Joe Negri, 'Mister Rogers' handyman, dies days before 100th birthday

Jazz musician Joe Negri — known for his role as the musical handyman on "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" — has died at 99. Negri’s oldest daughter, Lisa Negri, said her father died Saturday of natural causes. He was just days away from celebrating his 100th birthday on June 10.

A Pittsburgh native born in 1926, Negri began as a musician in early childhood after his father gifted him a ukulele at age 3. He started playing guitar at 8 and by 16 was touring with swing bands, later performing on local radio and in clubs for dancers such as Fred and Gene Kelly before branching out into other instruments and larger audiences.

His role as "Handyman Negri" made him a household name. He appeared on the show for its entire run, spanning 31 seasons from 1968 to 2001. "The handyman doesn’t just fix things — he also fixes problems. I hope children see me as someone they can trust," he said.

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