Joe Negri, famous for playing the musical handyman on “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” is dead.
Joe’s death was announced Sunday, just days before he was set to celebrate his 100th birthday … according to multiple reports.
The official cause of death is unclear … though his daughter reportedly said he died Saturday from natural causes.
Joe was known as Handyman Negri on the long-running children’s classic … for 30 years he played music and fixed things alongside the puppets of the Neighborhood of Make-Believe.
As the show progressed and Handyman Negri became a fan favorite, he eventually had his own “Negri’s Music Shop” in Mr. Rogers’ neighborhood … playing jazz guitar with the likes of Yo-Yo Ma, Wynton Marsalis and Johnny Costa … among others.