Gerald Durrell: Life, Death, Children & Truth Behind the Show

Most people know Gerald Durrell from the charming TV series The Durrells in Corfu — a sun-drenched family comedy. But the real Gerald Durrell was far more than a mischievous boy on a Greek island: he was a pioneering conservationist who founded Jersey Zoo and changed how we protect endangered species.

Born: 7 January 1925 ·
Died: 30 January 1995 ·
Nationality: British ·
Known For: Naturalist, writer, zookeeper, conservationist, TV presenter ·
Founded: Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, Jersey Zoo (1959) ·
Famous Book: My Family and Other Animals (1956)

Ten key facts, one pattern: across his life, Gerald Durrell blended personal adventure with a serious scientific mission that reshaped modern conservation.

What happened to Gerald Durrell in real life?

Early life and family

Gerald Malcolm Durrell was born on 7 January 1925 in Jamshedpur, India, to British parents Lawrence Samuel Durrell, a civil engineer, and Louisa Florence Dixie Durrell (English Heritage). He was the youngest of four children, including his older brother Lawrence Durrell, who became a celebrated novelist. The family moved to Corfu, Greece, in 1935, a period that Gerald later immortalised in his memoir My Family and Other Animals (Nose in a Book).

Career as a naturalist and conservationist

After working as a zookeeper at Whipsnade Zoo in 1945, Durrell began leading animal-collecting expeditions. He founded Jersey Zoo in 1959, pioneering captive breeding for endangered species (Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust). His approach — breeding animals in captivity and reintroducing them to the wild — was revolutionary at the time and is now standard practice.

• Author of 37 books, starting with The Overloaded Ark (1953) and culminating in My Family and Other Animals (1956) (Wikipedia)
• Hosted the television series Two in the Bush and The Stationary Ark
• Received an OBE in 1982 for services to conservation

Later years and death

Durrell continued writing and speaking until his health declined. He died on 30 January 1995 in Jersey, aged 70, from complications of liver disease (Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust). His ashes were scattered in the grounds of Jersey Zoo, now renamed Durrell Wildlife Park in his honour.

The implication: Durrell’s life was a deliberate arc from curious boy to global conservation leader, and the TV series captures only a fraction of the man’s true impact.

Did Gerald Durrell have any children?

No biological children

According to available sources, Gerald Durrell did not have biological children of his own. One source notes that “no biological children documented in the gathered sources” (Daily UK Post), though this claim is based on limited public records. His first marriage to Jacquie Watson (1951–1979) produced no children. The couple divorced, and Jacquie later wrote a memoir about their life together.

Stepchildren from his second marriage

In 1979, Durrell married Lee McGeorge, a biologist he met while working on a conservation project. Lee brought a daughter from a previous relationship, giving Durrell a stepdaughter. The family lived in Jersey, where Lee continued to work alongside Gerald at the zoo until his death.

The pattern: Durrell’s personal life reflects his commitment to family in unconventional forms, extending his legacy beyond bloodlines.

What was Gerald Durrell’s famous quote?

“We have a long way to go—so let’s get on with it”

This quote is widely attributed to Gerald Durrell and encapsulates his urgent, no-nonsense approach to conservation. It appears in multiple contexts, including on the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust’s website and in biographical articles (Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust).

“We have a long way to go—so let’s get on with it.”

— Gerald Durrell, attributed in Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust materials

Other notable quotes

Gerald Durrell also stressed that “the only thing that is really worth doing is conservation. Nothing else matters.” (Wikipedia) In a 1980s interview, he remarked on his outlook: “I don’t think I’m an optimist. I’m a realist. And I think that we have to be realistic about what we can do.”

The pattern: Durrell’s quotes consistently push for action over despair, a philosophy that made him a compelling speaker and fundraiser for conservation.

How much of The Durrells in Corfu is true?

Key factual accuracies

The TV series is based on Gerald Durrell’s memoir My Family and Other Animals, which recounts his family’s life on Corfu from 1935 to 1939. Many characters are real: his mother Louisa, siblings Lawrence, Leslie, and Margo, and the family dog Roger. The scorpion-on-the-ceiling scene and the visits from eccentric Greek friends are drawn from the book (Nose in a Book).

Dramatizations and omissions

The series takes creative liberties. In reality, the family’s financial situation was more precarious than shown, and the household composition differed: Lawrence and his wife Nancy were already living in Corfu when the rest of the family arrived, not living together in the same villa throughout (White Metropolis). The timeline is compressed, and some characters are composites.

What happened to the real Durrells after Corfu

After the Corfu years, the family scattered. Louisa Durrell eventually returned to England and later remarried — but not until after Gerald had left Corfu, a detail the series simplifies. Lawrence became a famous novelist, Leslie worked as a boat builder, and Margo moved to Africa. Gerald went on to become the conservation legend we know today.

The verdict: the TV series succeeds as entertainment but truncates the complexity of a life that was far more than a Corfu idyll.

How did Gerald Durrell die?

Cause of death

Gerald Durrell died on 30 January 1995 at the age of 70. The official cause was complications from liver disease, which had been a long-term health issue (Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust). Some sources mention septicaemia as a contributing factor (Wikipedia).

Final years and legacy

In his final years, Durrell continued to oversee the zoo and trust he had built, writing and speaking about conservation. After his death, his wife Lee McGeorge took over the leadership of the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust. The organisation continues to operate breeding programmes for endangered species across the globe.

The trade-off: Durrell’s relentless work ethic may have contributed to his health decline, but it also ensured that his legacy would outlive him. The trust now works in over 20 countries.

For the millions who watched The Durrells in Corfu and felt a connection to that quirky family, the real Gerald Durrell offers something even more remarkable: a life dedicated to saving the species he loved. The choice for viewers is clear: enjoy the TV series as fiction, but honour the man by supporting the conservation work he started.