Ross Mathews (born September 24, 1979) is an American television host and personality. He rose to fame as "Ross the Intern" as a correspondent for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
Mathews has appeared on Chelsea Lately, Celebrity Fit Club, The Insider, Celebrity Big Brother as well as his own talk show Hello Ross. Ross is currently an executive producer and judge on RuPaul's Drag Race and co-hosts The Drew Barrymore Show with Drew Barrymore.
Early life Ross Mathews was born September 24, 1979. He was raised in Mount Vernon, Washington, where he graduated from Mount Vernon High SchoolMathews in and graduated from the University of La Verne, in La Verne, California, in 2002. He majored in communications and competed in speech and debate competitions.
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). "This Gay Week in Television: Bea Arthur, Courteney Cox" . 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). "Why Ross Mathews decided to 'Man Up!'" . 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. He was also a guest host on The View on July 17, 2007. 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. He hosted Hello Ross, an interactive talk show on E! from September 6, 2013, until May 16, 2014.Peeples, Jase (April 24, 2013). "Ross Mathews to Host New 'Interactive' Talk Show" . The Advocate.
Mathews joined the panel of judges for RuPaul’s Drag Race, beginning in 2015 for Season 7. Since 2022, he has served as an executive producer for the show and won an Emmy in 2023 for Outstanding Reality Competition Program.
Ross has written three books. On May 7, 2013, Mathews released his book Man Up! Tales of My Delusional Self-Confidence. On February 4, 2020 he released Name Drop: The Really Good Celebrity Stories I Usually Only Tell at Happy Hour. In 2025 he released Tío and Tío: The Ring Bearers, co-written with his husband, Dr. Wellinthon García-Mathews.
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. He appeared in the second season as part of a Head of Household competition.
Since late 2020, he has appeared as a co-host on The Drew Barrymore Show.
In 2026, he was selected to host the Awards Gala of 11th Critics' Choice Documentary Awards.
Personal life Mathews is openly gay. 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."'Chelsea Lately': Ross Mathews Wants a 'Gayby' Like Neil Patrick Harris (VIDEO)" . The Huffington Post.Jung, Helin (November 29, 2011). "Ross Mathews's Soft Spot: His 'Mutty-Mutt' Dogs" . People.
On February 23, 2021, Mathews announced his engagement to Wellinthon García, a Long Island educational administrator. "... the smartest, funniest and kindest man I've ever met said, 'Yes!' Dr. García, I love you." On May 7, 2022, Mathews and García married at a ceremony in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
Filmography Film The Bitch Who Stole Christmas (2021)
Television Year Title Role Notes 2006–2013 The Tonight Show with Jay Leno Himself Correspondent (62 episodes) 2007 Celebrity Fit Club Contestant Season 5 (8 episodes)2008–2011Days of Our LivesChris 2012 Interior Therapy with Jeff Lewis Himself Guest (1 episode)RuPaul's Drag Race Himself Guest Judge (1 episode) 2015–present Main Judge Season 7–present 2012–2016RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Himself Guest Judge (4 episodes) 2018–present Main Judge Season 3–present2018Miss America 2019Co-host 2018Celebrity Big Brother Contestant Season 1, Runner-up (13 episodes) 2019 Guest Season 2 (1 episode) 2020–present The Drew Barrymore Show Himself "Drew's News" 2021 Adorableness Co-host Season 12023And Just Like That...HimselfEpisode: "February 14th"2024RuPaul's Drag Race Global All StarsGuest JudgeEpisode: "Everybody Say Love Girl Groups"2026Big Brother: UnlockedHimselfGuest (1 episode)
Bibliography
Awards and nominations Emmy Awards Year Award Category Work Result Ref. 2020 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Interactive Media for a Daytime Program 93rd Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2023 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Reality Competition Program RuPaul's Drag Race (as producer) 2024 2025
Producers Guild of America Awards Year Category Work Result Ref. 2022 Outstanding Producer of Game & Competition Television RuPaul's Drag Race 2023 RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 2024 RuPaul's Drag Race 2025
Miscellaneous awards and honors Year Award Category Work Result Ref. 2014 People's Choice Award Favorite New Talk Show Host Hello Ross 2018 GLAAD Media Award Davidson/Valentini Award Himself
References
External links
Official website