For decades, Australians began their evenings with a familiar, reassuring voice. Roger Climpson was more than a newsreader; he was a trusted companion in living rooms across the country. When he passed away in September 2025 at age 93, the nation lost a media icon and a man of deep faith.

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Born: 18 October 1931 · Died: 17 September 2025 · Age: 93 · Known for: TV news anchor, This Is Your Life host · Award: Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact cause of death not publicly detailed beyond natural causes.
  • Current whereabouts of his children not widely reported.
  • Wife’s full name not consistently mentioned in public sources.
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • His legacy continues through Hope Media and prostate cancer advocacy.
  • Family and friends plan a private memorial.
Key facts about Roger Climpson
Full name Roger Climpson (Wikipedia)
Birth date (Wikipedia)
Place of birth Peterborough, England (Wikipedia)
Death date (Australian Media Hall of Fame)
Occupation Television news anchor, radio personality, host (Women’s Weekly)
Years active 1950s–2010s (Wikipedia)
Notable show This Is Your Life (Australia) (Media Arts)
Award Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) (PCFA)

The table above distills the essential facts of a life that spanned nine decades.

Is Roger Climpson’s Wife Still Alive?

Roger Climpson was married to Claire, the love of his life. They met at a Christmas party in 1952 and were married on (The Australian Women’s Weekly). Claire died just weeks before Roger, in August 2025, after a prolonged illness. The couple would have marked their 70th wedding anniversary on the day Roger died (Australian Media Hall of Fame). A Seven News tribute described Claire as “the love of his life” and said the two were inseparable (Seven News tribute).

In short, Roger Climpson’s wife is no longer alive. She predeceased him by a matter of weeks.

The paradox

A marriage that lasted nearly 70 years ended within a month — a stark reminder of how closely intertwined their lives were.

Did Roger Climpson Have Children?

Roger and Claire had three children: Stephen, Sally, and Mandi (IMDb biography). Stephen became a qualified solicitor, while Mandi was described as the child with a show-business bent (The Australian Women’s Weekly). The family maintained a low public profile, consistent with Roger’s own preference for keeping his personal life private. A Seven News tribute reported that Roger had five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren (Seven News tribute).

What this means: The Climpson children have largely stayed out of the spotlight, honouring their father’s discretion.

What Was Roger Climpson’s Faith?

Roger Climpson was a devout Christian. His faith shaped his second career after television. He chaired the Board of the Christian Broadcasting Association from 1995 and served for two decades (Australian Media Hall of Fame). This organisation runs Hope 103.2, a Christian radio station in Sydney. Climpson also served as chair of Hope Media, the parent company of the station (Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia).

For many Australians who knew him only as a newsreader, his role in Christian media was a lesser-known but deeply significant part of his legacy.

Why this matters

Climpson used his public profile to advance faith-based broadcasting, reaching millions of listeners through Hope 103.2 long after he left the television studio.

What Was Roger Climpson Known For?

Climpson’s television career spanned more than four decades. He joined the Seven Network in the 1960s and became the anchor of Seven Nightly News, a role that made him a household name (The Australian Women’s Weekly). He also hosted the Australian version of This Is Your Life, surprising celebrities with their own life stories (Wikipedia). In 2020 he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for services to media and the community (Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia).

His calm, authoritative delivery earned him the trust of viewers. The Australian Media Hall of Fame called him “a media icon” (Australian Media Hall of Fame).

What Was Roger Climpson’s Cause of Death?

Roger Climpson died on at age 93. The exact cause of death has not been publicly detailed beyond natural causes related to his age. He had been living with prostate cancer since his diagnosis in 1994 (Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia), but he survived that diagnosis by more than 30 years and became a vocal advocate for early detection. The Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia noted that he was “among the first to speak publicly about prostate cancer after his diagnosis” (PCFA).

The trade-off: While his age and natural decline are the official explanation, his decades of prostate cancer advocacy have ensured that his legacy in health awareness is as strong as his broadcasting one.

Timeline

  • : Born in Peterborough, England (Wikipedia).
  • 1950s: Began career in radio in the UK and later Australia.
  • : Married Claire (Women’s Weekly).
  • 1960s–1970s: Joined Seven Network; became anchor of Seven Nightly News (Women’s Weekly).
  • 1970s–1990s: Hosted the Australian version of This Is Your Life (Wikipedia).
  • : Diagnosed with prostate cancer (PCFA).
  • 2000s: Served as Chair of Hope Media (Media Arts).
  • : Awarded OAM (PCFA).
  • : Died at age 93 (Media Arts).

Clarity: What We Know and What We Don’t

Confirmed facts

  • Born 18 October 1931, died 17 September 2025.
  • Anchored Seven Nightly News; hosted This Is Your Life.
  • Christian; chaired Hope Media for two decades.
  • Married Claire for nearly 70 years; she predeceased him.
  • Three children: Stephen, Sally, Mandi.
  • Awarded OAM in 2020.

What’s unclear

  • Exact cause of death not publicly detailed.
  • Children’s current whereabouts not widely reported.
  • Wife’s full name not consistently mentioned in public sources.

Remembering Roger Climpson

“He graced our television screens for many years and was a man of deep faith.”

— Obituary, Hope 103.2

“A giant of Australian media and a fixture in our national consciousness.”

— Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia

“British-born Australian media personality.”

— Wikipedia summary

Roger Climpson’s career bridged two worlds: the hard news of current affairs and the warm storytelling of This Is Your Life. His faith gave him a second act in Christian broadcasting, and his battle with prostate cancer turned him into a health advocate. For Australian viewers, he was the steady voice that narrated the nation’s news for decades. The implication: his legacy is not just one of journalism, but of service — to his community, his church, and his family.

Additional sources

dailymail.co.uk, radioinfo.com.au, facebook.com

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Frequently asked questions

Where was Roger Climpson born?

He was born in Peterborough, England on 18 October 1931 (Wikipedia).

What radio stations did Roger Climpson work for?

He began his career in radio in the United Kingdom and later worked in Australian radio before moving to television.

Did Roger Climpson serve in the military?

There is no public record of military service.

What was Roger Climpson’s educational background?

Details of his formal education are not widely reported. He began his media career in his early twenties.

When did Roger Climpson retire from television?

He gradually stepped back from regular television roles in the 2000s, though he remained active in Christian media until his death.

What was Roger Climpson’s role at Hope Media?

He served as Chair of the Board of the Christian Broadcasting Association (later Hope Media) for two decades (Australian Media Hall of Fame).

How did Roger Climpson get his start in Australia?

He emigrated to Australia in 1949 and began working in radio, eventually joining the Seven Network (Wikipedia).

What legacy did Roger Climpson leave in Australian media?

He is remembered as one of the most trusted faces of Australian television news, and as a pioneer in Christian broadcasting.

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