Known as the affable host of the iconic television show ‘The Price Is Right,’ Bob Barker has passed away at the age of 99, according to an official announcement by his longtime publicist Roger Neal.
Barker, who left us due to natural causes, breathed his last at his cherished residence in the Hollywood Hills. The news was confirmed on Saturday by Neal on behalf of Barker’s girlfriend, Nancy Burnet.
With heavy hearts, we share the departure of Bob Barker, a luminary often hailed as the “World’s Greatest MC,” as expressed by Neal in his somber statement. Barker’s legacy extended beyond entertainment; he was a dedicated advocate against animal cruelty in the industry, collaborating passionately with Burnet for four decades. Together, they worked relentlessly to enhance the lives of abused animals in the United States and worldwide.
In her own poignant words, Burnet reminisced, “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,” Burnet added in her own. “We were great friends over these 40 yrs. He will be missed.”
Leaving behind cherished memories, Barker is survived by his half-brother Kent Valandra, along with half-nephews Robert Valandra and Chip Valandra, as well as a half-niece, Vickie Valandra Kelly. The television icon faced health challenges in his later years. Paramedics were summoned to Barker’s Hollywood Hills residence in January 2019 following a fall. However, he did not require hospitalization.
A few months earlier, in October 2018, an ambulance and the fire department responded to his home due to a “non-emergency back problem,” as confirmed by his manager. Despite these incidents, Barker’s manager reassured that he was “resting at home” and recovering well.
The incident in 2017, when Barker suffered a fall and head injury at home, underscored his resilience. Having hosted ‘The Price Is Right’ for an astounding 35 years, Barker retired at the age of 87, passing on the baton to Drew Carey in 2007.
Barker’s impact on fans was palpable, with devotees often gathering outside CBS TV City in Los Angeles, awaiting his iconic phrase, “I have thought every year for the last 10 or 15 years that maybe I should quit, and then I think, ‘No, I’ll do it for another year,'” he told Entertainment Weekly in 2007. “I regret that I’m quitting now.”
The world mourns the loss of a true television legend, Bob Barker, whose legacy will forever be engraved in the hearts of those he entertained and inspired.
