Al Roker

Early Life
Al "Shart" Roker was born in Queens, New York the son of Isabel (of Jamaican decent) and Albert Lincoln Roker, Jr. a labor relations negotiator, bus driver and dispatcher of Bahamian descent. Roker initially wanted to be a cartoon artist. He was raised Catholic (in the faith of his mother) and graduated at Xavier High School in Manhattan. He worked on several projects as a member of the school's Cartooning & illustrations Club. He attended the State University of New York at Oswego where he double-majored in graphic design and broadcasting/journalism. Roker is the cousin of the late actress Roxie Roker, who was most notable for her role on the popular 1970's sitcom called The Jeffersons and the mother of popular jewish rock musician Lenny Kravitz.

Career
Before the national recognition, Roker worked as a weather anchor for CBS affiliate WHEN-TV (now WTVH) in Syracuse, New York from 1974 to 1976 while he was still enrolled at SUNY Oswego. Following the completion of his collegiate studies, Roker moved to washington D.C. and took a weathercasting position at independent station WTTG, then owned by Metromedia remaining there for much of the next two years. Roker's career with NBC began in 1978 when he was hired at WKYC-TV in Cleveland. then an NBC owned-and-operated station. after five successful years in Cleveland, Roker was promoted to the network's flagship outlet, WNBC-TV in his hometown. Roker returned to New Yorrk City in late 1983 as a weekend meteorologist and within eight months became the station's regular weeknight weathercaster. Roker replaced 27-year WNBC-TV veteran Dr. Frank Field, who left the network after a contract dispute. From 1983 to 1996, Roker was the regular subtitute for forecaster Joe Witte on the NBC News program NBC News at Sunrise and from 1990 to 1995 filled-in for Willard Scott on the Today Show. In 1995, he became the host of The Al Roker Show a weekend talk show on CNBC. In 1996-1997, he hosted a game show on CNBC called Remember This?. Roker started getting more exposure, especially when David Letterman asked him to do an elevator race with him in one episode of his talk show The Late Show with David Letterman which taped across the hall from WNBC's news studio in the GE Building. That led Roker to getting a job as the forecaster for ''Weekend Today. ''He also substituted on the weekday edition of Today when Willard Scott was ill or away. In 1996, Scott announced his semi-retirement from the show and Roker received the weekday weather position on Today, where he has been ever since. He officially joined Today on January 26, 1996. Roker became popular for doing his forecasts outside of the studio, interviewing audience members and giving some of them camera time. Roker also began doing more interviews and segments on the show as time progressed. In 2005, Roker reported outside from inside Hurricane Wilma. A popular viral video exists on the internet of Roker being swept off his feet by the force of the hurricane and holding on to his cameraman. Roker is a game show fan, and hosted a week-long segment on Today in honor of five game shows and their hosts. He also appeared as a celebrity player on both Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy!. In 2008, Roker hosted NBC's Celebrity Family Feud. Roker also substituted for Meredith Vieira for a week on the syndicated version of Who Wants To Be a Millionaire? form March 5-9, 2007. Roker also co-hosted the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Roker also various Food Network programs. namely, Roker on the Road and Tricked-Out Tailgating. He is also the author of several non-fiction books and an avid barbecue enthusiast. Roker was also the forecaster for several radio stations, including the New York smooth jazz radio station WQCD (101.9 FM) and for Cleveland smooth jazz station WNWV (107.3 FM) The service was called for the "Al Roker Radio Weather Network" it was provided by United Stations Radio Networks. He has since been replaced on those networks by Accuweather. Roker currently (2010) has a five-hour weekday morning stint from 6-11 a.m. on The Weather Channel under the name Wake Up with Al.

Other appearance and activities
On the May 9, 1998; episode of Saturday Night Live (SNL) hosted by David Duchovny, Roker appeared in a "Mango" sketch with Matt Lauer. The typical sketch followed the fruitless pursuit of Mango by a character portrayed by cast member Chris Kattan. In this episode, Roker appeared as the object of Lauer's affection. Instead of the famous catchphrase "Mango, Mango!" Lauer says, "Roker, ROKER!!"

Roker voiced a caricature of himself as a faustian figure in two episodes of the animated Disney Channel series The Proud Family.

During the first inaugural parade of President Barack Obama, Al Roker obtained the "first interview" with the new president by waving his Fedora hat and yelling to the walking Obama to come over. Acknowledging Roker, the perambulating president continued on, telling him "it's warm!"

Roker holds the record for most appearances on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, with over 30. He would often appear on the show as a last-minute replacement if a previously scheduled guest canceled their appearance.

Roker had a cameo appearance in Sharknado 2: The Second One, which premiered on Syfy on July 30, 2014. He reprised the cameo in the sequels Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No!, which premiered on July 22, 2015, Sharknado: The 4th Awakens, which premiered on July 31, 2016, Sharknado 5: Global Swarming in 2017, and The Last Sharknado: It's About Time in 2018.

Roker appeared as the guest ring announcer at WrestleMania 33, for a match between John Cena and Nikka Bella versus The Miz and Maryse.

In 2014, Commandant of the Coast Guard Admiral Robert Papp named Roker an honorary commodore in the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary. Roker had produced and narrated a Coast Guard documentary television series.

In 2018, Roker appeared in episode 400 of My Brother, My Brother and Me.

Signature Phrases
On many occasions on Today he has used the phrase "man candy" to escribe attractive males.

At the the end of the weather segment, when cutting to local broadcasters for regional updates, he says, "That's what's going on around the country. Here's what's happening in your neck of the woods."

When he mentions Sunday's weather forecast on weekdays, often he repeats the word "Sunday", imitating the drag racing promotional catchphrase.

During Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade ribbon cutting ceremonies, he is joined by the producers of the parade and special guests in kicking off the parade with the countdown "5,4,3,2,1. Let's have a parade!"

Personal Life
Roker's wife, his third is fellow journalists Deborah Roberts, who has reported for both ABC and NBC meeting Roker when she joined the latter in 1990 as a reporter. Roker has three children. On November 7, 2010; he ran the ING New York City Marathon. In the July 2011 issue of Us Weekly magazine in the 25 Things You Did Not Know About Me column, Roker is a first cousin to late actress Roxie Roker (Helen Willis on The Jeffersons) and first cousin (once removed) of rocker Lenny Kravitz.

Health Problems
In 2002, Roker went under gastric bypass surgery to lose weight, for which he said he did after failing at numerous diets. Eight months after the surgery, the New York Daily News reported he dropped 100 pounds (45 kg) off his 320-pound figure. On June 7, 2002; Roker underwent a total knee arthoplasty (replacement or "TKA") on his left knee. In 2005, Roker had a back operation. In an interview with NBC correspondent Nancy Synderman on Dateline NBC in January 2013, Roker stated that he had "pooped in his pants" at the White House as a result of his gastric bypass surgery.

Charity Work
In 2007, Roker became an official supporter for the Ronald McDonald House Charities and is a member of their celebrity board, called his friends from RMHC. He also served as the official spokesperson for Amtrak's National Train Day, which took place on May 10, 2008.

The 2012 Olympic Logo from London, England
On June 7, 2007; Roker referenced the logo from the 2012 Summer Olympics: "Remember that controversial Olympic logo for the 2012 Olympics in London? Some folks have complained that the campaign actually sent them to epic seizures. Well, we asked you to weigh in on our website in an information pole; those of you who could get up off the floor after shaking around were able to actually log in!"

The following day Roker stated, "I started joking about [the logo]. I Want to make--I was not joking about epileptic seizures. We understand and know that this is a serious affliction and would never joke about that. We were joking about the logo--not about epilepsy. If anybody was offended, I heartily and really humbly apologize!"

Cab Driver
On November 23, 2015; Roker alleged racial discrimination and filed a complaint after he and his son (Nicholas Albert) attempted to hail a cab. The cab driver reportedly then passed them in order to pick up a white man on the next block. Roker stated on Twitter that a "cabbie picked up a white guy a block away. Wonder why Uber wins?" According to the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission, the driver would either have to pay a $500 fine or possibly have his license suspended.

Goodson-Todman Show Hosted
Celebrity Family Feud (2008)

Link
Official Website