Roger Cook, a beloved figure from PBS’ This Old House, passed away on August 21 at age 70 after battling a long illness.
Joining the show in its second season back in 1982, Cook became a fixture by 1988 as the garden and landscape contractor. Health problems led to his departure from the show in 2022.
“I have enjoyed the opportunity to share my knowledge and passion for landscaping,” Cook said before leaving. “And my life has been greatly enriched by the professional relationships and friendships I’ve formed over the years. I truly appreciate our fans’ dedication and the concern for my well-being. Rest assured that I am in good hands, and please know that I am grateful for all of your support.”
Born in Biddeford, Maine, and raised in Woburn and Burlington, Cook spent his high school summers working on landscaping projects. He later earned a degree in wildlife management and conservation law from the University of Maine.
In 1982, Cook and his wife Kathy started K&R Tree and Landscaping, running it together for over four decades.
“Roger was our much-loved colleague, treasured by the entire This Old House community for his soft-spoken but no-nonsense approach to every aspect of landscape contracting,” says a statement on the show’s website. “He was always there with the answers we needed.”
This Old House executive producer Chris Wolfe also shared memories: “I remember every lesson from Roger. More importantly, there are millions of people whose lives have been enriched by everything Roger taught them.”
Susan Goldberg, CEO of Boston PBS station GBH where This Old House first aired in 1979, added her tribute: “Roger was a beloved mainstay of This Old House, and he fully embodied the spirit of public television in his dedication to educating his audience in plain language about all nuances of landscaping. Roger leaves behind an unforgettable legacy for so many This Old House fans and for GBH. He will be missed.”
Fans will always remember how Roger made complicated things seem simple.
