- Legendary host of “The Price Is Right,” Bob Barker, has passed away at the age of 99.
- Barker served as the beloved host of the iconic game show for an impressive 35 years.
- He leaves behind his half-brother, Kent Valandra, as well as extended family members.
Bob Barker, the legendary host of “The Price Is Right,” has passed away at the age of 99.
His death was confirmed by a representative, who stated that Barker died of natural causes at his Hollywood Hills home.
Barker is survived by his half-brother, Kent Valandra, as well as his half-nephews Robert Valandra and Chip Valandra, and his half-niece Vickie Valandra Kelly.
The statement released by Barker’s representative read, “It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Bob Barker, the World’s Greatest MC who ever lived.”
Robert William Barker, the Emmy-winning daytime TV personality, was born in 1923 in Darrington, Washington. He trained as a fighter pilot for the US Naval Reserve during World War II, but the war ended before he was assigned a mission.
Barker’s career in media began while he was still a college student at Drury University in Springfield, Missouri, where he worked at KTTS-FM Radio. He later had a position at WWPG 1340 AM, now known as WPBR, in Lantana, Palm Beach, Florida.
In 1950, Barker started hosting his own radio show, “The Bob Barker Show.” He was discovered while hosting a radio show on KNX (AM) in Los Angeles.
Barker became the host of “Truth and Consequences” in 1956, a quiz show that incorporated pranks. He concluded his tenure as host of the show in 1974. Barker also hosted other short-lived game shows such as “The Family Game,” “Simon Says,” and “That’s My Line.”
In 1972, Barker took on the role of host for “The Price Is Right.” After an impressive 35-year run, Barker retired from the show in 2007, with Drew Carey taking over as the new host. “The Price Is Right” holds the distinction of being the longest-running game show in history and was the first hourlong TV game show. The show featured numerous games that required contestants to guess the prices of various products, ranging from luxurious cars to kitchen appliances.
Barker, a strict vegetarian, often used his platform to advocate for animal rights. At the end of each “The Price Is Right” episode, he encouraged audiences to spay or neuter their pets. In 1987, Barker declined an opportunity to host the Miss USA pageant due to its inclusion of fur prizes for contestants.
In 1945, Barker married his high school sweetheart, Dorothy Jo Gideon. Sadly, she passed away from cancer in 1981. The couple did not have any children, and Barker remained unmarried for the rest of his life.
Barker faced allegations of sexual harassment from two women who worked on “The Price Is Right.” One of the accusers, Dian Parkinson, engaged in a three-year affair with Barker and filed a lawsuit against him in 1994. However, the suit was later dropped. In 1995, another model accused Barker of similar harassment and wrongful termination, leading to a settlement in 2005.
Throughout his career, Barker earned numerous accolades, including 14 Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Game Show Host and an Emmy for Lifetime Achievement in 1999. CBS reported that Barker won a total of 19 Emmy Awards.
Barker also made several memorable cameo appearances as himself in various TV shows and films, such as “How I Met Your Mother,” “Futurama,” and “The Nanny.” One of his most iconic cameos was in the 1996 Adam Sandler film, “Happy Gilmore,” where he played himself at a celebrity golf tournament.
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