Bob Barker, the iconic American game show host, has died at the age of 99. He died at his home in Los Angeles on Saturday August 26, his reps confirmed, sharing that he died of natural causes. “It is with profound sadness that we announce that the World’s Greatest MC who ever lived, Bob Barker, has left us,” Roger Neal, his longtime manager, said in a statement.
“I am so proud of the trailblazing work Barker, and I did together to expose the cruelty to animals in the entertainment industry and including working to improve the plight of abused and exploited animals in the United States and internationally,” Bob’s girlfriend Nancy Burnet. “We were great friends over these 40 yrs. He will be missed.”
CBS also released a ststement, telling HELLO!: “We lost a beloved member of the CBS family today with the passing of Bob Barker. During his 35 years as host of The Price is Right, Bob made countless people’s dreams come true and everyone feel like a winner when they were called to ‘come on down’. In addition to his legendary 50-year career in broadcasting, Bob will be remembered as a dedicated animal rights activist. Daytime television has lost one of its most iconic stars.”
© Jesse GrantBob was best known for hosting CBS’s The Price Is Right from 1972 to 2007; it is the longest-running daytime game show in North American television history.
Drew Carey took over as host, and he posted a eautoful tribute on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“Very sad day for The Price Is Right family, and animal lovers all over the world,” Drew shared with fans. “There hasn’t been a day on set that I didn’t think of Bob Barker and thank him. I will carry his memory in my heart forever.”
He concluded his tribute: “We love you.”
Born in 1923 in Washington state, he joined the United States Navy Reserve during World War II, and later worked in radio while studying in college. In 1950 he moved to Calfiornia, and ran his own radio show, The Bob Barker Show, before moving into game show hosting in 1956, fronting Truth or Consequences for almost 20 years.
Between 1967 and 1987 he hosted the Miss Universe and Miss USA pageants, and began hosting The Price Is Right in 1972.
© CBS Photo ArchiveIn 2006, after 34 years, he announced his retirement from the show; his final episode aired on June 15 2007. However he later made three returns appearance, in 2009 to promote his autobiography, Priceless Memories, and in 2013 to celebrate his 90th birthday.
His final appearance came in 2015 when he took part in an April Fool’s gag that saw him switch places with new host Drew Carey during the show’s intro before handing back the reins to Drew.
Bob Barker’s acting appearance
Outside of his time hosting game shows, he also appeared – often as himself – in TV shows and films.
In Happy Gilmore, he starred as himself, appearing in a now iconic on-screen fight scene with Adam Sandler’s lead character.
In 2007 he appeared in an episode of How I Met Your Mother where Barney (Neil Patrick Harris) becomes a contestant on The Price Is Right in order to confront Bob, believing him to be his biological father.
He also made cameos on The Nanny and The Bold and the Beautiful in 2002 and 2014 respectively.
© Matt WinkelmeyerBob Barker’s health concerns
Bob battled several health emergencies in recent years; in 2002 he suffered from a stroke and was hospitalized.
Due to his love of the sun and frequent tanning, he was diagnosed wirth skin cancer several times and he regularly saw a dermotalogist to ensure any changes were caught early.
“I urge anyone who has spent some time in the sun, whether you’re doing it now or not, go to a dermatologist once a year,” he oncr told viewers.
In 2017 he was rushed to hospital after a fall in his home, and in October and also November 2018, he was rushed to hospital complaining of severe back pain.
© Araya DohenyBob Barker and animal rights
Bob was a long time vegetarian, and an outspoken advocate for various animal rights issues. He would often end each episode of The Price Is Right by saying: “This is Bob Barker reminding you to help control the pet population — have your pets spayed or neutered.”
In 1994, he founded the DJ&T Foundation which has contributed millions of dollars to animal-neutering programs and funded animal rescue across the US, and over the years he had also made millions of dollars in contributions to universities to support the study of animal rights.
He stepped down as the host of the Miss USA pageants in 1987 when the producrs refused his request to stop giving fur prizes to the winners, and in 1989, he joined the United Activists for Animal Rights group to publicly accuse the American Humane Association of animal mistreatment.
The UAAR and Bob were both then sued for $10 million for libel, slander and invasion of privacy, and it was settled by insurance.
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