Beloved weatherman of The Today Show, Willard Scott, has passed away at 87. Willard Scott’s successor, Al Roker, confirmed the news on Instagram this afternoon.
We lost a beloved member of our @todayshow family this morning. Willard Scott passed peacefully at the age of 87 surrounded by family, including his daughters Sally and Mary and his lovely wife, Paris. He was truly my second dad and am where I am today because of his generous spirit. Willard was a man of his times, the ultimate broadcaster. There will never be anyone quite like him.”
It’s a Terrible Day for Rain
Willard Scott was born on March 7, 1934. He first got his start in broadcasting as an NBC page for WRC in 1950. WRC was an NBC-owned and operated AM radio station in Washington DC. Scott attended American University and worked at the school’s radio station from 1951 to 1953. From 1955 to 1972, Scott worked with Ed Walker as a co-host on the Joy Boys radio program for WRC. During the 60s Scott played host on several children’s television shows. Some of his more notable roles were that of Commander Retro, Bozo the Clown, and even Ronald McDonald. It was in 1980 that Willard Scott was contacted by NBC to be the weatherman for The Today Show.
Scott’s run on The Today Show was lengthy and full of laughs. He was famous for his segment of wishing centenarians a happy birthday on-air. He would also routinely travel and do weather reports on the road, interviewing locals along the way. Willard Scott’s run on The Today Show came to an end in 1996 when he semi-retired and Al Roker stepped in as his replacement. He would still appear on-air to wish centenarians a happy birthday before his full retirement on December 15, 2015.
Willard Scott passed away at home, surrounded by loved ones, at the age of 87. The cause of death is listed as natural causes. Aside from a prominent career in television, Scott had authored several fiction and non-fiction books. His work in radio and television garnered him several awards. It is with great sadness that we mourn his passing and wish his family all the best at this moment.
