Al Roker, the beloved weatherman, stunned his Today show co-hosts when he revealed that he will make a secret cameo appearance in the final season of the popular TV drama series “Billions.”
During Thursday’s episode of the NBC program, Roker excitedly shared details about his upcoming role in the Showtime series, leaving his co-stars Craig Melvin, Dylan Dreyer, and Sheinelle Jones amazed, as they had no prior knowledge of his involvement.
Roker explained that in the episode titled “Hurricane Rosie,” he will play himself and have a conversation with David Costabile’s character, Mike Wagner, about hurricane ratings. In the scene previewed on Today, Roker explains the complex process of how hurricanes are rated to Wagner.
Wagner inquires, “So, it’s a person who makes the actual call?”
“Exactly!” Roker confirms, leading to Wagner’s enthusiastic response, “Fantastic!”
While Roker’s co-hosts were impressed by his acting skills, they were equally surprised that he had kept the cameo a secret.
Although Roker acknowledged that the episode involves fictional elements, he found it ironic to discuss hurricanes while Florida had recently been impacted by Hurricane Idalia.
This isn’t Roker’s first time appearing as himself in television shows; he has previously made cameo appearances in series like “The Blacklist,” “The Simpsons,” “Will & Grace,” “Seinfeld,” “30 Rock,” and has also had roles in films such as “Zombieland: Double Tap” (2019) and “Ghostbusters” (2016), along with multiple appearances in the “Sharknado” franchise.
News of Roker’s “Billions” cameo comes shortly after he celebrated his 69th birthday, expressing gratitude for being alive after a life-threatening health scare late last year. He suffered from blood clots and internal bleeding, which led to nearly seven hours of emergency surgery and a two-month medical leave. Roker’s dedication to physical activity, including walking, played a vital role in his recovery, and he returned to the Today show in January.
He thanked his wife, Deborah Roberts, and his three children for their support during his challenging health journey, adding that he was “grateful for another trip around the sun.”
Roker’s secret cameo on “Billions” adds another exciting chapter to his diverse career and entertainment endeavors.
