PITTSBURGH, PA – MARCH 23: Joseph Negri attends the U.S. Postal Service Dedication of the Mister Rogers Forever Stamp at WQED’s Fred Rogers Studio on March 23, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvani (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
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Joe Negri, who played Handyman Negri over 33 years on Fred Rogers’ iconic kids’ show Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, has died.
Fred Rogers Productions confirmed Negri’s death to Pittsburgh’s CBS station KDKA-TV on Sunday. He was 99.
Mister Rogers Neighborhood was filmed at WQED-TV in Pittsburgh with Rogers, who was a Pennsylvania native. Rogers died in 2003 in Pittsburgh at age 74. The series was broadcast on the National Educational Television (NET) network and eventually, the Public Broadcasting Service, aka PBS.
The actor originated the role of Handyman Negri on the first season of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood in 1968 and went on to appear in 330 more episodes over all 31 seasons of the show through 2001.
While Negri played a handyman on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, in reality, he admitted he wasn’t one.
“I said, ‘Fred, I’m not handy at all. I can’t even hammer a nail.’ And he said, ‘Don’t worry about a thing, it’s going to be all pretend,’” Negri once told KDKA-TV.
Joe Negri Brought His Skills As A Guitar Player To ‘Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood’
While Joe Negri wasn’t a real handyman, he did know how to play guitar and was able to utilize his talents on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. He also ran the fictional Negri’s Music Shop on the series.
On Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, Handyman Negri was assigned by King Friday XIII to repair and build things, as well as guard the royal’s castle. In addition, the king also would asked the handyman musician play for him.
“The handyman doesn’t just fix things – he also fixes problems. I hope children see me as someone they can trust,” said in an article on Handyman Negri’s bio page on the official Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood website.
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