In remembrance of Bob Barker.

Bob William Barker: December 12, 1923 – August 26, 2023

On Saturday, August 26, 2023, Robert William Barker at age 99 passed in his home in the Hollywood Hills, California (December 12, 1923 – August 26, 2023). Bob Barker was an American television game show host, notoriously being the host of the longest-running game show in the North American television history, The Price Is Right (daytime and syndicated)–for his long 35 year long period (1972–2007). Bob also hosted Truth or Consequences for another long period of  years (1956–1975), being really busy those three years while doing both shows at the same time.

Bob grew up in the Rosebud Indian Reservation being a citizen of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe. Bob attended Drury College (University) in Springfield, Missouri, having a basketball athletic scholarship, and was a member of the Epsilon Beta chapter of Sigma Nu fraternity at Drury.

Bob served the United States Navy Reserve during World War II as a pilot.  Bob met his future wife, Dorothy Jo Gideon while he was attending an Ella Fitzgerald concert during his high school years in Missouri at age 15. They wed on January 12, 1945, while Bob was on leave from the military.

After the war, Bob returned to Drury to finish his education, graduating summa cum laude with a degree in economics. In 1950, Bob moved to California in order to advance his broadcasting career, and hosted his own Burbank radio show, The Bob Barker Show . Bob made a move into hosting an audience-participation on radio station KNX-AM in Los Angeles where game show producer Ralph Edwards heard the program. Bob was asked to be the new host on Truth or Consequences, in order to replace Jack Bailey.

In 1972. Bob became an advocate for animal rights and of animal rights activism, and supported groups such as the United Activists for Animal Rights, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, and the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. Bob was such an advocate, that in the year In 1982, Barker began ending The Price Is Right episodes with phrases reminding the audience to do their part to assist in controlling the pet population by having your pets spayed or neutered.

In addition to The Price Is Right and Truth or Consequences, Bob was the Miss USA/Universe Host between 1967 to 1987.  Bob became the Executive Producer of The Price Is Right in the year 1988 all the way until 2007 passing it off to Syd Vinnedge. Bob was a leader in winning awards while being in television with a whopping 12 leading year awards and 2 ties.

• Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Game Show Host: Year of 1982
• Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Game Show Host: Year of 1984
• Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Game Show Host: Years of 1987 & 1988
• Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Game Show Host: Years of 1990 to 1992 (tie with Alex Trebek in the year 1990)
• Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Game Show Host: Year of 1994 to 1996
• Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Game Show Host: Year of 2000 (tie with Tom Bergeron)
• Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Game Show Host: Year of 2002
• Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Game Show Host: Year of 2004
• Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Game Show Host: Year of 2007

On his rung of The Price Is Right, Bob officially retired with the final episode taping on June 6, 2007, with the show airing twice on June 15, 2007. The show was one of the only shows to not typically go on “vacation” in summers, as Bob was always busy taping shows. While I was visiting California in 1991, I was able to see the outside on the Burbank studios where people congregated to go into shows, on a no show day (it was very empty). The show ran reruns the whole 2007 summer before Drew Carey came in to take over being host on October 15, 2007.

In the year 1996, Barker played himself in the Adam Sandler comedy Happy Gilmore, which is one of my top 10 movies to watch of all time.  The famous scene, Barker beats up Gilmore after an altercation arising from their teaming up in a Pro-Am Golf Tournament. In 2007, Adam appeared during a CBS prime-time special that commemorated Barker’s career. Adam had been and still is actively involved with the production of The Price Is Right in some shape or form since the year of  1995. At the end of the 2007 filming season, Bob retired from hosting The Price Is Right after celebrating his 50-year career rung on television. Regarded as a pop culture icon, he continued to make occasional appearances for several years into his retirement until the year 2015.

From 1983 until his death, he was in a long-term relationship with Nancy Burnet, an admitted “radical” animal rights activist who was nearly 20 years younger than Barker.

Bob will be missed, and my prayers go to all Bob’s family, friends and all the followers over his career. Bob touched millions and millions of people for his years in television, and especially for his dedication to Animal rights activism. With all those years of dedication, it is my opinion that Bob was of the most outstanding individuals in modern times, being able to reach the most amount of people to inform and educate–but also making a real difference, not just saying words, but really being there, and dedicating countless hours for his “giving back” to all. A kind and family man he was, I will miss Bob, and wish an Amen.

Phrases:

• Original: “This is Bob Barker reminding you to help control the pet population – have your pets spayed or neutered.!
• Alternate: “This is Bob Barker reminding you to have your pets spayed or neutered – do your part in order to help control the pet population!

ID40284856 | © Eric Broder Van Dyke | Dreamstime.com

Bob Barker s star on Hollywood Walk of Fame on January 23, 2014 in Hollywood, California. This star is located on Hollywood Blvd. and is one of 2400 celebrity stars.

Remembering Bob Barker – 1923-2023