This Old House's Roger Cook Dead At 70

Roger Cook, who was a part of PBS' iconic This Old House home improvement program for nearly 40 years, died on Aug. 21 following an extended illness. He was 70.

Cook first appeared on This Old House in 1982 (the show's second season), and was promoted to cast member/garden and landscape contractor in 1988. In 2022, he stepped away from the program due to health issues.

"I have enjoyed the opportunity to share my knowledge and passion for landscaping," Cook said before exiting the series. "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."

Cook was born in Biddeford, Maine, and grew up in Woburn and Burlington. Throughout his high school years, he worked part time and summers doing landscaping. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in wildlife management and conservation law from the University of Maine. 

In 1982, Cook founded K&R Tree and Landscaping with his wife Kathy, which they owned and operated together for more than 40 years.  

"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," reads a statement on the series' website. "He was always there with the answers we needed."

This Old House executive producer Chris Wolfe added, "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, the CEO of Boston PBS station GBH, where This Old House debuted in 1979, offered a tribute to Cook as well: "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."