Al Roker facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Al Roker
Roker in 2022
Born	Albert Lincoln Roker Jr. (1954-08-20) August 20, 1954 (age 70) New York City, U.S.
Alma mater	State University of New York at Oswego (BA)
Occupation	Journalist television personality weather presenter actor author
Years active	1974–present
Spouse(s)	First wife (divorced) Alice Bell ​ ​ (m. 1984, divorced)​ Deborah Roberts ​ (m. 1995)​
Children	3
Relatives	Roxie Roker (paternal first cousin, once removed) Lenny Kravitz (paternal second cousin) Zoë Kravitz (paternal second cousin, once removed)

Albert Lincoln Roker Jr. (born August 20, 1954) is a well-known American weather presenter, journalist, and TV personality. He is famous for being the weather anchor on NBC's Today show. He also sometimes helps host the 3rd Hour Today part of the show.

Early Life and Education

Al Roker was born in Queens, a part of New York City. His mother was from Jamaica, and his father, a bus driver, was from the Bahamas. Growing up, Al Roker was raised Catholic.

He went to Xavier High School in Manhattan. After high school, he studied at the State University of New York at Oswego. In 1976, he earned a degree in communications.

Al Roker's Career Journey

Roker outside the Pentagon during Barack Obama's 2009 Inauguration

Al Roker started his career in television in 1974. He worked as a weather anchor for WHEN-TV in Syracuse, New York, while still in college. He also worked as a DJ at his college radio station, WNYO. After college, he moved to Washington, D.C., and continued weathercasting at WTTG.

Starting at NBC

Roker joined NBC in 1978 at WKYC in Cleveland. After five years, he moved back to his hometown, New York City, in 1983. He became the regular weeknight weathercaster for WNBC-TV. For many years, he filled in for other forecasters on NBC News programs like NBC News at Sunrise and the Today Show. In 1995, he hosted his own weekend talk show called The Al Roker Show on CNBC.

Becoming a Today Show Star

In 1996, Al Roker became the main weekday weather anchor for the Today show. He became known for his fun remote forecasts, where he would interview people outside the studio. He also continued the tradition of wishing happy birthdays to people turning 100 years old.

In 2005, Roker famously reported from inside Hurricane Wilma. A video of him being swept off his feet by the strong wind became very popular online.

From 2012 to 2017, Roker also co-hosted the third hour of Today, called Today's Take. He returned to co-host the 3rd Hour Today in 2018.

During the inaugurations of President Barack Obama in 2013 and President Joe Biden in 2021, Roker had memorable interactions with both leaders.

Rokerthons

Al Roker has done special "Rokerthon" events. In November 2014, he did a non-stop, 34-hour weather forecast to raise money for military charities. In 2015, he reported the weather from all 50 states and Washington, D.C., to support Feeding America. In 2017, he visited colleges, setting Guinness World Records at each stop.

Other Projects and Appearances

Al Roker has done many other things besides his work on the Today Show.

Hosting and Game Shows

Since 1995, Roker has hosted NBC's coverage of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. He helps kick off the parade and interviews celebrities. He was unable to host in 2022 due to health issues.

He is a big fan of game shows. From 1996 to 1997, he hosted a game show called Remember This? on MSNBC. He also filled in as host for a week on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire in 2007. In 2008, he hosted NBC's Celebrity Family Feud. He has also appeared as a celebrity player on Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune.

Food and Radio

Roker has hosted shows on Food Network, like Roker on the Road and Tricked-Out Tailgating. He also loves barbecue. He used to provide weather forecasts for several radio stations through his "Al Roker Radio Weather Network." He also hosted a morning show called Wake Up with Al on The Weather Channel from 2009 to 2015.

Theatre Work

Al Roker has appeared on Broadway several times. In 2018, he played Joe in the musical Waitress. He returned to the show in 2019. He also made cameo appearances in Gutenberg! The Musical! in 2023 and Back to the Future: The Musical in 2024.

As an Author

Roker at the 81st Academy Awards in February 2009

Al Roker has written several books. He co-authored a series of murder mysteries with Dick Lochte, featuring a chef detective named Billy Blessing. One of these books, The Morning Show Murders, was even made into a movie in 2018.

In 2016, he wrote a non-fiction book called Been There, Done That: Family Wisdom for Modern Times with his wife, Deborah Roberts.

Personal Life

Al Roker has been married twice. He married Alice Bell in 1984, and they adopted a daughter named Courtney. They later divorced. In 1995, Roker married TV journalist Deborah Roberts. They have two children, a daughter named Leila and a son named Nicholas. Roker is an Episcopalian.

In 2010, Al Roker ran in the New York City Marathon. In 2021, a radar tower at WKYC in Cleveland was named the "Roker Tower" in his honor.

Health Journey

Al Roker has openly shared his health journey with the public. In 2002, he had surgery to help with weight loss. He wrote about his experience in his 2013 book, Never Goin' Back: Winning the Weight Loss Battle For Good.

He has also had several other surgeries, including knee replacements in 2001 and 2016, a back operation in 2005, and carpal tunnel surgery in 2018. In 2019, he had hip replacement surgery.

In November 2020, he shared that he was diagnosed with prostate cancer and had successful surgery. In November 2022, he was hospitalized for blood clots in his lungs and other health issues. He returned to the Today show in January 2023, sharing his recovery story and thanking his wife and doctors for their support.

Charity Work

Al Roker is a supporter of Ronald McDonald House Charities. He is also a member of their celebrity board. In 2008, he was the official spokesperson for Amtrak's National Train Day.

Signature Phrases

Al Roker is known for some phrases he often uses on TV:

• When switching from national to local weather, he often says, "That's what's going on around the country, here's what's happening in your neck of the woods."
• During the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade ribbon-cutting, he joins others in counting down: "5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Let's have a parade!"

Other Appearances and Activities

• In 1993, Roker appeared as himself in an episode of Seinfeld.
• He voiced a cartoon version of himself in the Disney Channel series The Proud Family.
• Roker has appeared in several Sharknado movies, playing himself.
• In 2017, he was the guest ring announcer at WrestleMania 33.
• In 2014, he was named an honorary commodore in the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary.
• He has appeared in several Hallmark Movies & Mysteries television movies based on the book series he co-authored.

Filmography

Works

• 2000: Don't Make Me Stop This Car! (reflections on fatherhood) ISBN: 9780684868936
• 2013: Never Goin' Back: Winning the Weight-Loss Battle For Good ISBN: 978-0-451-41493-9
• 2016: Been There, Done That: Family Wisdom for Modern Times (co-written with his wife Deborah Roberts) ISBN: 978-0-451-46636-5

Billy Blessing novels

• 2009: The Morning Show Murders. Co-authored by Dick Lochte. ISBN: 0-385-34368-X.
• 2010: The Midnight Show Murders. Co-authored by Dick Lochte; nominated for the 2011 Nero Award. ISBN: 0-385-34369-8.
• 2011: The Talk Show Murders. Co-authored by Dick Lochte. ISBN: 0-385-34370-1.

See also

In Spanish: Al Roker para niños

• Bahamian Americans
• New Yorkers in journalism