Fred Rogers

Attended and graduated from Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida (1951). Was a contemporary of actor Anthony Perkins.

He received his divinity degree from the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary (1962). The Presbyterian church ordained him and charged him with a special mission: in effect, to keep on doing what he was doing on television.

Rogers was ordained as a Presbyterian minister (1963).

Fred Rogers was the host of the popular long-running public television children's show Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. The show debuted in Pittsburgh in 1967 and was picked up by PBS the next year, becoming a staple of public TV stations around the United States. Rogers' mild manner, cardigan sweaters and soft speaking voice made him both widely beloved and widely parodied.

From its premiere on February 19, 1968, until its end on August 31, 2001, 895 episodes of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (1968) were produced, all of which he wrote and executive produced.

Rogers' gentle manner was the butt of some comedian's jokes. Eddie Murphy parodied him on Saturday Night Live (1975) in the 1980s with his "Mister Robinson's Neighborhood", a routine Rogers found funny and affectionate. The fact that sketches were initially broadcast around midnight when Rogers' usual audience was in bed was likely another reason Rogers had no problem with the parody.

Books: Mister Rogers Talks with Parents, 1983; The New Baby (Mister Rogers' First Experiences Books), 1985; Making Friends (Mister Rogers' First Experiences Books), 1987; Mister Rogers: How Families Grow, 1988; You Are Special, 1994.

His signature red sweater is on display at the Smithsonian Institute Museum of American History in Washington, D.C., having been a gift from Mister Rogers (1984).

In 1985, Burger King used an actor impersonating Mister Rogers for a television commercial, calling the character Mister Rodney. Taking issue with the parody, Fred Rogers contacted the Senior Vice President of Burger King, Don Dempsey, who agreed to pull the advertisement. "To have someone who looks like me doing a commercial is very confusing for children," Fred Rogers said at the time. Mr. Dempsey pulled the commercial without question: "Mister Rogers is one guy you don't want to mess with, as beloved as he is." The $150,000 commercial aired only a few dozen times before being removed from the airwaves. It should also be noted that Rogers never did any commercial promotions of any kind.

Named Celebrity Captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins for the National Hockey League's 75th Anniversary celebration in the 1991-1992 season.

His only television or film appearance as a character other than himself was as Reverend Thomas on the Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman: Deal with the Devil (1996).

In December 1998, in a rare display of anger, Mr. Rogers filed suit against a Texas store for using his likeness on T-shirts, which contained a handgun and the slogan, "Welcome to my 'hood". Rogers did not simply want the T-shirts discontinued; he wanted them destroyed.

Received the "Pennsylvania Founder's Award" for his "lifelong contribution to the Commonwealth in the spirit of Pennsylvania's founder, William Penn". [June 1999]

Rogers ended production of the show in 2001, but reruns of the show continued to be aired on many PBS stations.

On July 9, 2002, President George W. Bush presented him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House.

Bette Midler paid tribute to him in her 2003-2004 tour, "Kiss My Brass". Footage of Fred Rogers was shown singing "I Like to Be Told", in which Midler sang along. She also sported a red cardigan sweater.

Pictured on a USA "forever" commemorative postage stamp issued 23 March 2018. Also shown on the stamp is King Friday XIII, one of Rogers' hand puppets featured on his TV series Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (1968). Price on day of issue was 50¢.