Most people think they know Al Roker. He's the guy who tells you if you need an umbrella, the cheerful face of the Today show, and one-half of a power couple with Deborah Roberts. But if you rewind the clock to the 1980s, Al’s life looked a bit different. Before the primetime specials and the best-selling books, there was a formative decade defined by his marriage to Alice Bell and the arrival of his first child, Courtney.
Honestly, it's a chapter that doesn't get much airtime. Alice wasn't a celebrity looking for a spotlight. She was a producer—a behind-the-scenes powerhouse at WNBC.
Who was Alice Bell?
Al Roker and Alice Bell met where many TV romances start: the station. It was the early '80s at WNBC-TV in New York. Al was the up-and-coming weatherman, and Alice was an operations producer for the Live at Five news program.
They got married in December 1984.
The wedding took place in Peekskill, New York, and for the next ten years, they built a life that stayed largely out of the tabloids. Alice was known for being private. While Al was becoming a household name with his "Weather on the 7s" energy, Alice was the steady hand at home and in the control room.
The Adoption of Courtney Roker
In 1987, the couple’s world changed. They adopted their daughter, Courtney, as an infant. Al has often spoken about how "humbling" that experience was. It wasn't just about adding a name to the family tree; it was about the sudden, terrifying realization that your heart is now walking around outside your body.
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Early year Al Roker first wife and daughter life was about as normal as it gets when one parent is a rising TV star. Al would often bring pictures of Courtney to work. In fact, that’s how he eventually charmed Deborah Roberts—by being the "nice guy" who couldn't stop showing off photos of his little girl.
The Split and the Aftermath
Life happens. By 1992, Al and Alice had separated. The divorce was finalized in 1994, marking the end of a ten-year marriage.
Transitions are messy. They're hard. But by all accounts, Al and Alice managed to keep things focused on Courtney. Even after Al married Deborah in 1995, the family remained a functional, blended unit. Courtney didn't just have a stepmother; she had a support system that included three very different, very strong women: Alice, Deborah, and later, her mother-in-law.
Courtney Roker Laga: Finding Her Own Path
Courtney didn't follow her dad into the weather booth. She didn't want to be in front of a news camera.
For a while, she was at a university in North Carolina, feeling stuck. She eventually sat her parents down and told them college wasn't the right fit. She wanted to cook.
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She ended up attending the International Culinary Center (formerly the French Culinary Institute) and worked her way up through some of the toughest kitchens in New York, including the Michelin-starred Daniel.
Today, she’s a successful recipe developer and chef. She even teamed up with Al to release a cookbook in late 2024 titled Al Roker's Recipes to Live By. It’s a collection of family dishes that honestly feels like a tribute to the people who raised her. Courtney has noted that Alice never wrote recipes down, so she had to act like a "recipe detective" to recreate the flavors of her childhood.
A Heartbreaking Loss
In early 2025, the Roker family faced a major blow. Alice Bell passed away at the age of 77.
Courtney shared the news on Instagram on February 10, 2025, with a tribute that broke hearts across the internet. She mentioned being with her mother for her last breath. She called Alice her "heart" and the most loving grandmother to her own daughter, Sky Clara Laga (born in 2023).
Al was noticeably absent from the Today show the following morning, with Dylan Dreyer filling in. While Al is usually an open book, he has always respected Alice’s privacy, even in her passing.
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Why This Chapter Matters
Understanding the early year Al Roker first wife and daughter story gives you a much better picture of the man we see on TV. He isn't just a "weather guy." He’s a father who navigated a divorce in the public eye while keeping his relationship with his eldest daughter intact.
The key takeaways from Alice Bell’s legacy and Courtney’s career are pretty clear:
- Privacy is a choice: Alice managed to be married to a mega-star for a decade without ever becoming "tabloid fodder."
- Blended families can work: The mutual respect between Alice, Al, and Deborah Roberts is a masterclass in co-parenting.
- Passion over tradition: Courtney’s pivot from traditional college to culinary school shows that the "Roker" name didn't define her—her talent in the kitchen did.
If you’re looking to follow in Courtney’s culinary footsteps or just want to see the result of that father-daughter bond, check out their cookbook, Recipes to Live By. It’s more than just a list of ingredients; it’s the paper trail of a family that stayed together through decades of change.
To stay updated on the Roker family's latest projects, you can follow Courtney Roker Laga on Instagram, where she frequently shares behind-the-scenes looks at her recipe testing and life as a new mom.