Craig Melvin Says Al Roker Has Supported Him in His 'Darkest Moments,' Saying He Was the 'First' to Call (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

(L-R) Al Roker and Craig Melvin attend the Literacy Partners 50th Anniversary Evening Of Readings & Gala Dinner at Pier 60 on June 10, 2024 in New York City.Photo:Cindy Ord/GettyCraig Melvinis opening up about just how deep his bond with hisTodaycolleagueAl Rokergoes.Taking a break fromthe NBC news program’s morning-long celebrationshonoring Roker’smilestone 70th birthday, Melvin spoke highly of his colleague and friend while chatting exclusively with PEOPLE.“You know what? It started, I was new to the show. And theTodayShow is a very, it’s a delicate ecosystem. It’s been around for more than 70 years. It’s an American Institution,” Melvin, 45, said. “The inner circle is tight and guarded. They had invited me into the inner circle, and he was the first one to welcome me with open arms.“Melvin — who is gearing up for the return of the third-annualBottoms Up Invitational Golf Tournamenthonoringhis late brother Lawrence, who died from colorectal cancer— noted that Roker “just made it clear from the beginning that he had my back, and I’ve never forgotten that.““We sit next to each other every morning for hours. So he’s heard all of my stories. I’ve heard all of his stories, four or five times,” he said, jokingly. “I just think over time, proximity really does, it leads to bonds."(L-R) Al Roker and Craig Melvin on TODAY on Wednesday, March 27, 2024.Nathan Congleton/NBC via GettyWithout getting into the specifics, Melvin candidly revealed: “Some of my darkest moments, personally, it’s been Roker who’s called first to check on me, check on my family. He got a text message this morning from my parents wishing him a happy birthday.““I got to spend time with his daughter in Paris. She took us on a croissant crawl because she lives there. So our families have become close,” he continued. “And I do think that there’s probably a part of me, professionally in our business, you want that longevity that he’s enjoyed.“Melvin added, “For me, personally, you look at the kind of life that he’s created and you’re like, ‘God, when I’m 70,I’d love to be that kind of dad, that kind of granddad, that kind ofhusband.’ That’s who you want to be. And so, to be able to have a role model just a few inches from you every morning, it’s pretty cool. It’s not lost on me.“Al Roker celebrating his 70th birthday on TODAY on Tuesday, August 20, 2024.Nathan Congleton/NBC via GettyAlthough there are “so many” memories he’s shared with Roker that have stuck out to Melvin over the years, the father of two said the duo’s “travel adventures are the stuff of legend.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.“I’ve gone to a spa in South Korea with him on a chute, and we’ve dressed up in costume. We’ve driven, we did a road trip in an RV to Maine, going to theme parks,” he added. “… Lots of travel adventures.”

(L-R) Al Roker and Craig Melvin attend the Literacy Partners 50th Anniversary Evening Of Readings & Gala Dinner at Pier 60 on June 10, 2024 in New York City.Photo:Cindy Ord/Getty

Cindy Ord/Getty

Craig Melvinis opening up about just how deep his bond with hisTodaycolleagueAl Rokergoes.Taking a break fromthe NBC news program’s morning-long celebrationshonoring Roker’smilestone 70th birthday, Melvin spoke highly of his colleague and friend while chatting exclusively with PEOPLE.“You know what? It started, I was new to the show. And theTodayShow is a very, it’s a delicate ecosystem. It’s been around for more than 70 years. It’s an American Institution,” Melvin, 45, said. “The inner circle is tight and guarded. They had invited me into the inner circle, and he was the first one to welcome me with open arms.“Melvin — who is gearing up for the return of the third-annualBottoms Up Invitational Golf Tournamenthonoringhis late brother Lawrence, who died from colorectal cancer— noted that Roker “just made it clear from the beginning that he had my back, and I’ve never forgotten that.““We sit next to each other every morning for hours. So he’s heard all of my stories. I’ve heard all of his stories, four or five times,” he said, jokingly. “I just think over time, proximity really does, it leads to bonds."(L-R) Al Roker and Craig Melvin on TODAY on Wednesday, March 27, 2024.Nathan Congleton/NBC via GettyWithout getting into the specifics, Melvin candidly revealed: “Some of my darkest moments, personally, it’s been Roker who’s called first to check on me, check on my family. He got a text message this morning from my parents wishing him a happy birthday.““I got to spend time with his daughter in Paris. She took us on a croissant crawl because she lives there. So our families have become close,” he continued. “And I do think that there’s probably a part of me, professionally in our business, you want that longevity that he’s enjoyed.“Melvin added, “For me, personally, you look at the kind of life that he’s created and you’re like, ‘God, when I’m 70,I’d love to be that kind of dad, that kind of granddad, that kind ofhusband.’ That’s who you want to be. And so, to be able to have a role model just a few inches from you every morning, it’s pretty cool. It’s not lost on me.“Al Roker celebrating his 70th birthday on TODAY on Tuesday, August 20, 2024.Nathan Congleton/NBC via GettyAlthough there are “so many” memories he’s shared with Roker that have stuck out to Melvin over the years, the father of two said the duo’s “travel adventures are the stuff of legend.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.“I’ve gone to a spa in South Korea with him on a chute, and we’ve dressed up in costume. We’ve driven, we did a road trip in an RV to Maine, going to theme parks,” he added. “… Lots of travel adventures.”

Craig Melvinis opening up about just how deep his bond with hisTodaycolleagueAl Rokergoes.

Taking a break fromthe NBC news program’s morning-long celebrationshonoring Roker’smilestone 70th birthday, Melvin spoke highly of his colleague and friend while chatting exclusively with PEOPLE.

“You know what? It started, I was new to the show. And theTodayShow is a very, it’s a delicate ecosystem. It’s been around for more than 70 years. It’s an American Institution,” Melvin, 45, said. “The inner circle is tight and guarded. They had invited me into the inner circle, and he was the first one to welcome me with open arms.”

Melvin — who is gearing up for the return of the third-annualBottoms Up Invitational Golf Tournamenthonoringhis late brother Lawrence, who died from colorectal cancer— noted that Roker “just made it clear from the beginning that he had my back, and I’ve never forgotten that.”

“We sit next to each other every morning for hours. So he’s heard all of my stories. I’ve heard all of his stories, four or five times,” he said, jokingly. “I just think over time, proximity really does, it leads to bonds.”

(L-R) Al Roker and Craig Melvin on TODAY on Wednesday, March 27, 2024.Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty

Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty

Without getting into the specifics, Melvin candidly revealed: “Some of my darkest moments, personally, it’s been Roker who’s called first to check on me, check on my family. He got a text message this morning from my parents wishing him a happy birthday.”

“I got to spend time with his daughter in Paris. She took us on a croissant crawl because she lives there. So our families have become close,” he continued. “And I do think that there’s probably a part of me, professionally in our business, you want that longevity that he’s enjoyed.”

Melvin added, “For me, personally, you look at the kind of life that he’s created and you’re like, ‘God, when I’m 70,I’d love to be that kind of dad, that kind of granddad, that kind ofhusband.’ That’s who you want to be. And so, to be able to have a role model just a few inches from you every morning, it’s pretty cool. It’s not lost on me.”

Al Roker celebrating his 70th birthday on TODAY on Tuesday, August 20, 2024.Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty

Although there are “so many” memories he’s shared with Roker that have stuck out to Melvin over the years, the father of two said the duo’s “travel adventures are the stuff of legend.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“I’ve gone to a spa in South Korea with him on a chute, and we’ve dressed up in costume. We’ve driven, we did a road trip in an RV to Maine, going to theme parks,” he added. “… Lots of travel adventures.”

source: people.com