<P> Richman was born into a Jewish family in Brooklyn, New York, and raised in the Sheepshead Bay neighborhood of the borough . He attended "a Solomon Schechter school through eighth grade and then a Talmud Torah high school", ultimately graduating from Midwood High School . He completed his undergraduate degree in International Studies at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, and earned a master's degree from the Yale School of Drama . While attending Emory University, Richman was a member of Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity . </P> <P> His acting career has included guest roles on Guiding Light, All My Children, Law & Order: Trial by Jury, and in 2004 he portrayed God as a butcher on Joan of Arcadia . In addition to appearing in regional theater productions throughout the United States, Richman has also been seen in several national television commercials . </P> <P> As a self - educated food expert and trained sushi chef, Richman has kept a travel journal that includes every restaurant he has visited since 1995 . To maintain his health while indulging for his show on Travel Channel's Man v. Food (which originally aired between 2008 and 2012), Richman would exercise twice a day while on the road . When the schedule permitted, he would not eat the day before a challenge . He also tried to stay hydrated by drinking lots of water or club soda and forgoing coffee and soft drinks . Richman retired from competitive eating in January 2012; thus, Man v. Food Nation was the final season of Man v. Food . During his time as a competitive eater, Richman gained a considerable amount of weight and became depressed . After retiring from competitive eating, he lost 60 pounds (27 kg). </P> <P> Richman was a paid spokesman for Zantac during Season 3 of Man v. Food . </P>

Who used to be the host of man vs food