Curiosidades

In an interview, Fred said the hardest time on his television show was when he had to go straight from his father's funeral to the studio and have to sing "It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood", while trying not to cry on-camera.

The iconic cardigan sweaters he wore were hand knit by his mother.

According to one story, Rogers invited his limo driver, Billy, to a dinner hosted by a network executive, so that he wouldn't have to sit and wait for two hours. Afterwards, he rode in the limo's front seat to talk to Billy, and when he learned that they'd be passing Billy's family's house along the way to the hotel, Rogers asked if they could stop over so he could meet them. The affair became an impromptu party. Neighbors brought treats and Rogers entertained them by playing jazz piano. A few years later, when Rogers learned that Billy was dying of AIDS, he took time to call him in the hospital.

His wife Sara Joanne Byrd was his college sweetheart.

He received his Bachelor's degree in Music Composition, and wrote most of the music performed on his show.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Rogers was instrumental in saving the VCR and, thus, paving the way for DVRs. He went against most of the rest of the television industry in testimony for the Supreme Court in noting that he thought it would be beneficial for children to be able to record his program and time shift viewing. The Supreme Court, quoting Mr. Rogers' testimony in a footnote in their decision, was swayed, ruling that the VCR did not infringe on the network's copyright.

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).

During Halloween, the Rogers family always gave out sugar-free candies to local trick-or-treaters.

Inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame (1999).

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¢.

Johnny Carson once did a parody skit on The Tonight Show, "Mister Rambo's Neighborhood". When Fred Rogers complained, Carson publicly apologized.

After his death, a star was named after him.

Named for his maternal grandfather, Frederick McFeeley. Years later, he named a character Mr. McFeely after his grandfather.

Rogers was appointed Chairman of the Forum on Mass Media and Child Development of the White House Conference on Youth (1968).

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.

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

305 of the 895 episodes of "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" still air today as reruns.

Received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences as well as the TV Critics Association.

Never worked behind a desk in any of his offices. He wanted no barriers between himself and any visitors, especially children. Whenever he had a child visitor in his office, adults (unless they were with the child) were not allowed to interrupt the visit and would have to wait until the visit was over.

Asteroid no. 26858 was named Misterrogers after him. (maio de 2003)

Even though he was officially an ordained minister, he never once said the word "God" in all his hours of television.

An only child until his sister Elaine Crozier was adopted when Rogers was age 11.

Received the "Pennsylvania Founder's Award" for his "lifelong contribution to the Commonwealth in the spirit of Pennsylvania's founder, William Penn". (junho de 1999)

Rogers was ordained as a Presbyterian minister (1963).

When Mister Rogers came on television singing his song, many children who actually lived on his street used to shout at their televisions, "But you ARE our neighbor!".

A long-standing rumor claimed that he was a combat veteran. Offshoots of that rumor further claimed that he was a Marine sniper (with a record number of kills) or that he was a Navy SEAL. These rumors were false. He never served in the military.

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

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.

He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Television at 6600 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on January 8, 1998.

Was a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, a national music fraternity.

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 only television or film appearance as a character other than himself was as Reverend Thomas in the episode Deal with the Devil (1996) on Doutora Quinn (1993).

Father of Jim Rogers and John Rogers.

Grand marshal, Tournament of Roses parade. (2003)

Records: Won't You Be My Neighbor? (1967); Let's Be Together Today (1968); Josephine, The Short-Necked Giraffe (1963); You Are Special (1969); A Place of Our Own (1970); Bedtime (1992); Growing, (1992).

Had three grandsons, born 1988, 1993, and 2003.

Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume 7, 2003-2005, pages 473-475. Farmington Hills, MI: Thomson Gale (2007).

Received two George Foster Peabody Awards.

On September 21, 2018, he was posthumously honored with a Goggle Doddle.

He was the son of Nancy (McFeely) and James Hillis Rogers. He was named Fred McFeely Rogers after his grandfather Frederick Brooks McFeely. Fred's ancestry included English, German, Scottish, Welsh, and Scots-Irish/Northern Irish.

Fred McFeely Rogers passed away on February 27, 2003, only three weeks away from what would have been his 75th birthday on March 20.

College classmates and good friends with Robert Newton Peck. Rogers served as best man in Peck's wedding to his first wife.