TELEVISION personality Bob Barker is known for his 35-year stint on the longest-running daytime game show.
Fans of the late game show host want to know more about his life on and off the set of The Price is Right.
Who was Bob Barker?
Robert William Barker was born on December 12, 1923, and hailed from Darrington, Washington.
He trained as a US Navy fighter pilot during World War II, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1947 from Drury College (now University).
After his graduation, Barker began working at a radio station in California. He quickly got the attention of the man behind game show Truth or Consequences, Ralph Edwards.
In 1956, Barker became the host of the television series, working on the show until 1975.
Aside from his time spent on game shows, Barker was a well-known animal rights activist.
In 1994, he established the DJ&T Foundation to fund the sterilization of pets, and in 2009, he donated $5million to the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.
He was a 19-time Emmy Award winner, with five Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Game Show Host.
In 2004, Barker was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame.
When did Bob Barker die?
The famous host reportedly passed away on the morning of Saturday, August 26, 2023, in his home due to natural causes.
He was 99 at the time of his death.
His publicist Roger Neal said in a statement: “It is with profound sadness that we announce that the World’s Greatest MC who ever lived, Bob Barker has left us.”
What was his net worth?
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Bob Barker had an estimated net worth of $70million, prior to his death in August 2023.
The site estimated Barker had an annual take-home salary of about $10million.
Barker made a cameo appearance in 1996’s Happy Gilmore alongside Adam Sandler.
In 2009, he released an autobiography, Priceless Memories.
When did Bob Barker host The Price is Right?
The Price Is Right returned to TV in 1972 – after a seven-year hiatus – and Barker went on to become the host of the beloved game show, where he stayed until 2007.
He notably ended each episode of The Price Is Right with: “Help control the pet population. Have your pet spayed or neutered.”
Since his retirement, Barker has appeared on The Price Is Right numerous times – once in 2009 to promote his new book and again in 2013 to celebrate his 90th birthday.
Barker also performed an April Fool’s Day joke on the show in 2015, briefly taking over host duties from Drew Carey.
Was Bob Barker married?
In 1945, Bob Barker married his high school sweetheart, Dorothy Jo Gideon.
She was diagnosed with lung cancer just six months before she passed away, in 1981.
In 1999, Barker told People: “We fell in love as kids. And we stayed in love.”
After her death, Barker claimed he would never remarry.
“Dorothy Jo was the love of my life,” he reportedly said at the time.
Bob Barker did not have any children.
