Fred Rogers Biography and Quotes
Birthday: March 20th, 1928
Commemoration: February 27th, 2003
Nationality: American
74
Years Old
Famously known for
Fred, or Mister Rogers as referred by many people, was popularly known for the TV series, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, which ran between 1968 and 2001. On the show, Fred served as the creator, producer, composer, head writer, show runner, and the host. This preschool series was distinguished by its slow pace and Fred’s calm character.
Early Life
The TV personality was born on March 20, 1928. His father, James, was a successful business person and served as the president of a brick company, McFeely Brick Company. The company was one of the largest businesses in Latrobe, back then. His mother, on the other end, Nancy Rogers, used to knit sweaters.
Roger’s childhood was filled with loneliness as he spent most of the time alone, playing with puppets. He was a shy kid and an introvert. He was overweight, and this saw him bullied while at school. At a tender age, Rogers learned to play the piano. He attended Latrobe High School before joining Pittsburg Theological Seminary, where he graduated and was ordained as the minister of the United Presbyterian Church in the early ‘60s.
Personal Life
Rogers met Sara Joanne Byrd from Florida while at Rollins College. Their friendship developed into a relationship, and they got married in 1952. Both Rogers and Sara were blessed with two sons John and James. Sara was a successful pianist and had a master’s degree in music from Florida State University. Mister Rogers remained loyal to his wife until the time of his death.
Career
After graduating from college, Rogers started his career at NBC, New York. During that period, he worked as a floor director of Gabby Hayes’s show, The Kate Smith Hour, and Your Hit Parade. Later on, Rogers started working as a program developer at a TV station in Pittsburgh, WQED.
In 1963, CBC contracted Rogers to develop and host a black-and-white kid’s program, Misterogers. The show ran until 1967. It’s during this show that the mister Rogers appeared for the first time on national television. Rogers also happened to work with Coombs on a show before appearing on the TV series, Mister Rogers’s Neighborhood, as the calm host.
Death
In late 2002, Fred’s stomach pains had persisted, and he had to see a physician. He underwent surgery in 2003, after being diagnosed with stomach cancer, and died a month later. He was 74 years at the time of his death.
