Joe Negri, 99, famed Handyman Negri of Mister Rogers dies

Joe Negri, the acclaimed jazz musician and actor who portrayed the beloved Handyman Negri on "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" for over three decades, has died. He was 99. His daughter, Lisa Negri, confirmed he passed away on Saturday from natural causes, just days before he would have turned 100 on June 10.

Negri originated the role of Handyman Negri in 1968, appearing in 331 episodes throughout the show's entire 31-season run until 2001. On the program, his character was assigned by King Friday XIII to fix things and solve problems in the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, while also running the fictional Negri's Music Shop. The show's production company, Fred Rogers Productions, issued a statement expressing profound sadness and praising Negri's warmth, musical talent, and gentle spirit.

Despite his on-screen persona, Negri once admitted he was not actually handy, recalling that Fred Rogers assured him it would be "all pretend." He said he hoped children saw the character as someone they could trust. The role allowed him to integrate his real-life passion, as he was an accomplished jazz guitarist who performed on the show and collaborated with musicians including Yo-Yo Ma and Wynton...