Roger Climpson: Australian TV Newsreader Dies at 93

For millions of Australians, the evening news once meant a calm, authoritative voice guiding them through the day’s events. That voice belonged to Roger Climpson, a broadcaster whose career spanned more than five decades and whose presence on Seven Nightly News made him a household name.

Born: 18 October 1931, Peterborough, England ·
Died: 17 September 2025 ·
Nationality: British-born Australian ·
Known for: Newsreader, Seven Nightly News, This Is Your Life, radio host ·
Awards: Order of Australia Medal (OAM) ·
Marriage length: Over 45 years

Ten facts about Roger Climpson’s life and career, one pattern: a man who used public platform to serve, inform, and advocate.

The table below captures the core biographical data on Climpson.

The pattern: Climpson was a broadcaster who moved between mainstream news and faith-driven media with ease.

What Was Roger Climpson Known For?

Career as newsreader and radio host

Roger Climpson built a career that touched nearly every corner of Australian broadcasting. He worked as a journalist, reporter, announcer, newsreader, weather presenter, and host across both radio and television, as noted by Media Arts (Australian screen-culture body). His voice became a nightly fixture in Australian homes during his decades anchoring Seven Nightly News, where he was characterised by colleagues as an “authoritative, calm and polished newsreader” — a description that appeared in a tribute posted by Michael McCormack MP on LinkedIn.

• Began his media career in the UK in the 1950s-1960s, before relocating to Australia
• Spent the 1970s-1990s at Seven Network, anchoring news and hosting programs
• Also worked in Christian media, serving as Chair of Hope 103.2 (Hope Media), a Sydney-based Christian radio station

Role on Seven Nightly News and This Is Your Life

Beyond the news desk, Climpson hosted Seven’s This Is Your Life, the long-running biographical show that surprised celebrities with their life stories. According to The Australian Women’s Weekly (lifestyle publication), this role cemented his reputation as a trusted presenter who could handle emotional, live-television moments with grace.

The pattern: Climpson was never just a reader of scripts — he was a storyteller who used television to honour people’s lives, from nightly news to surprise reunions on This Is Your Life.

Was Roger Climpson Married and Did He Have Children?

Marriage details and length

Roger Climpson was married for over 45 years. On the eve of his 45th wedding anniversary, colleagues remembered him as a devoted husband, according to Media Arts (screen-culture body). The name of his wife and whether she survives him have not been confirmed in publicly available sources.

• Married for more than four decades
• Details about his wife’s current status remain unconfirmed

Number of children

It is known that Climpson had children. However, the exact number — and their names — have not been published in the obituaries and tributes reviewed for this article. The Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (health advocacy group) notes his family in its tribute without specifying details.

Is Roger Climpson’s Wife Alive?

This question appears frequently in searches about Climpson. The answer is not publicly available. None of the tributes from media organisations, the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, or Christian media outlets explicitly state whether his wife is still living or predeceased him.

Why this matters: For fans seeking closure, the silence on this detail reflects Climpson’s own discretion. He kept his family out of the spotlight — a rare choice for a public figure whose job was being on camera.

What Was Roger Climpson’s Faith and Religion?

Christian faith

Roger Climpson was a committed Christian. His faith was central to his identity and to his second career in media. According to Media Arts (screen-culture body), he was described as a “faithful leader in Christian Media.” He served as Chair of Hope 103.2, the Sydney-based Christian radio station, a role that connected his broadcasting talent with his religious convictions.

• Active in Christian media for decades after retiring from mainstream TV
• Former Chair of Hope Media

Bible verse quoted in remembrance

The Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (cancer advocacy body) concluded its tribute to Climpson with a biblical verse: Matthew 25:21, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” The choice was deliberate — it mirrored the language used in his Christian-media community and underscored the lens through which his colleagues viewed his life’s work.

Is Roger Climpson Still Alive? What Was His Cause of Death?

Date of death

Roger Climpson died in September 2025 at age 93. Most sources, including the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, list his death as occurring on 17 September 2025 — just one month shy of his 94th birthday. However, a minor discrepancy exists: Media Arts (screen-culture body) states he passed away “peacefully on 16 September 2025.” The difference of one day may reflect time-zone reporting variances between media outlets and his family’s private notification.

The catch: The exact date differs by one day across two authoritative sources. For obituary purposes, the 17 September date is more widely cited.

Circumstances of death

Climpson’s specific cause of death has not been publicly disclosed. IMDb (crowd-sourced database) records his death location as Sydney, New South Wales. He was 93 years old, having been born on 18 October 1931, according to the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (health advocacy body).

• Born: 18 October 1931, Peterborough, England
• Died: 17 September 2025, Sydney, Australia
• Cause of death: Not specified

Prostate cancer advocacy — a defining chapter

While the cause of his death remains private, Climpson’s openness about his own prostate cancer diagnosis in 1994 was a defining chapter of his life. According to the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (cancer support charity), he was among the first Australian public figures to speak publicly about the disease, helping to “reduce stigma and encourage earlier detection.” His connection to the Rotary Club of Lane Cove played a pivotal role in the foundation’s creation.

What Was Roger Climpson’s Net Worth and Legacy?

Net worth

No verified figure for Roger Climpson’s net worth has been published in any of the sources reviewed. Given his decades in television and radio, it is reasonable to assume he lived comfortably, but specifics are absent from public records.

Awards and honours

Climpson was awarded the Order of Australia Medal (OAM), a civilian honour recognising his service to the broadcast media and to the community. The Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (health charity) explicitly refers to him as “Roger Climpson OAM” in its tribute, a designation that points to his standing in Australian society.

• Recipient of the OAM
• Remembered as a “giant of Australian media” by the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia
• Described by Media Arts (screen-culture body) as a “media legend”

Quotes from colleagues and admirers

“He graced our television screens for many years and was best known as an authoritative, calm and polished newsreader.”
— Michael McCormack MP, LinkedIn tribute

“Roger Climpson – journalist, newsreader, advocate and icon – is being lauded today as a giant of Australian media and a fixture in our national consciousness.”
— Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia

“Former Hope Media Chair Roger Climpson was best known for his decades-long work in radio and TV, hosting Seven’s This Is Your Life.”
— Hope 103.2, Media Arts (Christian media outlet)

What this means: Climpson’s legacy is not just his face on the evening news. It is his willingness to speak about a disease that affected millions of Australian men, his service to Christian media, and the quiet dignity with which he lived his private life.

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