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Joanne Rogers has sadly died.

The widow of Fred Rogers, also known as Mister Rogers of Mister Rogers Neighborhood, passed away at age 92, as confirmed by Fred Rogers Productions in a statement on Thursday (January 14).

“Fred Rogers Productions is deeply saddened by the passing of Joanne Rogers. The loving partner of Fred Rogers for more than 50 years, she continued their shared commitment to supporting children and families after his death as chair of the board of Fred Rogers Productions,” they wrote.

“Joanne was a brilliant and accomplished musician, a wonderful advocate for the arts, and a dear friend to everyone in our organization. We extend our heartfelt condolences to Joanne’s family and the thousands of people who had the privilege of knowing and loving her.”

The couple got married in 1952 and remained so until his death in 2003. They had two sons, James and John.

She was an accomplished pianist in her own right, and performed for three decades. She also released two albums with partner Jeannine Morrison.

The Mayor of Pittsburgh Bill Peduto also issued a statement following the news of her passing.

Our thoughts are with Joanne‘s loved ones at this difficult time.

Francois Clemmons, the actor who played Officer Clemmons on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, is opening up about his coming out experience and why Fred Rogers told him to stay in the closet.

The 75-year-old actor is releasing a new memoir and he writes about the day he was called into Fred‘s office.

He says that Fred told him, “Franc, you have talents and gifts that set you apart and above the crowd. Someone has informed us that you were seen at the local gay bar downtown. Now, I want you to know, Franc, that if you’re gay, it doesn’t matter to me at all. Whatever you say and do is fine with me, but if you’re going to be on the show as an important member of the Neighborhood, you can’t be out as gay.”

Francois told People, “I could have his friendship and fatherly love and relationship forever. But I could have the job only if I stayed in the closet.”

“‘You must do this Francois,’ he told me, ‘because it threatens my dream,’” the actor added.

He says that Fred also told him, “‘The world doesn’t really want to know who you’re sleeping with — especially if it’s a man. You can have it all if you can keep that part out of the limelight.’”

Francois also claims that Fred suggested to him that he marry a woman.

“By the time I left his office, I had made up my mind to marry La-Tanya Mae Sheridan. At the wedding reception, Fred and Joanne approached me and my new wife. It felt as if Fred and I were sealing some kind of secret bargain,” he wrote in the memoir. The marriage only last six years and he began living life as a gay man after that.

Despite all of this, Francois says that he forgives Fred.

“Lord have mercy, yes, I forgive him,” he said. “More than that, I understand. I relied on the fact that this was his dream. He had worked so hard for it. I knew Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood was his whole life.”

Tom Hanks was Fred Rogers‘ favorite actor.

The 63-year-old actor played the late star in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, earning him his first Oscar nomination in 19 years.

Director Marielle Heller spilled some behind-the-scenes secrets in a featurette from the home release of the film.

“Joanne [Rogers, Fred Rogers’ widow] revealed to us that Tom Hanks was Fred’s favorite actor,” Marielle says (via People). “They never met. And when I told Tom this, he was like, ‘What!’”

“I think Tom Hanks is just the nicest person you could ever want to meet,” she added. “And you hear that from everybody, but that’s my own experience with him.”

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood is available on Digital today (February 4), and on 4K, Blu-ray, and DVD on February 18.

ICYMI, see how Tom Hanks recently reacted to a false ad showing him endorsing a CBD company.

Tom Hanks is set to play Fred Rogers, aka Mr. Rogers from the popular children’s series, in an upcoming film that does not have a title – and we have a first look photo!

Here’s a synopsis of the movie: After a jaded magazine writer Tom Junod (Matthew Rhys) is assigned a profile of Fred Rogers, he overcomes his skepticism, learning about empathy, kindness, and decency from America’s most beloved neighbor.

The film, which is currently in production, was originally thought to be called You Are My Friend. Susan Kelechi Watson and Chris Cooper also star.

Tom Hanks is set to star in a biopic, portraying Mr. Rogers aka Fred Rogers.

The biopic, titled You Are My Friend, is inspired by the “real-life friendship between Fred Rogers and award-winning journalist Tom Junod. In the story, a cynical journalist begrudgingly accepts an assignment to write a profile piece on the beloved icon and finds his perspective on life transformed,” Variety reports.

Fred hosted the popular kids program Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood from 1968 to 2001. Fred Rogers passed away back in 2003.

The biopic will be directed by Marielle Heller with a script by Micah Fitzerman-Blue and Noah Harpster.

No release date or additional casting has been revealed just yet. Stay tuned!