What is Jamie Hyneman doing now? Why did he leave “Mythbusters”? (2024)

• Jamie Hyneman is an American special effects expert, TV personality, and actor.
• He is best known for his role in the critically acclaimed documentary mystery series “MythBusters”.
• He has a Bachelor’s degree in Russian linguistics from Indiana University, and honorary degrees from Villanova University, University of Twente, and Lappeenranta University of Technology.
• He is married to science professor Eileen Walsh but does not have any children.
• His net worth is estimated to be over $8 million.



Known for movies

Who is Jamie Hyneman?

James Franklin ‘Jamie’ Hyneman was born in Marshall, Michigan USA, on 25 September 1956 – his zodiac sign is Libra, and he holds American nationality. He’s a special effects expert, TV personality and actor, who’s perhaps known best for having starred in the critically acclaimed documentary mystery series “MythBusters”. It was created by Peter Rees, also starred Robert Lee and Adam Savage, and follows two Hollywood special effects experts as they’re experimenting with popular myths; the show aired from 2003 to 2018 and won one of the 24 awards for which it was nominated, including eight Primetime Emmy nominations.

There are rumors circulating the internet, claiming that Jamie left “MythBusters” after he and the Discovery Channel failed to reach an agreement on his salary, however, Jamie has revealed that he had no problems with the network, and that the show was simply cancelled.

Early life and education

Jamie was raised in Marshall alongside his brother Craig Hyneman, by their parents about whom only a little is known, because Jamie respects their privacy; it’s believed that their mother was an accountant, and that their father was the owner of his own small business.

Jamie has revealed that he was a problematic teenager, and that he left home after having turned 14, spending the following year hitchhiking around Michigan.

He went on to attend a local high school, and was interested in numerous activities during his four years there, while he was perhaps mostly into playing sports with his peers; Jamie was also into acting, and played lead characters in a couple of school plays.

He matriculated in 1975, and then enrolled at Indiana University, from which he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Russian linguistics in 1979.

On 16 May 2010, Villanova University presented Jamie with an honorary Doctor of Engineering degree, while the University of Twente presented him with an honorary doctorate on 25 November 2011, and he was named an honorary doctor of technology by Lappeenranta University of Technology in February 2017.

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Jamie’s career

Jamie has worked numerous jobs since graduating from college, and some of these include being a linguist, wilderness survival expert and certified dive master. He once owned a small pet store, was a boat captain, machinist, chef, concrete inspector, and animal wrangler.

Jamie has worked as an animatronics technician on a couple of movies, including the 1991 surrealist science fiction drama “Naked Lunch”, and the 1997 science fiction comedy “Flubber”, however, he’s probably known best for having worked on the 1999 science fiction action movie “The Matrix”.

It was written and directed by Lilly Wachowski and Lana Wachowski, starred Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne and Carrie-Anne Moss, and follows the computer hacker Neo who has learned that the real world is not what it seems to be; the movie is rated amongst the top 20 movies of all time, and won 46 awards, including four Oscars, while it was nominated for 51 other awards. Jamie also worked as an animatronics technician on its 2003 sequels “The Matrix Reloaded” and “The Matrix Revolutions”.

In March 2012, Jamie began serving as a judge on the game-show “Unchained Reaction”.

He’s today focused on running his own special effects company, M5 Industries based in San Francisco, California, and Jamie has worked with many popular companies, including Nike and 7 Up.

Acting credits

Jamie launched his acting career in 2006, when cast to play Army Dude in the romantic adventure comedy movie “The Darwin Awards”, written and directed by Finn Taylor, and which starred Joseph Fiennes, Winona Ryder and David Arquette. It follows a former police officer and an insurance investigator who are travelling around the US together, investigating bizarre insurance claims.

Jamie played Lab Technician in the 2008 episode “The Theory of Everything” of the mystery crime series “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation”, and in 2012, he voiced himself in the episode “The Daughter Also Rises” of the critically acclaimed animated comedy series “The Simpsons”.

In 2014, Jamie voiced Office Stormtrooper in the episode “Star Wars” of the short animated action series “Phineas and Ferb”, created by Dan Povenmire and Jeff ‘Swampy’ Marsh, and which starred Vincent Martella and Thomas Brodie-Sangster. The series follows the young inventors Phineas and Ferb, their older sister and their pet platypus who’s actually a secret agent; it aired from 2007 to 2015, and won seven awards, including three Primetime Emmys, while it was nominated for 40 other awards.

Most recently, in 2015, Jamie played a supporting character in the short documentary film “Wrestling Isn’t Wrestling”.

Awards and nominations

He has been nominated for six Primetime Emmy Awards, three for Outstanding Reality Program and the other three for Outstanding Structured Reality Program, all for “MythBusters”.

What is he doing today?

Jamie began working as professor of practice at LUT University in Finland in November 2021, after having signed a five-year contract.

Love life and wife

Jamie prefers to keep the details of his love life to himself, but it’s still widely known that he’s today a married man. He was the owner of a sailboat diving charter business in 1984 when he met science professor Eileen Walsh; the two were together for five years prior to exchanging vows in 1989, in a private ceremony attended by only the closest of their friends and family members.

Jamie and Eileen don’t have children together, and while this is believed to be because they both want to focus on their careers, some of Jamie’s fans think that perhaps one of the two is infertile.

As of March 2022, Jamie’s married to Eileen Walsh, and doesn’t have children.

Hobbies and interesting facts

Jamie’s a sceptic, which is a term used to describe people who question everything which lacks empirical evidence, and he’s an atheist, meaning that he doesn’t believe in the existence of God/s.

Jamie’s quite active on Instagram, and although he’s uploaded only 22 pictures onto his account, it’s said that he often answers his fans’ questions, especially if these are related to science; the account numbers more than 5,000 followers.

He’s passionate about travelling, and has been all around the world for both work and pleasure, while his dream travel destination is Tokyo, Japan.

Jamie’s favorite actor and actress are Liam Neeson and Natalie Portman, while his favorite movies include the franchise “Star Wars”, “Schindler’s List” and “Leon: The Professional”.

Age, height and net worth

Jamie’s age is 65. He is bald and has green eyes, his height is 5ft 9ins (1.75m) and he weighs around 155lbs (70kgs).

As of March 2022, Jamie’s net worth is estimated at more than $8 million.

Source: IMDb, Wikipedia