Fred Rogers Biography | American TV Show Host, Educator, Songwriter

Fred McFeely Rogers

Born: March 20, 1928
Died: February 27, 2003
Place of Birth: Latrobe, Pennsylvania

Major Notes:

Fred Rogers created the long-running children's television show called Mister Rogers' Neighborhood.
He came from a wealthy family as his grandfather owned and operated a brick factory where his father was employed.
Rogers took an early interest in music and puppetry and began playing the piano when he was nine years old.
He later enrolled in Rollins College and completed a BA degree in music composition in 1951.
After college graduation, Rogers moved to New York and became an assistant producer and floor director for NBC Television.
His NBC job offered Rogers excellent experience as he worked on such programs as the Kate Smith Hour and NBC Opera Theater.
Married a year earlier, in 1953 Rogers decided to move to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and work for WQED, an educational television station.
One of the programs he produced for the station was called The Children's Corner featuring music and puppets and hosted by actress Josie Carey.
In 1955, with Fred Rogers as music composer and organist, the program won the nation's Sylvania Award for the best local children's show.
In his off time, he enrolled in the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and completed courses in 1963 to become an ordained Minister.
In that same year, Rogers moved to Toronto, Canada, to work for the CBC where he developed a children's program called MisteRogers.
This program offered Rogers the experience of hosting and performing in his own television show.
After three years, Rogers bought the rights to the program and he and his family then moved back to Pittsburgh.
Now working at WQED again, he expanded MisteRogers into a new Mister Rogers'Neighborhood program.
The program became very popular and earned Rogers many honors and awards including Emmys, Peabodys, and Lifetime Achievement awards.
Rogers was given the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2002 by President George W. Bush.
In 2008, the City of Pittsburgh gave approval for a special 10 foot statue be erected in honor of Fred Rogers.

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Major Notes:

Fred Rogers created the long-running children's television show called Mister Rogers' Neighborhood.

He came from a wealthy family as his grandfather owned and operated a brick factory where his father was employed.

Rogers took an early interest in music and puppetry and began playing the piano when he was nine years old.

He later enrolled in Rollins College and completed a BA degree in music composition in 1951.

After college graduation, Rogers moved to New York and became an assistant producer and floor director for NBC Television.

His NBC job offered Rogers excellent experience as he worked on such programs as the Kate Smith Hour and NBC Opera Theater.

Married a year earlier, in 1953 Rogers decided to move to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and work for WQED, an educational television station.

One of the programs he produced for the station was called The Children's Corner featuring music and puppets and hosted by actress Josie Carey.

In 1955, with Fred Rogers as music composer and organist, the program won the nation's Sylvania Award for the best local children's show.

In his off time, he enrolled in the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and completed courses in 1963 to become an ordained Minister.

In that same year, Rogers moved to Toronto, Canada, to work for the CBC where he developed a children's program called MisteRogers.

This program offered Rogers the experience of hosting and performing in his own television show.

After three years, Rogers bought the rights to the program and he and his family then moved back to Pittsburgh.

Now working at WQED again, he expanded MisteRogers into a new Mister Rogers'Neighborhood program.

The program became very popular and earned Rogers many honors and awards including Emmys, Peabodys, and Lifetime Achievement awards.

Rogers was given the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2002 by President George W. Bush.

In 2008, the City of Pittsburgh gave approval for a special 10 foot statue be erected in honor of Fred Rogers.