John Walsh is an American television host, criminal investigator, and victims’ rights advocate. He is best known for his work as a crime fighter, where he has spent decades helping law enforcement track down fugitives and raise awareness about missing children. The calling began in 1981, when his six-year-old son Adam was abducted and found murdered. Following this, Walsh co-founded the Adam Walsh Resource Center and helped pass the Missing Children Act of 1982 and the Missing Children’s Assistance Act of 1984.

In 1988, Walsh launched America’s Most Wanted on Fox. The show, one of the longest-running crime reality series in Fox’s history, ran for 25 seasons and contributed to the capture of more than 1,000 fugitives. When Fox cancelled it in 2013, Walsh moved to CNN for The Hunt with John Walsh, then to Investigation Discovery for In Pursuit with John Walsh. 

In 2024, he returned to America’s Most Wanted on Fox for a revived second season and has continued in the role since. His advocacy also produced landmark legislation — the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act, signed by President George W. Bush in 2006, established the national sex offender registry.