Albert Lincoln Roker Jr. born August 20, 1954 is an American weather presenter, journalist, television personality, and author, best known as the weather anchor on NBC’s Today. He also occasionally co-hosts 3rd Hour Today and holds an inactive American Meteorological Society Television Seal.
Al Roker Biography 2024
Roker began his career in 1974 at CBS affiliate WHEN-TV in Syracuse while attending college. Afterward, he worked at WTTG in Washington, D.C., before joining NBC in 1978 at WKYC in Cleveland. In 1983, he returned to New York to work at WNBC-TV, eventually becoming the station’s regular weeknight weathercaster. Roker also frequently substituted for various anchors on NBC programs such as NBC News at Sunrise and Today. In 1995, he began hosting The Al Roker Show on CNBC.
Al Roker Biography Details
| Born | Albert Lincoln Roker Jr. August 20, 1954 (age 70) New York City, U.S. |
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| Alma mater | State University of New York at Oswego (BA) |
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| Occupations | - Journalist
- television personality
- weather presenter
- actor
- author
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| Years active | 1974–present |
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| Spouses | - First wife (divorced)
Deborah Roberts (m. 1995)
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| Children | 3 |
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| Relatives | - Roxie Roker (paternal first cousin, once removed)
- Lenny Kravitz (paternal second cousin)
- Zoë Kravitz (paternal second cousin, once removed)
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| Website | AlRoker.com |
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Al Roker Early Life
Roker was born in Queens, New York, to Isabel, of Jamaican descent, and Albert Lincoln Roker Sr., of Bahamian descent. Initially interested in cartooning, he was raised Catholic and graduated from Xavier High School in Manhattan. He went on to earn a B.A. in communications from the State University of New York at Oswego in 1976.
Al Roker Career
Year | Event Details |
1974-1976 | Weather anchor at CBS affiliate WHEN-TV in Syracuse, NY |
1976-1978 | Weathercaster at independent station WTTG in Washington, D.C. |
1978-1983 | Weather anchor at WKYC in Cleveland, an NBC affiliate |
NBC Career Milestones
Year | Event Details |
1983 | Joined WNBC-TV in New York, became weekend weathercaster |
1983-1996 | Filled in as substitute for various Today show anchors |
1996 | Became the regular weekday weather anchor on Today |
Al Roker Television Appearances
Year | TV Show and Role |
1995-1996 | Hosted The Al Roker Show on CNBC |
2005 | Reported from inside Hurricane Wilma for Today |
2007-2018 | Hosted segments on Celebrity Family Feud and Game On Today |
Broadway Appearances
Year | Broadway Show and Role |
2003 | Cameo in The Play What I Wrote |
2018-2019 | Portrayed Joe in Waitress on Broadway |
2023 | Cameo in Gutenberg! The Musical! |
Roker Charity Work and Causes
Year | Charity or Cause Involvement |
2007 | Became a supporter of Ronald McDonald House Charities |
2014 | Raised funds for military veterans through “Rokerthon” |
2018 | Supported Feeding America through Rokerthon 2 |
Health Milestones and Challenges
Year | Health Event |
2002 | Underwent gastric bypass surgery and lost 100 pounds |
2016 | Had knee replacement surgery |
2020 | Diagnosed with prostate cancer and successfully operated on |
Al Roker Family and Personal Life
Year | Personal Life Event |
1984 | Married Alice Bell; adopted daughter Courtney in 1987 |
1995 | Married Deborah Roberts; had two children, Leila and Nicholas |
2010 | Ran in the ING New York City Marathon |
Al Roker Involvement in Game Shows
Year | Game Show and Role |
1996-1997 | Hosted Remember This? on MSNBC |
2007 | Substituted for Meredith Vieira on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire |
2008 | Hosted Celebrity Family Feud |
Notable TV Show Cameos
Year | TV Show and Role |
1993 | Appeared as himself in Seinfeld |
1998 | Guest in Saturday Night Live sketch with Matt Lauer |
2014 | Cameo in Sharknado 2: The Second One |
Al Roker Contribution to Food Network
Year | Show and Role |
2000s | Hosted Roker on the Road and Tricked-Out Tailgating |
2008 | Appeared as a guest in Food Network programming |
Al Roker Book Authorship
Year | Book Title |
2009 | The Morning Show Murders |
2010 | The Midnight Show Murders |
2016 | Been There, Done That: Family Wisdom for Modern Times |
Al Roker Appearances in Films
Year | Film and Role |
2014 | Cameo in Sharknado 2: The Second One |
2015 | Cameo in Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No! |
2017 | Appeared in Sharknado 5: Global Swarming |
Awards and Recognition
Year | Award or Recognition |
2014 | Honorary Commodore by the U.S. Coast Guard |
2016 | Nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award |
Al Roker Role in Major Events
Year | Event and Role |
2009 | Reported from the Pentagon during Barack Obama’s Inauguration |
2013 | Received handshake from Joe Biden at Obama’s second inauguration |
2017 | Co-hosted inauguration coverage for Donald Trump |
Al Roker Signature Phrases
Phrase | Usage Context |
“That’s what’s going on around the country” | Used during weather reports transitioning locally |
“Man candy” | Used to describe attractive males |
“5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Let’s have a parade!” | Used during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade start |
Al Roker Net Worth
Al Roker net worth at a whopping $70 million.
Al Roker Summary
Al Roker is a prominent American weather presenter, journalist, and television personality, best known for his long-standing role on NBC’s Today show. Born in 1954 in New York, Roker has built a career spanning decades, starting from local stations to becoming a national icon. He has also hosted several game shows, written books, and even appeared on Broadway. Despite facing significant health challenges, including prostate cancer and blood clots, Roker has continued to work and inspire. His charitable efforts and memorable moments, like hosting the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, have cemented his legacy in American television.
