Craig Melvin Says Al Roker Has Supported Him in His 'Darkest Moments,' Saying He Was the 'First' to Call (Exclusive)

"To be able to have a role model just a few inches from you every morning, it's pretty cool. It's not lost on me," Melvin told PEOPLE of his bond with Roker

Craig Melvin is opening up about just how deep his bond with his Today colleague Al Roker goes.

Taking a break from the NBC news program's morning-long celebrations honoring Roker's milestone 70th birthday, Melvin spoke highly of his colleague and friend while chatting exclusively with PEOPLE.

"You know what? It started, I was new to the show. And the Today Show is a very, it's a delicate ecosystem. It's been around for more than 70 years. It's an American Institution," Melvin, 45, said. "The inner circle is tight and guarded. They had invited me into the inner circle, and he was the first one to welcome me with open arms."

Related: Al Roker Reveals What's Most Important to Him After Turning 70 as He Jokes It's 'Embarrassing' to Be Celebrated (Exclusive)

Melvin — who is gearing up for the return of the third-annual Bottoms Up Invitational Golf Tournament honoring his late brother Lawrence, who died from colorectal cancer — noted that Roker "just made it clear from the beginning that he had my back, and I've never forgotten that."

"We sit next to each other every morning for hours. So he's heard all of my stories. I've heard all of his stories, four or five times," he said, jokingly. "I just think over time, proximity really does, it leads to bonds."

Without getting into the specifics, Melvin candidly revealed: "Some of my darkest moments, personally, it's been Roker who's called first to check on me, check on my family. He got a text message this morning from my parents wishing him a happy birthday."

"I got to spend time with his daughter in Paris. She took us on a croissant crawl because she lives there. So our families have become close," he continued. "And I do think that there's probably a part of me, professionally in our business, you want that longevity that he's enjoyed."

Melvin added, "For me, personally, you look at the kind of life that he's created and you're like, 'God, when I'm 70, I'd love to be that kind of dad, that kind of granddad, that kind of husband.' That's who you want to be. And so, to be able to have a role model just a few inches from you every morning, it's pretty cool. It's not lost on me."

Related: Al Roker Jokes He's 'Going to Do Everything' with His Grandkids That He Didn't Do With His Kids (Exclusive)

Although there are "so many" memories he's shared with Roker that have stuck out to Melvin over the years, the father of two said the duo's "travel adventures are the stuff of legend."

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"I've gone to a spa in South Korea with him on a chute, and we've dressed up in costume. We've driven, we did a road trip in an RV to Maine, going to theme parks," he added. "... Lots of travel adventures."

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