NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — Legendary "TODAY" show weatherman Willard Scott died Saturday morning at the age of 87, the show's Al Roker confirmed.
Scott was known for his beaming personality and for starting the show's popular tradition of celebrating viewers who turned 100.
"We lost a beloved member of our @todayshow family this morning," Roker posted on Instagram. "Willard Scott passed peacefully at the age of 87 surrounded by family, including his daughters Sally and Mary and his lovely wife, Paris. He was truly my second dad and am where I am today because of his generous spirit. Willard was a man of his times, the ultimate broadcaster. There will never be anyone quite like him."
Scott joined the show in 1980 as part of his 65-year-career with NBC, where he was known for stunts and shticks, like dressing in costume as Cupid on Valentine's Day.
He carried his charisma outside of the NBC studios, holding the distinction as the first person to portray McDonald's mascot Ronald McDonald in commercials 1963.
Other anchors offered touching tributes to Willard on social media as well.
"He played such an outsized role in my life & was as warm & loving & generous off camera as he was on," wrote Katie Couric on Twitter. "Willard, you didn’t make it to the front of the Smucker’s jar, but you changed so many lives for the better."