PIC: Friday’s Google Doodle will be a tribute to the one-and-only Steve Irwin

The word "icon" is thrown around very loosely these days.

But anybody who grew up in the era of Steve Irwin knows that the Australian entertainer, zookeeper and conservationist was among the most unforgettable personalities of his time. Irwin's infectious love of nature, animals and life made him beloved the world over, and he was globally mourned when he passed away at the age of 44 when his heart was pierced by a sting-ray. Tomorrow, Google will honour "The Crocodile Hunter" on his birthday (22 February) with a Google Doodle, which is certain to introduce thousands more people to the legacy of the great man. Here's a preview of what the animated Doodle will look like:

The Doodle will run for 24 hours from midnight on Google home-pages around the world including Ireland, Australia, the US, Europe, Asia, Middle East and South America (from 12:01AM on February 22 in each country).

The Doodle features an animated slideshow illustrating Steve’s journey as a zookeeper, conservationist and father. A guest blog post from Steve’s wife Dr. Terri Irwin will also be published, in which she remembers the achievements of - and life with - the Aussie icon.

Finally, there is a dedicated Google Assistant prompt to mark the day, as well as a host of wildlife and conservation-related Google Trends data.