Eric Banks was born in Nicholasville, Kentucky.  His first ever TV appearance was on MTV's hit reality series The Real World/Road Rules Challenge: Fresh Meat in 2007, where he was the fifth man to be sent home.  MTV's website states that though Eric is often a target for elimination due to his size, he can count on his sense of humor in order to stay in the game because his ability to keep the other challengers laughing is what makes him endearing to everyone.  In 2008, he returned as one of the veterans on Gauntlet III.

(Photo courtesy of MTV)