Dr Pol's children Kathy, Charles and Diane: Where are they today?
Animal lovers and fans of the reality television show The Incredible Dr Pol will recognise Dr Pol's children. For over 10 years, viewers have watched this blended family grow and the veterinary clinic expand. Where are Kathy, Charles, and Diane Jr today?
Source: UGC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Dr Pol's profile and bio summary
- Who is Dr Pol?
- Who are Dr Pol's children?
- What do Dr Pol's daughters do?
- What happened to Dr Pol's wife?
- How old is Dr Pol?
- Does Diane Pol have cancer?
- Is Charles Pol still married?
- Are Dr Pol's children adopted?
- Did Dr Pol retire in 2023?
- Was Dr Emily pregnant while on Dr Pol?
- Why was The Incredible Dr. Pol cancelled?
Dr Pol has been a veterinarian since the 1970s. Since his move from the Netherlands, he has adopted three children, opened his animal clinic with his wife, and starred in his reality TV show. Now that he is 82, will he be handing over the reins to his children?
Dr Pol's profile and bio summary
| Full name | Jan-Harm Pol |
| Popular as | Dr Pol |
| Gender | Male |
| Date of birth | 4 September 1942 |
| Age | 82 years old (as of October 2024) |
| Zodiac sign | Virgo |
| Place of birth | Wateren, Netherlands |
| Current residence | Weidman, Michigan, USA |
| Nationality | Dutch-American |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Sexuality | Straight |
| Height | 5’6″ (167 cm) |
| Weight | 172 lbs (78 kg) |
| Hair colour | Bald |
| Eye colour | Blue |
| Father | Harm Pol |
| Mother | Klaasje Schreuder |
| Siblings | 5 |
| Marital status | Married |
| Partner | Diane Pol |
| Children | 3 |
| College | Utrecht University |
| Profession | Veterinarian, TV Personality, Author |
| @thedrpol |
Who is Dr Pol?
Dr Jan Pol, a veterinarian from the Netherlands, is the star of the popular Nat Geo WILD series The Incredible Dr Pol. He was raised on a dairy farm, gaining early experience with animals and later earning a veterinary degree from Utrecht University in 1970.
After moving to Michigan, he and his wife Diane founded Pol Veterinary Services in 1981. The clinic is in Weidman, Michigan, and has treated hundreds of thousands of patients. In over 240 episodes spanning 24 seasons, Dr Pol showcases his dedication to rural animals.
Who are Dr Pol's children?
Source: Original
The Dutch native and his wife adopted three children. The famous veterinarian has two daughters, Kathy and Diane Jr, and one son, Charles.
Kathy
Kathlene, known as Kathy, was adopted from birth. Born on 21 August 1973, Kathy Pol is 51 years old as of 2024. She is the first of Dr. Pol's children to be adopted. Raised on a farm in Michigan, Kathy learned about caring for animals and assisted her father on farm calls during her youth.
Dr Pol's daughter is a practising phlebotomist who resides in Michigan, United States. She attended Chippewa Hills High School and later graduated from Delta College in Bay City, Michigan.
Dr Pol's daughter married Gregory Butch on 30 July 1995 and shared two children, Adam James Butch and Rachel Butch. In February 2016, at age 50, Kathy's husband, Gregory, died after a long battle with cancer.
Greg and Kathy had been married for almost 21 years when he died. He worked as a chemical technologist, and the family resided in Bay City, Michigan.
Source: Instagram
What happened to Adam Butch?
Tragedy struck again over two years later when Kathy's eldest died in September 2019. His death was announced when the TV show ran an obituary for him. At the time of his untimely demise, he was 23 and working as a pharmacy technician. Dr Pol’s family has still not revealed the cause of his untimely death.
Kathy’s only remaining child, Rachel Butch, has appeared in two episodes of The Incredible Dr. Pol. Despite the tragedies, Kathy has found solace and is currently in a relationship with Thomas Rakowski.
Charles
Charles is the second of Dr Pol's children and his only son. He was born on 6 March 1979, and like his sister Kathy, he was adopted from birth. Information on his biological parents has not been shared.
Although he spent his childhood helping his father with the animals on their farm and at the vet, Charles decided to pursue a career in the entertainment business after high school.
Source: Instagram
He majored in Mass Communication/Media Studies at the University of Miami and graduated in 2003. He then moved to Los Angeles, California, where he interned at numerous production companies, such as Paramount Pictures, Parkway Productions, and Mirage Enterprises.
Charles has also worked as Creative Director for Booya Studios and Director of Operations for Nickelodeon’s live-action division.
What does Charles Pol do for a living?
He is the executive producer of The Incredible Dr Pol, which has been on air for 24 seasons on Nat Geo Wild as of 2023. Additionally, Charles co-created and now stars in The Incredible Pol Farm, which showcases his family’s farm life.
Who is Charles Pol’s wife?
Dr Pol's son, Charles, is married to Beth Oakes. After years of travel and cosmopolitan living across the US and abroad, Beth returned to Michigan to be near her family. There, she was reunited with her childhood friend, Charles. The two rekindled their connection and tied the knot in 2018.
The couple is now raising two young children, Abigail and Silas. His daughter, Abigail, was born on 19 October 2019, and his son, Silas, was born on 12 July 2021. During Silas' birthdate, Beth revealed how happy she was, per People,
Every child is a blessing and we're delighted to welcome a son, Silas, to our little family. We would like to thank everyone, most especially our parents, for their love and support.
In 2024, Charles and Beth began starring in The Incredible Pol Farm, a new Nat Geo WILD series documenting their efforts to build a 350-acre family farm alongside three generations of the Pol family. The family now lives on their farm, where Charles has embraced farm life alongside his wife and children.
What is Charles Pol’s net worth?
According to Showbiz Cheat Sheet and Next Biography, Charles Pol’s net worth ranges between $2 million and $3 million. His role in The Incredible Dr Pol has contributed significantly to his financial success.
Diane Jr
Diane Jr was born on 21 March 1973, which makes her the eldest of Dr Pol's kids. She was the last child adopted by Jan and Diane. Diane Jr's birth mother, JoAnn, died from cancer when she was 9.
Dr Pol's daughter announced the news of her marriage to Ryan Lapham in April 2023. He has five children from a previous relationship and uses her Instagram to share her weight loss journey.
What do Dr Pol's daughters do?
As mentioned earlier, Kathy is a phlebotomist. According to Diane Jr's LinkedIn profile, she has been a technical communicator since July 2023. Beforehand, she was a sales manager at the Holiday Inn & Suites in Mount Pleasant.
What happened to Dr Pol's wife?
Per Celebrity Biograpy & News, Dr Pol’s wife, Diane Pol, allegedly underwent significant back surgery to address chronic back pain in 2024. The procedure, performed on 15 March, involved decompression and spinal fusion.
Her recovery has progressed well, with noticeable improvements in mobility and reduced pain. Diane remains active in the Pol Veterinary Services, although she has adjusted her workload to suit her recovery.
How old is Dr Pol?
Dr Pol's age is 82 (as of 2024). He was born and raised on a dairy farm in Wateren, Drenthe, Netherlands, on 4 September 1942 and is the youngest of six siblings.
Does Diane Pol have cancer?
There are no public reports confirming that Dr Pol's wife, Diane Pol, has cancer.
Is Charles Pol still married?
Yes, Dr Pol's son is together with his wife, Beth Oakes.
Are Dr Pol's children adopted?
Dr Pol’s kids include Charles, Kathy, and Diane Jr. Charles and Kathy were adopted shortly after birth, while Diane Jr was adopted at 9.
Did Dr Pol retire in 2023?
The American author has not announced any plans to retire as a veterinarian. Furthermore, his show was renewed for its 24th season in June 2023.
Was Dr Emily pregnant while on Dr Pol?
Dr Emily was pregnant during Seasons 8 and 12 of the reality show. She left during Season 16 in 2020 and cited the stress of having three children while working full-time as the reason for her departure.
Why was The Incredible Dr. Pol cancelled?
The The Incredible Dr. Pol was cancelled after 13 successful years and 24 seasons, leaving fans curious about the reason for its end. National Geographic announced the show’s cancellation on 21 June 2024, with the final episode airing on 6 July 2023.
Many speculated that the Pol family's other project, The Incredible Pol Farm, could have contributed to its cancellation. However, Dr. Jan Pol had expressed his enthusiasm for continuing both shows, and there were no indications that The Incredible Dr. Pol was intended to be replaced by the farm-based spin-off.
In his heartfelt Instagram post, Dr Pol reflected on the 13-year journey and expressed deep gratitude for his family and fans' support throughout the show. He said,
After an incredible 13-year journey, our beloved TV show, The Incredible Dr. Pol, is coming to an end on Nat Geo Wild. It’s been an amazing experience, and we’re so grateful for all the support and love you’ve shown our family over the years. But...this isn’t goodbye yet! Doc and Charles are continuing to develop new content and products just for you. We’ll keep sharing our adventures with the world and we’re excited for what the future holds.
The series finale will stream on Disney+ and Hulu starting 1 October 2024, allowing fans to continue enjoying the beloved veterinarian’s work.
Dr Pol's children—Kathy, Charles, and Diane—have been under scrutiny since the success of their TV show. Over the years, they have each started their own families and careers and have faced tragedies while fans watched on.
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Source: Briefly News
Adrianna Simwa (Lifestyle writer) Adrianna Simwa is a content writer at Briefly.co.za, where she has worked since mid-2022. She has written for many periodicals on a variety of subjects, including news, celebrities, and lifestyle, for more than three years. She has worked for The Hoth, The Standard Group and Triple P Media. Adrianna graduated from Nairobi University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in 2020. In 2023, Adrianna finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. You can reach her through her email: adriannasimwa@gmail.com
Nompumelelo Ngubeni (Lifestyle writer) Nompumelelo Ngubeni is an editor of Lifestyle content with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Honours Language Practice from North-West University (2016). She has over 8 years of experience in proofreading, research, subtitling, and editing. Strong media and communication professional. Nompumelelo joined Briefly News in 2022. Email: nompumelelongubeni@ymail.com
