Joe Negri, Handyman Negri On ‘Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood,’ Dies At 99

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 Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood, has died.

Fred Rogers Productions confirmed Negri’s death to Pittsburgh’s CBS station KDKA-TV on Sunday. He was 99.

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Mr. Rogers Neighborhood was filmed 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 Mr. 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 Mr. 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.

Negri, however, did have the skill of playing guitar and demonstrated his talents on Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood. In addition, he ran the fictional Negri’s Music Shop on the series.

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