Albert Lincoln Roker Jr., better known as AI Roker, is a celebrated American journalist, weather presenter, television personality, and author. Born on August 20, 1954, in New York City, he currently hosts the 3rd Hour Today on NBC, where he also serves as the weather anchor. Let’s take a closer look at the life and career of this esteemed personality.
AI Roker Early Life and Education:
AI Roker was born to parents Isabel and Albert Lincoln Roker Sr., with Jamaican and Bahamian ancestry, respectively. Growing up in the borough of Queens, New York City, he initially had aspirations of becoming a cartoonist. He attended Xavier High School in Manhattan and was raised in the Catholic faith, following his mother’s religion. In 1976, AI Roker earned a B.A. in communications from the State University of New York at Oswego.
AI Roker Career:
During his time at SUNY Oswego, from 1974 to 1976, Roker worked as a weather anchor for CBS station WHEN-TV (now WTVH) in Syracuse, New York. Additionally, he served as a DJ at WNYO, the college radio station. After completing his studies, Roker moved to Washington, D.C., where he took up a position as a weathercaster at independent station WTTG, owned by Metromedia. He then joined NBC’s WKYC in Cleveland in 1978, marking the beginning of his career with the network.
Roker’s meteoric rise continued, and he eventually returned to his hometown’s WNBC-TV after five years in Cleveland. Notably, he set a Guinness World Record by reporting for 34 consecutive hours on November 14, 2014, surpassing a 33-hour unbroken live report record held by Eli Kari Gjengedal of Norway.
AI Roker Personal Life:
AI Roker’s personal life includes notable milestones as well. In December 1984, he married WNBC producer Alice Bell, but the marriage ended in divorce. Later, on September 16, 1995, Roker married fellow journalist Deborah Roberts, who has worked for both NBC and ABC. The couple is proud parents to three children: Courtney, whom they adopted in 1987, and their biological children, Leila, born on November 17, 1998, and Nicholas, born on July 18, 2002.
AI Roker Net Worth:
With his illustrious career in journalism, television, and writing, AI Roker has amassed an impressive net worth of $70 million.
Conclusion:
AI Roker’s journey from a young aspiring cartoonist to a renowned American journalist and weather presenter is nothing short of inspiring. Throughout his career, he has achieved remarkable milestones, setting records and leaving a lasting impact on the field of weather reporting. Alongside his professional success, his personal life reflects the joy of family and the love he shares with his wife and children. Truly, AI Roker is an icon in the world of journalism and television, and his contributions continue to be celebrated by his colleagues and fans alike.
