Deborah Ann Roberts is a prominent television journalist, who works as the senior national affairs correspondent for ABC News. She joined NBC News in 1990 and later moved to ABC News in 1995, where she worked on shows like 20/20 and Good Morning America. Roberts has won multiple awards for her reporting, including an Emmy Award and a Clarion Award. She has also contributed to other ABC News programs like Primetime and Nightline. In addition to her work in news, Roberts hosts Lifetime Live on Lifetime Television. She co-authored the non-fiction book, “Been There, Done That: Family Wisdom for Modern Times,” with her husband Al Roker, which was published in 2016.
However, she is not only known for her professional achievements but also for her personal life, including her marriage to Today Show anchor Al Roker. Roberts and Roker first met in 1990 when she joined NBC’s Today as a correspondent, and they tied the knot five years later in September 1995. They have two children together, a daughter named Leila Ruth and a son named Nicholas Albert.
All About Roker and Roberts’ First Meeting And Dating
Roker and Roberts first met in 1990, but it wasn’t until 1992 that they went on their first date. During her trip to Barcelona to cover the Summer Olympics for NBC, Roberts asked Roker to keep an eye on her apartment. When she returned, Roker stocked her pantry and fridge and left some flowers and a note on the table that read, “Welcome home.” A week later, they went on their first date.
Roker proposed to Roberts on January 1, 1994, during a business trip to Arizona. He proposed to her at the Grand Canyon, which he thought was a great location. Fortunately, she said yes, and the couple wed on September 16, 1995. Their wedding took place at Manhattan’s St. Thomas Episcopal Church, and famous friends, including Barbara Walters and Katie Couric, attended the ceremony.
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Roker And Roberts Have Two Children
The couple has two children, daughter Leila Ruth and son Nicholas Albert. Leila Ruth was born on November 17, 1998, and Nicholas Albert was born on July 18, 2002. Nicholas was later diagnosed with autism, which led Roker to become an advocate for families and individuals affected by autism. In an interview with Today in January 2020, Roker spoke about how his son inspires him to be a better person.
Inside Roker And Roberts’ Relationship
In February 2021, Roker and Roberts graced the cover of PEOPLE’s first-ever Love Issue. In the magazine, they talked about their love for each other and shared some romantic stories about their relationship. Roberts shared that her husband is a real romantic and often leaves her notes in her suitcase or purse when she travels. He writes Emily Dickinson’s sonnets or tells her to have a great day and that he is thinking of her.
The couple celebrated their 26th wedding anniversary in September 2021, and Roberts took to Instagram to share a touching tribute. She wrote that the journey began 26 years ago and that it has been a true and delicious adventure filled with ups and downs, better and worse, joyriding, and holding on tight along the way. Roberts expressed how thrilled she is to share her life with Roker and ended her post with, “Happy anniversary dear. Here’s to so many more!”
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Meet Debra Roberts’ Husband, Al Roker
Al Roker is a well-known American television personality and weather forecaster. He has been a part of NBC’s “Today” show since 1996, where he provides weather updates and engages with viewers on a daily basis. In 2018, Roker underwent gastric bypass surgery and has since been vocal about his weight loss journey and health struggles.
In November 2020, Al Roker announced that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. However, in an interview with Entertainment Tonight on March 29, 2023, Roberts discussed the difficult time she had caring for Roker during his life-threatening health crisis in late 2022. She described the experience as exhausting, frightening, and mentally draining. Roberts also emphasized the importance of being a caregiver and the toll it can take on a person. Despite the challenges, she expressed gratitude that Roker had recovered and was doing well.