Many people will be familiar with Mr. Rogers and his TV show Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. But most people don't realize that Mr. Rogers actually hated TV so much that he decided to change it himself.
The first time he turned one on he saw people angrily throwing pies in each others' faces.
He immediately vowed to use the medium for better than that. Over the years he covered topics as varied as why kids shouldn't be scared of a haircut or the bathroom drain, to divorce and war.
via Relevant
Mr. Rogers also seemed to be exactly the same offscreen as he was onscreen.
He preached tolerance first and was a man who genuinely cared about others. Unlike on most children's shows, Mr. Rogers played himself not just in name but also in personality and mannerisms, changing nothing about how he acted off camera.
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His reasoning for this was: "One of the greatest gifts you can give anybody is the gift of your honest self."
"I also believe that kids can spot a phony a mile away," he continued.
via PBS / Giphy
Mr. Rogers was also a vegetarian. He didn't smoke or drink, and didn't seem to have any major vices.
He also stayed married to the same woman until his death; their marriage lasted 47 years.
