Bob Barker, the Emmy Award-winning host of The Price Is Right, has died at the age of 99.
As reported by Variety, Barker's publicist Roger Neal shared the sad news, saying, "It is with profound sadness that we announce that the World's Greatest MC who ever lived, Bob Barker has left us."
Many knew and loved Barker for his time on The Price Is Right, where he served as host from 1972 to 2007. He won 14 Emmy Awards for his time as host, four for being an executive producer, and a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 1999 Daytime Emmy Awards.
The Price Is Right and its famous "Come on down!" phrase is the longest-running game show in the U.S. with well with over 9,000 episodes. Drew Carey is its current host and he took over after Barker left the show in 2007. As many know, The Price Is Right has contestants come on stage and compete in different games where they have to guess the price of various items without going over, guessing which item or package is worth more, etc. Oh, and of course one of the big prizes is a brand new car!
Very sad day for the Price Is Right family, and animal lovers all over the world. There hasn’t been a day on set that I didn’t think of Bob Barker and thank him. I will carry his memory in my heart forever.#RIPBobBarker
— ʎǝɹɐƆ ʍǝɹᗡ (@DrewFromTV) August 26, 2023
We love you ❤️
He was also the host of Truth or Consequences from 1956 to 1975, which was a trivia show where contestants had a short amount of time to answer a question and, if they didn't get it right, they'd have to perform some embarrassing and wild stunt.
Barker is also well-known for his hilarious cameo in Adam Sandler's Happy Gilmore. He served as a partner to Sandler's character in a golf tournament and the two eventually got into a fight where Barker got the best of him. However, not before Gilmore got in the iconic line, "the price is wrong, b****."
The man. The myth. The best. Such a sweet funny guy to hang out with. Loved talking to him. Loved laughing with him. Loved him kicking the crap out of me. He will be missed by everyone I know! Heartbreaking day. Love to Bob always and his family! Thanks for all you gave us! pic.twitter.com/hhZvYAQUK3
— Adam Sandler (@AdamSandler) August 26, 2023
Robert William Barker was born on December 12, 1923, in Darrington, Washington, and joined the United States Navy Reserve during World War II. He began his career in radio while at Drury University and had one of his big breaks when he hosted The Bob Barker Show in 1950 for six years.
Truth and Consequences and The Price Is Right were his biggest shows, but he also hosted Miss Universe and Miss USA pageants and more.
Barker was a proud animal rights activist, and he was closely linked to the United Activists for Animal Rights and the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. He would sign off The Price Is Right episodes by saying, "This is Bob Barker reminding you to help control the pet population - have your pets spayed or neutered."
Barker was married to Dorothy Jo Gideon in 1945, and she passed away in 1981. They did not have any children.
Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.
