Fred Rogers

Fred Rogers

Born: March 20, 1928
Died: February 27, 2003
in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, USA
Fred McFeely Rogers (March 20, 1928 – February 27, 2003), commonly known as Mister Rogers, was an American television host, author, producer, and Presbyterian minister. He was the creator, showrunner, and host of the preschool television series Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, which ran from 1968 to 2001.

Born in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh, Rogers earned a bachelor's degree in music from Rollins College in 1951. He began his television career at NBC in New York, returning to Pittsburgh in 1953 to work for children's programming at NET (later PBS) television station WQED. He graduated from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary with a bachelor's degree in divinity in 1962 and became a Presbyterian minister in 1963. He attended the University of Pittsburgh's Graduate School of Child Development, where he began his 30-year collaboration with child psychologist Margaret McFarland. He also helped develop the children's shows The Children's Corner (1955) for WQED in Pittsburgh and Misterogers (1963) in Canada for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. In 1968, he returned to Pittsburgh and adapted the format of his Canadian series to create Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. It ran for 33 years, and was critically acclaimed for focusing on children's emotional and physical concerns, such as death, sibling rivalry, school enrollment, and divorce.

Rogers died of stomach cancer on February 27, 2003, 3 weeks before the age of 75. His work in children's television has been widely lauded, and he received more than 40 honorary degrees and several awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2002 and a Lifetime Achievement Emmy in 1997. He was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 1999. Rogers influenced many writers and producers of children's television shows, and his broadcasts have served as a source of comfort during tragic events, even after his death.

Movies for Fred Rogers...

Mr. Dressup: The Magic of Make Believe
Title: Mr. Dressup: The Magic of Make Believe
Character: Self
Released: September 8, 2023
Type: Movie
Kindness, creativity, inclusivity, and a touch of magic makes the world a brighter place. Explore the story and impact of Canadian entertainer Ernie Coombs and his iconic series, Mr. Dressup, which enriched the lives of five generations.
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Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street
Title: Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street
Character: Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Released: April 23, 2021
Type: Movie
Take a stroll down Sesame Street and witness the birth of the most influential children's show in television history. From the iconic furry characters to the classic songs you know by heart, learn how a gang of visionary creators changed the world.
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A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Title: A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Character: Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Released: September 7, 2019
Type: Movie
An award-winning cynical journalist, Lloyd Vogel, begrudgingly accepts an assignment to write an Esquire profile piece on the beloved television icon Fred Rogers. After his encounter with Rogers, Vogel's perspective on life is transformed.
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Won't You Be My Neighbor?
Title: Won't You Be My Neighbor?
Character: Self - TV Host (archive footage)
Released: June 29, 2018
Type: Movie
For more than thirty years, and through his television program, Fred Rogers (1928-2003), host, producer, writer and pianist, accompanied by his puppets and his many friends, spoke directly to young children about some of life's most important issues.
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Birth of the Living Dead
Title: Birth of the Living Dead
Released: October 18, 2013
Type: Movie
A behind the scenes look into George Romero's groundbreaking horror classic Night of the Living Dead.
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Mister Rogers & Me
Title: Mister Rogers & Me
Character: Himself
Released: March 20, 2010
Type: Movie
An MTV producer's life is transformed when he meets the recently retired host of 'Mister Rogers' Neighborhood,' Fred Rogers. Friendship with the PBS icon sets the young producer on a hero's quest to find depth and simplicity amidst a shallow and complex world through conversations with Susan Stamberg (NPR), Tim Russert ('Meet The Press'), Marc Brown ('Arthur') and more.
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Sesame Street: 40 Years of Sunny Days
Title: Sesame Street: 40 Years of Sunny Days
Character: Mr. Rogers (uncredited) (archive footage)
Released: January 5, 2010
Type: Movie
A look back at 40 years of Seasame Street.
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Speedy Delivery
Title: Speedy Delivery
Character: Self
Released: April 10, 2008
Type: Movie
A wig, moustache and timeless uniform help transform David Newell into the whimsical Mr. McFeely, an authentic character who always delivers. "Speedy Delivery" follows Newell's global quest to save "The Neighborhood," infused with a deep retrospective look into what made "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" the longest running children's show in history.
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Haack ...The King of Techno
Title: Haack ...The King of Techno
Character: Mister Rogers (archival footage)
Released: January 19, 2004
Type: Movie
A look into the underground world of Bruce Haack, a genius whose past work continues to garner recognition with time. The homespun musician couldn't have done it without the support of his family, friends, lovers, and the neighborhood kids he called "starchildren," all of whom paint the big picture of Bruce's life legacy and so-called dimension of imagination. In addition, various musicians of many genres have joined in today showing worldwide support, thus contributing to Bruce's objective, "Sure it's nice to be famous, but I'm more interested in obtaining a telepathic following." As for the music world, history's future king is coming from the past.
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Fred Rogers: America's Favorite Neighbor
Title: Fred Rogers: America's Favorite Neighbor
Character: Himself (archive footage)
Released: January 1, 2004
Type: Movie
Writer, producer, puppeteer, songwriter--America's Favorite Neighbor takes a thorough look at the career of legendary children's television host Fred Rogers. Produced for Pittsburgh's WQED, this informative documentary tracks his rise as floor manager for various NBC programs, such as Your Hit Parade, to the major awards he received later in life, such as the Lifetime Achievement Award and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Along the way, he's seen launching public TV programs The Children's Corner, which featured a soon-to-be-famous puppet named King Friday, and Canada's MisteRogers. The latter, naturally, was followed by Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, which made its national debut in 1968, and would eventually became the longest running program in PBS history. Hosted by fellow Pennsylvania native Michael Keaton (Batman), who worked on his show in the early days, America's Favorite Neighbor is suitable for all ages, but is geared more towards adults, particularly parents and educators.
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Title: Arthur
Character: Mr. Rogers (voice)
Released: October 7, 1996
Type: TV
The show revolves around the lives of 8-year-old Arthur Read, an anthropomorphic aardvark, his friends and family, and their daily interactions with each other.
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Title: The Rosie O'Donnell Show
Character: Self
Released: June 10, 1996
Type: TV
The Rosie O'Donnell Show was an American daytime television talk show hosted and produced by actress and comedian Rosie O'Donnell. It aired for six seasons from 1996 to 2002. Topics often discussed on the show include Broadway, children, extended families and charitable works, people and organizations. The show was based out of Studio 8G at NBC's Rockefeller Center studios in New York City, NY, USA and was produced and syndicated by KidRo Productions, Telepictures Productions and Warner Bros. Television.
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Casper
Title: Casper
Character: Mr. Rogers (archive footage)
Released: May 26, 1995
Type: Movie
Casper is a kind young ghost who peacefully haunts a mansion in Maine. When specialist James Harvey arrives to communicate with Casper and his fellow spirits, he brings along his teenage daughter, Kat. Casper quickly falls in love with Kat, but their budding relationship is complicated not only by his transparent state, but also by his troublemaking apparition uncles and their mischievous antics.
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Title: Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
Released: January 1, 1993
Type: TV
Dr. Michaela Quinn journeys to Colorado Springs to be the town's physician after her father's death in 1868.
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Title: MRN
Character: Himself
Released: February 19, 1968
Type: TV
MRN (1968) (TV) Rated TV-PG
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Title: Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
Character: Mr. Rogers
Released: February 19, 1968
Type: TV
Mister Rogers' Neighborhood is an American children's television series that was created and hosted by namesake Fred Rogers. The series originated in 1963 as Misterogers on CBC Television, and was later debuted in 1966 as Misterogers' Neighborhood on the regional Eastern Educational Network, followed by its US network debut on February 19, 1968, and it aired on NET and its successor, PBS, until August 31, 2001. The series is aimed primarily at preschool ages 2 to 5, but has been stated by PBS as "appropriate for all ages". Mister Rogers' Neighborhood was produced by Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA public broadcaster WQED and Rogers' non-profit production company Family Communications, Inc.; previously known as Small World Enterprises prior to 1971, the company was renamed The Fred Rogers Company after Rogers' death.
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Title: Butternut Square
Character: Mr Rogers
Released: December 31, 1969
Type: TV
Butternut Square was a Canadian children's television series which aired on CBC Television between October 19, 1964 and February 10, 1967. The cast featured Ernie Coombs as Mr. Dressup and Fred Rogers as Mister Rogers, both of whom would follow with their own landmark television series. "Butternut Square" was a show designed for young viewers and featured a variety of segments aimed at entertaining and educating children. The program included storytelling, music, puppetry, and educational segments, often focusing on imaginative play and interactive elements to engage its audience. The show aimed to stimulate creativity, encourage learning, and entertain children through a mix of fun activities and storytelling. Although specific details about individual episodes might vary, the overall emphasis was on fostering a sense of wonder, creativity, and learning in its young viewers.