As more than a million people a day watched the viral video of an auto-tuned Mister Rogers last week, David Newell’s inbox started to fill.

Newell, who played speedy deliveryman Mr. McFeely on ‘Mister Rogers Neighborhood,’ heard about the clip from a friend in Sweden. Another friend in Italy also sent him the link, as did his three kids. Dozens of other e-mails came from around the nation.

“I’m surprised it took off like that,” said Newell, noting the video had nearly four million views Tuesday. “Everybody I’ve talked to loves it.”

What would Mister Rogers think?

“I think he would have liked his message to have gotten out,” Newell said. “I think in that respect he would have liked it.”

Rogers, who died in 2003 from stomach cancer, was a purist who preferred simple and deep talks instead of complex messages, Newell said. He wouldn’t have done an auto-tune video, though Newell said Rogers would have appreciated how composer John Boswell’s work was done in a respectful, loving way.

“What I think it does is show how versatile Fred’s message is and how it can be adapted to different uses,” Newell said. “I hope it does help let people know that the show is online on PBS Kids and is out there still to be enjoyed. I hope people take a second look.”

The Fred Rogers Company is producing a new animated show for preschoolers, “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood,” set to premier in early fall. The classic “Mister Rogers Neighborhood” has dozens of episodes available on the PBS site and more than 100 available free to Amazon Prime members.

Newell also is the subject of a documentary, “Speedy Delivery.”

“I think it’s remarkable, the staying power of the Neighborhood,” he said Tuesday. “I think that’s what’s most pleasing.”