History of Al Roker in Timeline
Al Roker is an American weather presenter, journalist, television personality, and author, best known as the weather anchor on NBC's Today show. He also occasionally co-hosts 3rd Hour Today. Roker previously held the American Meteorological Society's Television Seal of Approval.
August 20, 1954: Al Roker's Birth
On August 20, 1954, Albert Lincoln Roker Jr. was born. He would later become a well-known weather presenter, journalist, television personality, and author.
1974: Weather Anchor at WHEN-TV
In 1974, Al Roker began working as a weather anchor for CBS affiliate WHEN-TV in Syracuse, New York, while he was a student at SUNY Oswego.
1976: Graduation from SUNY Oswego
In 1976, Al Roker graduated from the State University of New York (SUNY) at Oswego with a B.A. in communications.
1976: Departure from WHEN-TV
In 1976, Al Roker left his position as a weather anchor at CBS affiliate WHEN-TV in Syracuse, New York, after completing his studies at SUNY Oswego.
1976: Marriage to Mary Puglisi
In 1976, Al Roker married his first wife, Mary Puglisi, who was his college girlfriend, the day they graduated from SUNY Oswego.
1983: Joins WNBC-TV
In late 1983, Al Roker returned to his hometown of New York City and joined WNBC-TV as a weekend weathercaster, eventually becoming the regular weeknight weathercaster.
December 1984: Marriage to Alice Bell
In December 1984, Al Roker married WNBC producer Alice Bell.
1987: Adoption of Daughter Courtney
In 1987, Al Roker and his then-wife, Alice Bell, adopted a daughter, Courtney, as an infant.
1990: Filling in on the Today Show
From 1990 to 1995, Al Roker filled in for Willard Scott, Bryant Gumbel and from 1997 through the 2000s for Matt Lauer on the Today Show.
September 16, 1995: Marriage to Deborah Roberts
On September 16, 1995, Al Roker married TV journalist Deborah Roberts.
1995: Host of The Al Roker Show
In 1995, Al Roker became the host of The Al Roker Show, a weekend talk show on CNBC.
1995: Host of Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
Since 1995, Al Roker has hosted NBC's coverage of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, where he provides commentary along with his Today Show colleagues.
January 26, 1996: Takes over weekday weather slot on Today
On January 26, 1996, Al Roker took over the regular weekday weather slot on Today after Scott announced his semi-retirement.
1996: Host of Remember This?
From 1996 to 1997, Al Roker hosted a game show on MSNBC called Remember This?
1997: Filling in on the Today Show
From 1990 to 1995, Al Roker filled in for Willard Scott, Bryant Gumbel and from 1997 through the 2000s for Matt Lauer on the Today Show.
1997: Host of Remember This?
From 1996 to 1997, Al Roker hosted a game show on MSNBC called Remember This?
November 17, 1998: Birth of Daughter Leila
On November 17, 1998, Al Roker and his wife Deborah Roberts welcomed their daughter Leila.
June 2001: Knee Replacement Surgery
In June 2001, Al Roker underwent a total knee arthoplasty (replacement, or "TKA") on his left knee.
July 18, 2002: Birth of Son Nicholas
On July 18, 2002, Al Roker and his wife Deborah Roberts welcomed their son Nicholas.
2002: Gastric Bypass Surgery
In 2002, Al Roker underwent gastric bypass surgery to lose weight after struggling with numerous diets.
May 22, 2003: Cameo in The Play What I Wrote
On May 22, 2003, Al Roker made a cameo appearance in The Play What I Wrote on Broadway as the Mystery Guest Star.
2005: Reporting from Hurricane Wilma
In 2005, Al Roker reported from inside Hurricane Wilma, during which he was famously swept off his feet by the wind.
2007: Substitute host for Who Wants to Be a Millionaire
From March 5–9, 2007, Al Roker substituted for Meredith Vieira for a week of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire shows.
2007: Supporter of Ronald McDonald House Charities
In 2007, Al Roker became an official supporter of Ronald McDonald House Charities and is a member of their celebrity board, called the Friends of RMHC.
May 10, 2008: Spokesperson for Amtrak's National Train Day
On May 10, 2008, Al Roker was the official spokesperson for Amtrak's National Train Day.
2008: Host of Celebrity Family Feud
In 2008, Al Roker hosted NBC's Celebrity Family Feud.
2009: Wake Up with Al on The Weather Channel
From 2009 until 2015, Al Roker had a one and a half hour weekday morning stint live from 5:00–7:00 a.m. on The Weather Channel under the name Wake Up with Al.
2009: Publication of First Murder Mystery Novel
In 2009, Al Roker co-authored a series of murder mysteries with Dick Lochte, featuring Billy Blessing, a celebrity chef turned amateur detective, beginning with an unnamed first book.
November 2010: Runs the New York City Marathon
In November 2010, Al Roker participated in the New York City Marathon.
2010: Publication of The Midnight Show Murders and The Morning Show Murders
In 2010, Al Roker co-authored and published two murder mystery novels, The Midnight Show Murders and The Morning Show Murders.
2011: Nomination for Nero Award
In 2011, Al Roker's book The Midnight Show Murders (2010) was nominated for a Nero Award.
November 12, 2012: Co-hosting Today's Take
On November 12, 2012, Al Roker began co-hosting the third hour of Today called Today's Take.
2013: Handshake from Joe Biden
During the 2013 inauguration of Barack Obama, Al Roker received a handshake from Joe Biden.
2013: Publication of Never Goin' Back
In 2013, Al Roker published Never Goin' Back: Winning the Weight Loss Battle For Good, detailing his battle with weight loss.
November 12, 2014: Start of Rokerthon
On November 12, 2014, Al Roker began his first "Rokerthon," a 34-hour non-stop weather forecast on NBC.
November 14, 2014: End of Rokerthon
On November 14, 2014, Al Roker concluded his first "Rokerthon," a 34-hour non-stop weather forecast on NBC. The event was a fundraiser for the Crowdrise Campaign to benefit the military and USO.
November 2014: Rokerthon
In November 2014, Al Roker embarked on a "Rokerthon", in which he did a non-stop, 34-hour weather forecast on NBC. The record-setting event was a fundraiser for the Crowdrise Campaign to benefit the military and USO.
November 13, 2015: Rokerthon 2
On November 6 to November 13, 2015, Al Roker held a "Rokerthon 2", this time reporting weather from all 50 states and Washington, D.C. in support of Feeding America.
2015: End of Wake Up with Al on The Weather Channel
From 2009 until 2015, Al Roker had a one and a half hour weekday morning stint live from 5:00–7:00 a.m. on The Weather Channel under the name Wake Up with Al.
July 2016: "Game On Today" Feature
In July 2016, Al Roker hosted a week-long feature on Today profiling five game shows and their hosts titled "Game On Today".
2016: Second Knee Replacement Surgery
In 2016, Al Roker had another knee replacement surgery.
2016: Publication of Been There, Done That
In 2016, the non-fiction book Been There, Done That: Family Wisdom for Modern Times, written by Al Roker and his wife Deborah Roberts, was published.
February 2017: Today's Take Cancellation
In February 2017, Today's Take, which Al Roker co-hosted, was cancelled in favor of Megyn Kelly Today.
March 31, 2017: Rokerthon 3
From March 27 until March 31, 2017, Al Roker embarked on "Rokerthon 3", visiting colleges and setting a Guinness World Record at each one, such as the longest conga line on ice and largest human letter.
September 22, 2017: Final Episode of Today's Take
On September 22, 2017, the final episode of Today's Take aired after being cancelled in February 2017.
September 5, 2018: Broadway debut announcement
On September 5, 2018, it was announced that Al Roker would make his Broadway debut portraying Joe in the musical Waitress for a six-week run from October 5 to November 11.
October 2018: Emergency Carpal Tunnel Surgery
In October 2018, Al Roker underwent emergency carpal tunnel surgery.
2018: Returns to co-host 3rd Hour Today
In 2018, Al Roker returned to co-host 3rd Hour Today after Megyn Kelly Today was cancelled.
2018: The Morning Show Murders Movie Release
In 2018, The Morning Show Murders, a book co-authored by Al Roker and published in 2010, was made into a movie on Hallmark Movies and Mysteries.
September 2019: Hip Replacement Surgery
In September 2019, Al Roker underwent hip replacement surgery.
2019: Limited run in Waitress
In 2019, Al Roker returned to the musical Waitress for a limited run from November 1 to 24, reprising his role as Joe.
September 2020: Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer
In September 2020, Al Roker was diagnosed with prostate cancer.
November 2020: Prostate Cancer Diagnosis and Operation
In November 2020, Al Roker revealed that he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in September 2020. He had a successful operation on November 9, and by November 17 he was at home recovering.
May 2021: "Roker Tower" dedication at WKYC
In May 2021, Al Roker returned to Cleveland where WKYC named the radar tower on top of their building the "Roker Tower" in his honor.
November 2022: Hospitalization for Blood Clots
In November 2022, Al Roker revealed he was in the hospital being treated for blood clots in his lungs.
2022: Absent from Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Coverage
In 2022, Al Roker was unable to host the coverage of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade due to recovering from blood clots.
January 6, 2023: Return to Today
On January 6, 2023, Al Roker returned to the Today show, revealing he suffered from internal bleeding which necessitated surgery, two bleeding ulcers, colon resection surgery, and gallbladder removal surgery, crediting his wife and NewYork-Presbyterian physicians for saving his life.
December 19, 2023: Cameo in Gutenberg! The Musical!
On December 19, 2023, Al Roker returned to Broadway for a one night only cameo in Gutenberg! The Musical! as the Producer.
March 2024: Broadway in Back to the Future
In March 2024, Al Roker was in Back to the Future: The Musical on Broadway as Strickland.
September 2025: Premiere of Weather Hunters
In September 2025, the animated PBS Kids program, Weather Hunters, created by Al Roker, premiered, with Roker voicing the character of Al Hunter.
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