Al Roker is known for being a beloved weather forecaster, but to his three children, he’s just “Dad.” The NBC star is the doting father of his kids, Courtney, Leila and Nicholas.
Al shares his eldest daughter, Courtney, with his first wife, Alice Bell. The former couple, who tied the knot in 1984, welcomed their little girl in 1987. However, they split years later and their divorce was finalized in 1994.
Not long after he called it quits with Alice, the Today star moved on with fellow journalist Deborah Roberts. The pair started dating in 1992, and after three years together, they married in 1995.
Al and the Good Morning America correspondent expanded the hunk’s family with the birth of their first child together, daughter Leila, in 1998. Less than four years later, the dynamic duo’s youngest child, Nicholas, arrived in 2002.
Al has learned a lot about fatherhood since he became a dad more than three decades ago, but he’s still finding new ways to be a better parent to Courtney, Leila and Nicholas. The Ruthless Tide author — who announced his prostate cancer diagnosis in November 2020 — noted that because his son has special needs, he does everything he can to improve for Nick.
“I want to be more patient, I think,” Al shared during an episode of Today in January 2020. “Especially toward the end of the week after I get a little tired, I tend to get a little short with Nick. I’m trying just to be a little more patient with people.”
Al said he’s doing his best to “be a better person” because Nick inspires him. “As a lot of parents who have kids with special needs [know], they can try your patience,” he explained. “Not that they mean to or anything like that. The thing I love about him, that I admire about him, is that he just kind of attacks it head-on. He’s very goal-oriented, and he’s a great kid.”
Following his sweet admission, the Emmy Award winner’s cohost Hoda Kotb praised him for being a dedicated dad. “I know there are a lot of great father-son relationships out there — there are probably a kazillion people watching right now — [but] watching Nick rest his head on your shoulder may be one of the most beautiful sights that I have ever seen,” she gushed.
Scroll through the gallery below to learn all about Al’s kids!
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