Al Roker is keeping his focus firmly on the present—even as he celebrates a career milestone few in television ever reach.
The beloved weathercaster and longtime Today show host is marking his 30th anniversary on the morning news program, reflecting on his decades-long career in an interview with People magazine published Tuesday, Jan. 27.
“That’s the beauty of the broadcast: the mission over these 74 years has not changed,” Roker, 71, told the outlet. “The way we bring it to you may have, and look, the fact of the matter is we are each temporary custodians of this legacy.”
To honor the milestone, the Today show is hosting an “Al-iversary” special, featuring tributes from his cohosts, celebrity guest appearances, and even a playful recreation of Roker’s signature glasses and fedora.
A New York City native, Roker began his NBC career in the late 1970s at the network’s Ohio affiliate, WKYC. He later joined WNBC-TV in New York as a weathercaster in 1983, laying the foundation for his eventual debut on Today. From 1990 to 1995, he served as a fill-in anchor for legends like Willard Scott and Bryant Gumbel before officially becoming the show’s regular weatherman in January 1996.
Roker, an Emmy-winning personality, also cohosts the 3rd Hour block of Today alongside Craig Melvin and Dylan Dreyer.
“At some point, I won’t be part of the show. Somebody else will be, but to be part of a pretty cool club is very special,” Roker said. “To say that this was a dream job isn’t really accurate because it never dawned on me that I could be on the ‘Today’ show.”
Over the years, Roker has interviewed countless notable figures, from Don Rickles and Betty White to Carl Reiner and Dick Van Dyke, becoming as much a fixture of American television as the show itself.
Despite reaching the three-decade mark, Roker has no immediate plans to retire, joking to People that for somebody at NBC, that might be a different story.
Al Roker’s enduring presence on Today is a testament to his warmth, professionalism, and the lasting impact he’s had on morning television—making him one of the most recognizable and beloved figures in the industry.
