David Newell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
David Newell
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Newell as Mr. McFeely in 2015
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David Alexander Newell
November 24, 1938 O'Hara Township, Pennsylvania, United States
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| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1968–2015 |
| Known for | Mr. McFeely on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood |
| Children | 3 |
David Alexander Newell (born November 24, 1938) is an American actor. He is best known for playing Mr. McFeely, the friendly delivery man on the TV show Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. He also worked behind the scenes for Fred Rogers Productions. Mr. McFeely's most famous saying was "Speedy Delivery!" David Newell traveled around the country as Mr. McFeely until he retired in 2015. He helped promote Mister Rogers' Neighborhood to many people.
About David Newell
David Newell was born in O'Hara Township, Pennsylvania. This town is close to Pittsburgh. He went to the University of Pittsburgh. Later, he became the director of public relations for Fred Rogers Productions. David Newell still lives in O'Hara Township with his wife, Nan. They have three children named Catherine, Taylor, and Alexander. They also have four grandchildren.
His Career and Mr. McFeely
David Newell started acting at a theater school called the Pittsburgh Playhouse. There, he met Fred Rogers, the creator of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. David was first hired to handle public relations for the show. But Fred Rogers also asked him to play the part of Mr. McFeely.
Mr. McFeely's name came from Fred Rogers' middle name, which was his mother's maiden name. David Newell and Fred Rogers became very close friends. They remained friends until Fred Rogers passed away in 2003.
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In 2008, a special movie about David Newell was released. It was called Speedy Delivery. This movie showed his travels around the world as Mr. McFeely. It was shown on public television.
An animated version of Mr. McFeely appears in the newer PBS show Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood. The voice for this character is done by Canadian actor Derek McGrath.
In 2017, David Newell was a special guest on a children's web series called Danny Joe's Tree House. He also made a short appearance in the movie A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. This movie was about Fred Rogers.
What David Newell Says
David Newell has shared some thoughts about his work:
- He said that working with Fred Rogers was like getting a "master's degree in child development." He learned a lot about how children grow and learn.
- He also said that Fred taught by example. He realized how much his knowledge had grown just by working alongside Fred.
- About Danny Joe's Tree House, he likes that children can interact with a real person. He feels that Danny is like a "big kid at heart," which is very helpful.
- He believes that in today's world, where many things are virtual, it's good to have a person sharing original thoughts and ideas.
