‘This Old House’ Star Roger Cook Dead at 70 After Battle With Illness

Cook’s family started a fundraiser to continue his legacy of giving back to others

Roger A. Cook, owner of K&R Tree and Landscape Company in Burlington and longtime cast member of "This Old House," passed away at 70 years old on Aug. 21, 2024. Brett Syales/Pexels

Roger Cook, landscaper and contractor from “This Old House,” passed away on Aug. 21 following a lengthy illness. Cook was 70 years old. The news was confirmed with a statement from his son posted on Cook’s Instagram.

“Saddened to announce that God called dad home this week,” Jason Roger Cook wrote. “He will leave a void in our lives that can never be filled but we find solace knowing he is finally at peace after a long, determined struggle with illness.”

Cook’s son and daughter, Molly E. Cook, shared on a GoFundMe page that the family is committed to honoring his legacy by continuing his tradition of giving back. “Dad will be contributing a meaningful portion of his estate to the foundation and if you are willing to join him, the entire Cook family would be grateful for honoring his legacy,” the fundraiser reads.

Cook was a fixture on the PBS show “This Old House” for nearly 40 years.

Armed with a Bachelor of Science degree in wildlife management and conservation law from the University of Maine, Cook established himself as a certified landscape contractor in his native state of Massachusetts, founding the K & R Tree and Landscape Company alongside his wife, Kathy, in 1982. That same year, Cook joined “This Old House,” the Emmy-winning home-improvement show that documented the renovation of a house across multiple episodes. By 1988, he had become the show’s full-time landscape contractor.

Cook also became a key figure in the spinoff series “Ask This Old House,” which debuted in 2002. He continued to contribute to both shows until 2020, when health concerns led him to step back.

Remembering Roger

The “This Old House” team paid tribute to Cook on their official website page.

“I remember every lesson from Roger,” said the show’s executive producer, Chris Wolfe. “More importantly, there are millions of people whose lives have been enriched by everything Roger taught them.”

Norm Abram, the show’s master carpenter, added, “Roger was very kind, built up a good company, and knew so much about everything in the yard from lawns to stone walls. It was clear how knowledgeable he was and that he was a true arborist.”

Host Kevin O'Connor declared, “We lost a brother today. A big-hearted, larger-than-life brother who was as kind as he was generous. I’ll miss his smile and his friendship terribly.”

Cook is survived by his son, Roger, his daughter, Molly, and three grandchildren. His wife, Kathy, passed away in 2010.