About
Brooke Lisa Burke, born on September 8, 1971, in Hartford, Connecticut, is an American television personality, fitness entrepreneur, author, and former model. She burst onto cable screens as the globe‑trotting host of E! Network’s Wild On! (1999‑2002) and never really slowed down. Viewers cheered her dazzling footwork when she won Season 7 of Dancing with the Stars in 2008, and they later watched her guide the ballroom as co‑host for seven additional seasons. Today she fronts the CW’s magic contest Penn & Teller: Fool Us, a gig she took over in 2023 that continues into the 2025 cycle. Off‑camera, she steers Brooke Burke Body, a digital platform packed with 21‑day resets, 90‑day “Stronger Together” challenges, and guided meditations, all rooted in the mantra that small daily moves create big life change.
Before Fame
Burke’s journey to the stage started in Tucson, Arizona, when she and her mother, Donna, and Armenian stepfather relocated there as a toddler. A mix of Portuguese, Irish, French, and Armenian heritage, she grew up Jewish and attributes the rituals of Judaism with keeping her rooted. While attending Sahuaro High School, she was crowned homecoming queen and led pep rallies—a preview of the stage presence that was yet to be revealed. Casting agents noticed her at a local fashion show, leading to lingerie shoots for Frederick’s of Hollywood, commercials for Coca‑Cola, and eventually the hosting offer that would send her jet‑setting for E! While she briefly studied broadcast journalism, the classroom couldn’t compete with a paid passport to paradise.
Trivia
- Reality‑show royalty — Burke still holds one of the top judges’ averages on DWTS and was only the second female celebrity to claim the mirror‑ball trophy.
- Master of magic banter — She replaced Alyson Hannigan as host of Penn & Teller: Fool Us in 2023, returned for Season 11 in 2025, and keeps a notebook of backstage card “forces” she’s learned along the way.
- Cancer crusader — A 2012 thyroid‑cancer diagnosis ended with successful surgery and sparked her campaign to remind followers that “a neck check can save your life.”
- Wellness without shortcuts — In a June 2025 interview, she warned against relying on weight‑loss drugs like Ozempic without pairing them with strength training, nutrient‑dense meals, and medical supervision.
- Sound‑bath romantic — Burke hopes to marry fiancé Scott Rigsby on May 28 because numerically 5‑2‑8 lines up with the “frequency of love” used in sound therapy circles.
- Philanthropy first — From Operation Smile galas to Habitat rebuilds after California wildfires, she weaves charity work into nearly every red‑carpet appearance.
Family Life
Family remains Burke’s favorite project. She and plastic‑surgeon Garth Fisher welcomed daughters Neriah (2000) and Sierra (2002) before divorcing in 2005. Two years after that, she started dating actor‑singer David Charvet; their daughter Heaven Rain was born in 2007, with son Shaya Braven in 2008. Although Burke and Charvet divorced permanently in 2020, the exes frequently share holiday photos together, evidence that co‑parenting can be amicable.
Since 2021, Burke has been engaged to real‑estate developer Scott Rigsby. Together they are raising six kids—his two plus her four—in what she fondly calls a “beautiful Brady Bunch.” Wedding plans have been pushed back by house construction, teenagers’ graduations, and even California wildfires, yet she insists the ceremony will happen once life quiets down and the children can play active roles. The pair also intends to fold a service project into the celebration so the next generation sees love expressed through action.
Associated With
- Derek Hough — Her professional partner during that mirror‑ball‑winning season of DWTS.
- Tom Bergeron — Seasoned broadcaster who shared co‑hosting duties with her on the ABC ballroom floor.
- Alyson Hannigan — Predecessor whose mic she picked up when she became the face of Fool Us in Season 10.
- Penn & Teller — Legendary illusionists whose tricks she now tees up every week on the CW stage.
- Mark Burnett — Producer who cast her on CBS’s Rock Star, giving her a first taste of prime‑time competition hosting.
- Operation Smile’s surgical teams — Partners in raising funds for cleft‑palate surgeries around the globe.
