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Bob Barker: A Century of Impact and Joy
A lot happened in 1972! Don McLean’s famous song “American Pie” was topping the charts, Richard Nixon was president, and his administration was busy trying to cover up the Watergate Scandal. Meanwhile, NASA launched its Space Shuttle program, and the charming Bob Barker, host of the new game show The Price is Right, was giving away brand new cars that cost less than $4,000!
Bob Barker became an entertainment icon, a name that everyone knew, who hosted The Price is Right for an amazing 35 years. This year, he’s celebrating a milestone—his 100th birthday!
Barker was born on an Indian reservation in South Dakota. As a proud member of the Sioux Tribe, he met his future wife, Dorothy Jo Gideon, at an Ella Fitzgerald concert. They married in 1945, while Barker was on leave from the United States Navy Reserve. He trained as a fighter pilot during World War II but never saw combat. After the war, he returned to school and earned a degree in economics.
Now at 99, Barker was hosting a radio show in Los Angeles when he caught the eye of Ralph Edwards, a game show producer looking for a new host for Truth or Consequences, the first game show ever shown on TV. Barker hosted that hugely popular show from 1956 to 1975, and his fame continued to rise. By 1967, he was also hosting the Miss Universe and Miss USA pageants!
And then, in 1972, the big moment arrived! Barker stepped onto the stage of The Price is Right, which shot him and the show into superstardom!
The Price is Right became the longest-running game show in history, a record it still holds today. In 1988, Barker took on the role of executive producer and won an incredible 14 Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Game Show Host, along with four Emmys for his work as an executive producer.
In an interview with the Television Academy Foundation in 2008, Barker shared his gratitude for his late wife, saying, “She gave me the confidence to even try to do what I set out to do. She didn’t just urge me on; she worked right at my side.”
Sadly, in 1981, Dorothy passed away from lung cancer at the age of 57, leaving behind her husband of 36 years. Barker expressed his feelings, stating, “I never had any inclination to remarry. She was my wife.” However, he found love again with Nancy Burnet, who has been by his side for 40 years. According to Nancy, one secret to Barker’s good health is his limited use of medication over the years.
Just before his 99th birthday in December, Burnet, now 79, spoke with Fox News Digital and made an astonishing revelation: “He’s going to be 99, and he takes one prescription medication, and that’s for his thyroid. When health care providers ask for a list of his medications, I say, ‘Let me just show you the bottle.
That’s it!’ He does not take anything for blood pressure or cholesterol, or the umpteen other things that most people take as they grow older,” she explained. She added with a smile, “He’s in very good health for his age, and his humor is still in good shape. He’s had a very charmed life.”
But it hasn’t always been easy for Barker. In 1999, he noticed clumsiness in his hand, which led to surgery to fix a partially blocked artery and reduce his risk of a stroke. Then, in 2002, he suffered a stroke, followed by prostate surgery. As a sun lover, he dealt with several mild cases of skin cancer and had a few falls that landed him in the hospital. He also struggled with major back problems.
Nancy stepped in to help him regain his strength. “It was not to replace meals but to enhance everything. He was looking tired and kind of frail, not just unhealthy. You know, if you’re going to be a vegetarian or vegan, you better know what you’re doing,” she explained.
After retiring from The Price is Right, which is now hosted by comedian Drew Carey, Barker made some guest appearances, including a special one on his 90th birthday in 2013.
Reflecting on his time on the show, Nancy said, “He never grew tired of it. I’m not sure I could do the same show every day. But he never grew bored with it. So maybe that’s why it was so successful because he was always ready to do it and happy to do it.”
Barker echoed this sentiment during an appearance on Good Morning America in 2007, saying, “I am really not ready to say goodbye to it. I think it’s a good time to say goodbye because I want to leave them wanting more.”
He left behind many unforgettable memories, like when Vanna White competed on The Price is Right before becoming famous on Wheel of Fortune, or when excited contestants lost their tops from jumping up and down in joy!
But the most important part was how the show allowed Barker to raise awareness for animal welfare. He became well-known for his dedication to animal rights and his memorable catchphrase: “This is Bob Barker reminding you to help control the pet population. Have your pets spayed or neutered.”
Barker credits his late wife, Dorothy, as the driving force behind his animal activism. He shared, “She was ahead of her time. She stopped wearing fur coats before anyone was stopping. She became a vegetarian before people were becoming vegetarian. And I gradually did the same thing with her.”
Through his DJ&T Foundation, named after his late wife and his mom, Matilda (or “Tilly”), who were both animal lovers, Barker has donated millions and established animal rights curricula at prestigious law schools like Harvard, Columbia, and Northwestern.
“If young people are introduced to the terrible exploitation and mistreatment of animals in society, it will help influence them in anything they do,” he told the Associated Press in 2015. “When your education and encouragement fail, you have to have legislation.”
Nancy, who met Barker at an animal adoption event he hosted in 1983, stands with him as they advocate for animal rights and campaign against animal entertainment.
What an incredible century! In his nearly 100 years, Bob Barker has made a huge impact on the world. We are so fortunate to have such passionate individuals like him, a true champion who uses his celebrity status to help innocent animals!
What do you think about Bob Barker’s amazing life? Share your thoughts in the comments!
