PITTSBURGH, PA (NEXSTAR) – Joanne Rogers, the widow of iconic child television personality Fred Rogers, has died at the age of 92, according to CBS subsidiary Pittsburgh.
Joanne helped bring her husband’s legacy into effect, affecting children’s lives after his death in 2003. Fred Rogers starred on “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” which aired nationwide on PBS networks.
“When Fred died, she wouldn’t act as Mister Rogers, but she would step in,” Bill Isler, former president and CEO of Fred’s company for nearly three decades, told the Los Angeles Times in a 2019 interview.
The couple was married for 50 years.
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Joanne was featured throughout the media promotion for the 2019 film, A Nice Day In The Neighborhood, in which Tom Hanks brought her husband to life on the big screen. She even made a brief cameo in the film.
During the media flash, she stated that her husband was not a “saint” as some people suspect – and that he had to work hard to treat people well and serve as a role model for children.
“As people say, he went the way,” she explained.
There is no Mr. Rogers without Joanne Rogers. ❤️
According to @KDKA, the television icon’s widow died today at the age of 92. 🙏
Last year, the staff at Magee Women’s Hospital in Pittsburgh serenaded her during a visit. pic.twitter.com/xClzrjPuzA
– Austin Kellerman (@AustinKellerman) January 14, 2021
According to KDKA, she received the George Romero Legacy Award at Steeltown Entertainment’s 2019 Elly Awards for preserving her husband’s legacy and inspiring young filmmakers.
According to Pittsburgh’s Action News 4, she had been in the hospital for a few days. The cause of her death is unknown.
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