The "Today" show's Al Roker became a familiar face on television as his career evolved over time, but he's been equally successful in his private life. Let's have a look.
Al and Deborah's biggest adventure is perhaps their marriage of nearly 25 years and the beautiful children, but it only forms a part of Al's journey so far.
Al Roker has had many careers, including weatherman, journalist, actor, and author, but his most important role to date is probably a devoted husband and a father of three.
Image Credits: Getty Images
Image Credits: Getty Images
AL ROKER'S EARLY LIFE
Albert Lincoln Roker Jr. was born on August 20, 1954, to a mother of Jamaican descent and a father of bohemian descent.
Growing up, Roker wanted to be a cartoonist. In high school, Al went on to join his school's Cartooning & Illustration Club working on many projects. Little did he know that fate had a different plan for him.
Image Credits: Getty Images
Image Credits: Getty Images
Roker received his B. A from the State University of New York at Oswego, he became a well seasoned American meteorologist, journalist, television personality, actor, and author.
He is very good at his job and passionate about it, receiving recognition for his 40 years on the "Today" show on December 14, 2018.
Image Credits: Getty Images
Image Credits: Getty Images
The "Today" show plaza was even re-named after him for a day, to Roker-fella Plaza. He started his career doing the weather for CBS branch WHEN-TV in Syracuse, New York, from 1974 until 1976.
Roker studied communications at SUNY Oswego at the time and graduated in 1976. He also did a bit of DJing at the campus radio station, WNYO.
Image Credits: Getty Images
Image Credits: Getty Images
After his schooling, he moved to Washington and took a job at independent station WTTG. He was there for two years before his big break at NBC.
His affiliation with NBC began when he was hired at WKYC in Cleveland. After five years, he was promoted to the network's flagship outlet, WNBC-TV.
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Image Source: Getty Images
Within the span of only eight months of being part of his hometown network's team, Roker had become a regular for the station during weeknights.
He performed duties as their weathercaster. He then replaced 27-year WNBC-TV veteran Dr. Frank Fieldafter who left the role after holding it for 25 years.
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Image Source: Getty Images
AL ROKER'S MARRIAGE
AI Roker and his wife, Deborah Roberts, have had an enviable love story ever since they met. Although they rival at work, at home, they're each other's best friend.
Roker had initially met his wife, Deborah, in 1990 when she started work at NBC as a general assignment reporter.
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Image Credits: Getty Images
He took her to lunch and showed her pictures of his daughter as he was married then. They maintained their friendship even though Deborah had been transferred twice within two years to Miami, then Atlanta.
Recounting what she thought of Roker when she first saw him, Roberts said: "I just thought he was a nice guy, and that was that."
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Image Credits: Getty Images
When she got back to New York in 1992, he was a single man after a divorce with his first wife, WNBC producer Alice Bell. Roker and Roberts dated for a few years.
They walked down the aisle on September 16, 1995, at the St. Thomas Episcopal Church in New York. A reception at the Essex House followed their wedding.
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Image Source: Getty Images
Roberts became a stepmother to Roker's daughter, Courtney, and a mother to Leila (1998) and Nick (2002). They presently live in the Upper East Side of New York City.
The couple is thrilled with each other's companionship. After all, they've been together for the better part of 23 years of matrimony.
LEILA ROKER
Al and Deborah didn’t have it easy when they decided to have a child together, with Deborah having a miscarriage past the two-month mark.
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Image Credits: Getty Images.
Having grown up in such a metropolis, Leila developed an interest in fashion. She has shared her style advice both in her social media and in Footwear News and cites Rihanna and Kylie Jenner as some of her idols.
Attending the University of Southern California, Leila shows interest in journalism like her parents. However, she is leaning more towards her mom and doesn't plan to be a meteorologist like her dad.
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Image Source: Getty Images
NICK ROKER
Al describing him as being “somewhere on the [autism spectrum].” Not wanting to get technical when speaking about his son, Roker thinks no medical label could do justice to his child.
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Image Credits: Getty Images
While Nick had trouble to start talking and walking as a toddler, he has overcome every challenge he has faced ever since.
And if Al wasn’t as positive in the beginning as he is today about his son’s condition, he has Deborah to thank for her optimistic approach, who has done so much for Nick.
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Image Credits: Getty Images
However, the road to that success wasn't an easy one. In an essay for GuidePosts, Roker recalled when he first noticed his son was special, as he wrote:
"We knew right from the beginning that he would be up against a whole different set of challenges. He wasn’t developing as fast as he should have."
Image Source: Getty Images
Image Source: Getty Images
Nowadays, Nick is a black belt taekwondo practitioner as he found the sport to be the perfect activity to make good use of qualities in him that can be a drawback in other situations.
Nick is also a devoted catholic, and his closeness to the church has helped him become more confident in a social environment.
WHAT IS AL ROKER UP TO NOW?
The co-host has been tending to his health as he needed a hip replacement surgery on September 18, 2019. AI started feeling pain in his left hip and also his back; he went to see a doctor.
He was told that he had osteoarthritis, requiring surgery to be corrected, but Roker assured fans that he should be back at work by the end of September.
In November 2020, Roker also underwent surgery to treat prostate cancer. The 66-year-old then announced his leave of absence from the show, as he recovers.
AL RETURNS TO BROADWAY
In mid-October 2019, Al announced a major career switch when he revealed that he was returning to Broadway to rejoin the musical 'Waitress cast.'
The big news was disclosed by Carson Daly, who explained that the anchor would be reprising his role as Joe, the diner owner, from November 1-24.
According to reports, Roker will be starring and singing alongside singer, Jordin Sparks who extended her contract for the lead role, Jenna.
Roker's last show in the production was a year ago, in October 2018. Al has emphasized over the years that his favorite role is being an absolute and total family man.
Al Roker has managed to find a balance between career and family, and that is truly commendable. Did you know of Al's family life before now? What do you think of his parenting skills? We would love to know your thoughts!
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