super media spectacle more staid than usual |publisher=NBC Sports |author=Celizic, Mike |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100112054856/http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/28879432 |archive-date=January 12, 2010 }} From 2008 to 2018, he had a relationship with stylist Salvador Camarena.Celebrity Slimdowns: Losing the Weight. E!. January 2, 2012Deeken, Aimee (August 17, 2010). They both announced their break up on Instagram on November 25, 2018.[http://www.aoltv.com/2010/08/17/chelsea-lately-ross-mathews-wants-a-gayby-like-neil-patrick/ "'Chelsea Lately': Ross Mathews Wants a 'Gayby' Like Neil Patrick Harris (VIDEO)"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141112134115/http://www.aoltv.com/2010/08/17/chelsea-lately-ross-mathews-wants-a-gayby-like-neil-patrick/ |date=November 12, 2014 }}. The Huffington Post.Jung, Helin (November 29, 2011). [http://www.peoplepets.com/people/pets/article/0,,20549318,00.html "Ross Mathews's Soft Spot: His 'Mutty-Mutt' Dogs"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120215203356/http://www.peoplepets.com/people/pets/article/0%2C%2C20549318%2C00.html |date=February 15, 2012 }}. People. In 2013, the couple appeared in an episode of House Hunters while shopping for a home in Palm Springs.[http://www.hgtv.com/house-hunters/tv-personality-looks-for-a-mid-century-retreat-in-palm-springs/index.html "TV Personality Looks for a Mid-Century Retreat in Palm Springs"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140505022026/http://www.hgtv.com/house-hunters/tv-personality-looks-for-a-mid-century-retreat-in-palm-springs/index.html |date=May 5, 2014 }}. HGTV.
On February 23, 2021, Mathews announced his engagement to Wellinthon García, a Long Island educational administrator.{{cite tweet|user=helloross|first=Ross|last=Mathews|number=1364228237094772739|date=February 23, 2021|title=Fiancé, you stay!}} "... the smartest, funniest and kindest man I've ever met said, 'Yes!' Dr. García, I love you."{{Cite news|date=2021-02-23|title='Drag Race' judge Ross Mathews engaged to LI educator
|url= https://www.newsday.com/entertainment/celebrities/ross-mathews-engaged-wellinthon-garcia-1.50170112|newspaper=Newsday|location=New York City / Long Island|language=en-US|quote=Wellinthon Garcia, the newly announced fiance of TV personality and 'RuPaul's Drag Race' judge Ross Mathews, is an educator with deep ties to Long Island.}} On May 7, 2022, Mathews and García married at a ceremony in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.{{Cite web |date=May 7, 2022 |first=Steve |last=Helling |title=Ross Mathews Marries Fiancé Wellinthon García in Mexico — with Flower Girl Drew Barrymore! |url=https://people.com/tv/ross-mathews-marries-fiance-wellinthon-garcia-in-mexico/ |access-date=2022-06-17 |website=people.com |language=en}}
Filmography
=Film=
= Television =
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 2006–2013
| The Tonight Show with Jay Leno | Himself | Correspondent (62 episodes) |
| 2007
| Contestant | Season 5 (8 episodes) |
| 2008–2011
|Chris | |
| rowspan="2" | 2012
| Interior Therapy with Jeff Lewis | Himself | Guest (1 episode) |
| rowspan="2"|RuPaul's Drag Race
| Himself | Guest Judge (1 episode) |
| 2015–present
| Main Judge | Season 7–present |
| 2012–2016
| rowspan="2"|RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars | Himself | Guest Judge (4 episodes) |
| 2018–present
| Main Judge | Season 3–present |
| 2018
| rowspan="2"|Celebrity Big Brother | Contestant | Season 1, Runner-up (13 episodes) |
| 2019
| Guest | Season 2 (1 episode) |
| 2020–present
| Himself | "Drew's News" |
| 2021
| Co-host | Season 1 |
| 2023
|Himself |Episode: "February 14th" |
| 2024
|RuPaul's Drag Race Global All Stars |Guest Judge |Episode: "Everybody Say Love Girl Groups" |
Bibliography
- {{cite book|last=Mathews |first=Ross |title=Man Up!: Tales of My Delusional Self|publisher=Grand Central Publishing |date=2013 |isbn=978-1455512560 |ref=none}}
- {{cite book|last=Mathews |first=Ross |title=Name Drop|publisher=Simon & Schuster|date=2020 |isbn=97-81797101484 |ref=none}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- [http://www.helloross.com Official website]
- {{IMDb name|1481801}}
- [https://archive.today/20090222222541/http://www.theinsider.com/dish Inside Dish w/ Ross Mathews]
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mathews, Ross}}
Category:21st-century American memoirists
Category:American gay entertainers
Category:American LGBTQ broadcasters
Category:American LGBTQ comedians
Category:American male comedians
Category:American male bloggers
Category:American reporters and correspondents
Category:Comedians from Washington (state)
Category:GLAAD Media Awards winners
Category:Judges in American reality television series
Category:LGBTQ people from Washington (state)
Category:Participants in American reality television series
Category:People from Mount Vernon, Washington
Category:Primetime Emmy Award winners