For millions of Australians who tuned in to the evening news over decades, Roger Climpson was a face of calm authority. When he died peacefully at 93 in September 2025, the country lost not just a broadcast legend but a quiet pioneer who helped reshape how men talk about prostate cancer.

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Born: 18 October 1931 ·
Died: 17 September 2025 ·
Years active: 1950s–2020s ·
Notable role: 7NEWS anchor ·
Award: Order of Australia Medal (OAM) ·
Spouse: Mary Climpson (m. 1953–2019)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact cause of death beyond “peacefully in his sleep” (Media Arts)
  • Exact number of children (PCFA)
  • Net worth not publicly disclosed (Media Arts)
  • Faith details beyond general Christian affiliation (Hope 103.2)
  • OAM citation specifics not widely publicised (Media Arts)
3Timeline signal
  • 1950s–1960s: Started career in radio (Wikipedia)
  • 1994: Prostate cancer diagnosis (PCFA history)
  • 1996: Co-founded Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA history)
  • 2025: Died at age 93 (Media Arts)
4What’s next
  • Private family service held to honour his memory (Media Arts)
  • Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia continues his advocacy work (PCFA)
  • Legacy as trusted face of Australian TV endures (TV Blackbox)

Ten key details, one clear picture: a life lived both on camera and for a cause.

Fact Detail
Full name Roger Climpson
Born 18 October 1931, Peterborough, England
Died 17 September 2025, Sydney, Australia
Occupation Television and radio presenter, journalist
Years active 1950s–2020s
Known for 7NEWS anchor, This Is Your Life host, prostate cancer advocate
Spouse Mary Climpson (married 1953–2019)
Children Yes (number not publicly detailed)
Awards Order of Australia Medal (OAM)
Faith Christian

What happened to Roger Climpson?

Roger Climpson’s death at age 93

Roger Climpson died peacefully in his sleep on 17 September 2025, as confirmed by Media Arts (Australian entertainment industry body). He was 93 years old.

Circumstances of his passing

While the family did not disclose a detailed cause of death, Climpson had lived with prostate cancer since his diagnosis in 1994 (PCFA history page). The Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia described his passing as a “peaceful end for a man who gave so much.”

The paradox

Climpson turned his own cancer diagnosis into a public campaign, yet he remained private about the final details of his illness — a balance that defined his advocacy style.

Bottom line: Roger Climpson died at 93 after a decades-long battle with prostate cancer, leaving a legacy that extended far beyond the news desk.

What was Roger Climpson known for?

Career as a 7NEWS anchor

  • He anchored Seven’s news for decades, becoming the trusted face of Australian television news (TV Blackbox).
  • His broadcasting career spanned more than five decades, starting in radio in the 1950s (Wikipedia).

Host of This Is Your Life

Climpson also hosted the beloved Seven Network series This Is Your Life, which surprised celebrities with life-story tributes — a format that played perfectly to his warm, steady presence.

Advocacy after prostate cancer diagnosis

In 1994, Climpson was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He became one of the first public figures in Australia to speak openly about the disease, helping to break the stigma that leads to silence and late detection (PCFA). He persuaded fellow members of the Rotary Club of Lane Cove to form what became the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia in 1996 (PCFA history).

Why this matters

Climpson didn’t just lend his name to a cause; he co-created the national organisation that now funds research, supports nurses, and reaches thousands of Australian men every year.

Bottom line: Climpson’s public face was that of a TV icon, but his lasting impact is arguably the support network he helped build for Australian men facing prostate cancer.

Did Roger Climpson have children?

Number of children

Roger Climpson had children with his wife Mary, though the exact number has not been publicly detailed. He is survived by his children and grandchildren, according to PCFA and Media Arts.

Family life

Climpson married Mary in 1953, and they remained together until her death in 2019. Friends described their partnership as the anchor of his stability amid a demanding career.

Bottom line: While Climpson kept his family life largely private, his role as a husband and father was central to his personal story.

What was Roger Climpson’s faith?

Christian beliefs

Climpson was a committed Christian. His faith was not a quiet background note; he served as Chair of Hope Media, the organisation behind Christian radio station Hope 103.2, for many years.

Role at Hope 103.2

At Hope 103.2, Climpson combined his broadcasting expertise with his beliefs, steering the station’s mission during a period of growth. Hope 103.2 remembered him as “a man of deep faith who believed in using media for good.”

The trade-off

Climpson’s public Christianity in an increasingly secular media landscape could have been a career risk, yet his professionalism and warmth earned him respect across the spectrum.

The pattern: his faith shaped both his media work and his advocacy, but he never let it overshadow his journalistic neutrality.

Where does Roger Climpson live?

Residence in Sydney, Australia

At the time of his death, Climpson lived in Sydney, Australia — the city where he built his television career and raised his family. He had emigrated from England in 1949 (Wikipedia) and became a fixture of Australian public life.

Bottom line: Sydney was Climpson’s home for more than seven decades — the base from which he shaped Australian TV and men’s health advocacy.

Timeline of major life events

  • 18 October 1931: Born in Peterborough, England (PCFA)
  • 1949: Emigrated to Australia (Wikipedia)
  • 1953: Married Mary Climpson (PCFA)
  • 1950s–1960s: Started career in radio (Wikipedia)
  • 1970s–2000s: Became face of 7NEWS, hosted This Is Your Life (TV Blackbox)
  • 1994: Diagnosed with prostate cancer; began public advocacy (PCFA history)
  • 1996: Co-founded Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (originally as Prostate Cancer Research Foundation) (PCFA history)
  • 2019: Wife Mary died (PCFA)
  • 2020: Awarded Order of Australia Medal (OAM) (Wikipedia)
  • 17 September 2025: Died peacefully in his sleep at age 93 (Media Arts)

The implication: Climpson’s timeline is a rare arc — from immigrant child to national treasure to health crusader — each phase built on the last.

Clarity: what we know and what remains open

Confirmed facts

  • Born 18 October 1931 in Peterborough, England
  • Died 17 September 2025 in Sydney, Australia
  • Married Mary Climpson from 1953 until her death in 2019
  • Had children
  • Career spanned radio and TV, including 7NEWS and This Is Your Life
  • Diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1994; became a public advocate
  • Awarded OAM in 2020

What’s unclear

  • Exact number of children
  • Exact cause of death (publicly stated as “peacefully in his sleep”)
  • Exact net worth
  • Faith details beyond general Christian affiliation
  • OAM citation specifics not widely publicised

Voices remembering Roger Climpson

“Vale, Roger Climpson OAM (1931–2025). He graced our television screens for many years.”

— Michael McCormack MP, former Deputy Prime Minister of Australia (Facebook tribute)

“Climpson was a giant of Australian media and a fixture in national culture for more than 50 years.”

— Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (Australia’s leading prostate cancer charity)

“Roger’s faith and his media career were inseparable — he believed in using his voice for good.”

— Hope 103.2 (Christian radio network he chaired)

These tributes, from a politician, a charity, and a faith-based broadcaster, underline the breadth of Climpson’s influence.

Five-minute takeaway: the legacy of a man who spoke up

Roger Climpson didn’t simply report the news — he became a catalyst for change in Australian men’s health. His willingness to discuss his prostate cancer diagnosis in 1994, when few public figures did, helped create the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia and shifted the national conversation. For Australian men facing a cancer diagnosis, the implication is clear: speak early, seek support, and don’t let stigma win. That is Climpson’s quiet, lasting broadcast.

Additional sources

televisionau.com

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Frequently asked questions

What caused Roger Climpson’s death?

The cause of death was not publicly detailed beyond his passing peacefully in his sleep on 17 September 2025. He had lived with prostate cancer since 1994.

How old was Roger Climpson when he died?

He was 93 years old. He was born on 18 October 1931.

Did Roger Climpson have a wife?

Yes, he married Mary Climpson in 1953 and they remained together until her death in 2019.

What was Roger Climpson’s net worth?

His net worth was not publicly disclosed.

What awards did Roger Climpson receive?

He was awarded the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in 2020 for his services to broadcast journalism and the community.

Was Roger Climpson religious?

Yes, he was a committed Christian and served as Chair of Hope Media, the organisation behind Christian radio station Hope 103.2.

Where did Roger Climpson live?

He lived in Sydney, Australia, at the time of his death.

These answers consolidate the known facts about his passing and personal life, offering a quick reference for readers.

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