Fred Rogers was the host of the popular long-running public television children's show Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. The show debuted in Pittsburgh in 1967 and was picked up by PBS the next year, becoming a staple of public TV stations around the United States. Rogers' mild manner, cardigan sweaters and soft speaking voice made him both widely beloved and widely parodied. Rogers ended production of the show in 2001, but reruns of the show continued to be aired on many PBS stations. He died in 2003 after a short battle with stomach cancer.
Inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 1999. From its premiere on February 19, 1968 until its end on August 31, 2001, 895 episodes of "MisteRogers' Neighborhood (1968) were produced. All of which he wrote and executive produced. Ordained as a Presbyterian minister in 1963. Received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences as well as the TV Critics Association. Received many Emmys. Received two George Foster Peabody Awards. Rogers was appointed Chairman of the Forum on Mass Media and Child Development of the White House Conference on Youth in 1968. Two grandsons, born in 1988 and 1993. Grand marshal, Tournament of Roses parade [2003] Graduate of Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida, USA. Was a contemporary of actor Anthony Perkins. He earned his divinity degree from the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary in 1962. The Presbyterian church ordained him and charged him with a special mission: in effect, to keep on doing what he was doing on television. An only child until the age of 11 when his sister was born. Books: Mister Rogers Talks with Parents, 1983; The New Baby (Mister Rogers' First Experiences Books), 1985; Making Friends (Mister Rogers' First Experiences Books), 1987; Mister Rogers: How Families Grow, 1988; You Are Special, 1994. Records: Won't You Be My Neighbor?, 1967; Let's Be Together Today, 1968; Josephine, The Short-Necked Giraffe, 1963; You Are Special 1969; A Place of Our Own, 1970; Bedtime, 1992; Growing, 1992 Father of Jim Rogers and John Rogers. Received a "Pennsylvania Founder's Award" in June 1999 for his "lifelong contribution to the Commonwealth in the spirit of Pennsylvania's founder, William Penn." Wife Sara Joanne Byrd was his college sweetheart Named for his maternal grandfather, Frederick McFeeley. Years later, he named a character Mr. McFeely after his grandfather. After Burger King used an actor impersonating Mister Rogers for a TV commercial, ("Can you say Flame Broiled? I knew you could.") Fred Rogers called a press conference, shaming the company for "confusing innocent children" into thinking he was promoting their fast food franchises. Rogers never did any commercial promotions of any kind. Burger King openly apologized, and the commercial was pulled. Rogers' gentle manner was the butt of some comedian's jokes. Eddie Murphy parodied him on "Saturday Night Live in the 80s with his "Mister Robinson's Neighborhood," a routine Rogers found funny and affectionate. Was a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, a national music fraternity. May 2003: asteroid no. 26858 was named Misterrogers after him. 305 of the 895 episodes of "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" still air today as reruns. His signature red sweater is on display at the Smithsonian Institute Museum of American History in Washington, D.C., having been a gift from Mister Rogers in 1984. He earned a Bachelor's degree in Music Composition, and wrote most of the music performed on his show. Bette Midler paid tribute to him in her 2003-2004 tour, "Kiss My Brass." Footage of Fred Rogers was shown singing "I Like to Be Told," in which Midler sang along. She also sported a red cardigan sweater. During Halloween, the Rogers family always gave out sugar-free candies to local trick-or-treaters. When Mister Rogers came on TV singing his song, many children who actually lived on his street used to yell at their televisions, "But you ARE our neighbor!" Johnny Carson once did a parody skit on The Tonight Show, "Mister Rambo's Neighborhood". When Fred Rogers complained, Carson publicly apologized.