Ethan Macmillan is a 20-year-old from East York, Ontario (Toronto) who has recently gained attention as a contestant on Fox’s rebooted Fear Factor: House of Fear (2026). By day, Macmillan works as an emergency dispatcher (911 operator) and is a student; on TV, he’s one of 14 strangers facing extreme stunts and social strategy games on the reality show. This article dives into Macmillan’s background – his education, dispatcher career, and how he ended up on Fear Factor: House of Fear – using available sources to paint a full picture of who he is and what makes him tick on and off camera.
- Age: 20 years old (born 2005).
- Hometown: East York, Ontario, Canada (part of Toronto).
- Occupation: Emergency dispatcher (handles 911/police/fire calls) and university student.
- Education: Holds a B.A. (Honours) in Military & Strategic Studies from the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC) and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Political Science (international relations focus) at Queen’s University.
- Reality TV: Contestant on Fox’s Fear Factor: House of Fear (Season 1, premiered January 2026).
Early Life and Education
Ethan Macmillan was born in 2005 and raised in the Toronto area. As a Canadian citizen, he comes from a family that stays close – for example, his grandfather Russ Hayes publicly announced on Instagram that “our grandson Ethan Macmillan is on Fear Factor: House of Fear”, showing the family’s pride in his TV debut. Macmillan excelled in academics: he graduated cum laude from the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC) in Kingston with a Bachelor of Arts in Military and Strategic Studies. His undergraduate thesis examined international influence tactics (sanctions, aid, etc.). He then enrolled in the Master of Arts program in Political Science at Queen’s University, focusing on international relations. According to one profile, Macmillan is particularly fascinated by global politics, “great power” strategy, and modern warfare studies, interests that align with his coursework and research at Queen’s.
Career as an Emergency Dispatcher
Alongside his studies, Ethan Macmillan works as an emergency dispatcher in the Toronto area. In this role (often part of a 9-1-1 emergency response team), dispatchers must stay calm under pressure while coordinating life-saving help. In general, emergency dispatchers “handle cases associated with public safety” – they obtain information from callers and quickly “dispatch the appropriate units” (police, fire, or medical teams) to assist. This work requires clear communication and a cool head; Macmillan himself notes that he has “remarkable composure” for his age and hopes that “staying cool under pressure” will help him succeed on Fear Factor. In other words, the same nerves-of-steel he uses on the job may serve him well in the show’s high-stress stunts. His dispatcher work also likely sharpens decision-making and crisis-management skills, which can be surprisingly relevant in a competition setting.
Fear Factor: House of Fear (2026)
In late 2025, Fox announced Fear Factor: House of Fear – a revival of the classic stunt-based reality show hosted by Johnny Knoxville. The new format drops 14 contestants into a remote, isolated location where they must live together and face a series of “mind-blowing stunts” and “harrowing challenges” each week. The competition also adds a social game element: trust is scarce and contestants must strategize as they try to overcome personal fears. According to Rotten Tomatoes, the show’s premise is a “twisted game of social strategy where trust is fleeting – and fear is a weapon”. Season 1 premiered on Fox in January 2026 (the first episode aired Jan. 11, 2026).
Ethan Macmillan is among the original cast members. He stands out as the only Canadian on the roster – listed as “Ethan Macmillan (20; East York, ON; emergency dispatcher)” alongside 13 mostly American contestants. The Fox press release emphasizes Macmillan’s steadiness: he enters House of Fear with “remarkable composure for his age” and believes keeping cool will help him through even the scariest tests. Fans of the show will see Macmillan tackling stunts alongside the other players; his educational background and dispatch experience suggest he approaches challenges logically and calmly. It remains to be seen how far he goes in the competition, but his combination of physical fitness, mental training, and emergency-response composure makes him an intriguing contestant.
Other details confirm his participation: The Futon Critic and game show news summaries list Macmillan among the 14 contestants and note that Knoxville hosts the series. According to press info, only one contestant will conquer all fears and claim the grand prize (widely reported to be around $200,000). Macmillan’s real-life job means he’s no stranger to adrenaline – his colleagues have joked that if he can handle critical 911 calls, he might just handle terrifying crawly creatures or high dives on TV. In interviews and social posts, he’s expressed excitement about the challenge of facing his fears head-on on national television.
Personal Life and Support
Ethan Macmillan keeps a relatively low profile online. He does maintain social media accounts (Instagram and TikTok), where he has shared motivational posts and behind-the-scenes glimpses. For example, one Instagram post he shared says “Be scared and do it anyway” referring to Fear Factor. He also appears close to his family – as noted, his grandfather Russ Hayes publicly celebrated Ethan’s appearance on the show. Macmillan has a younger sister named Lexi, and he and his girlfriend (who also attends Queen’s University) have posted pictures together on Instagram, though he mostly keeps his personal life private. Overall, he comes across as a hard-working, level-headed young man who is eager to make the most of this unique opportunity.
Conclusion
Ethan Macmillan’s story is a mix of everyday heroism and reality-TV excitement. By day he helps coordinate emergency responses in Toronto; by night he’s tackling outrageous Fear Factor challenges on Fox. His biography so far shows a studious, disciplined individual – a Royal Military College graduate and master’s student – who isn’t afraid to try something totally different. Viewers watching Fear Factor: House of Fear will likely root for his blend of intellect and courage. Follow Ethan’s journey by tuning in to new episodes of Fear Factor or checking his social media (@ethanmacm) for updates. His experience underscores that even first responders from a quiet Toronto neighborhood can confront big fears – proving that staying calm under pressure can pay off in unexpected ways.