Posted on 08/26/2023 10:04:39 AM PDT by Drew68
Bob Barker, the iconic American game show host and animal rights activist, has died ... TMZ has learned.
Barker died peacefully at his home Saturday morning in L.A. His rep tells TMZ Bob died of natural causes.
The longtime host of "The Price Is Right" actually got his start in game shows after legendary producer Ralph Edwards discovered him while listening to Bob's radio show and hired him for TV.
Barker started off hosting the iconic hit, "Truth or Consequences" back in 1956, on which he starred until 1975. He also hosted a number of other game shows and programs over the years, including "Dream Girl of '67," "Tattletales," 'Miss Universe,' and most famously ... "The Price is Right," which he produced and hosted until 2007.
Drew Carey took over as host, and the show continues to be extremely popular to this day.
Barker has appeared in a number of other TV shows and films over the years, oftentimes starring as himself. He got into a fight with Adam Sandler in "Happy Gilmore," stood in as Neil Patrick Harris' would-be biological father in "How I Met Your Mother," and played himself in lots of other shows like "Futurama," "Spongebob," "The Nanny," "Martial Law" and many others.
He had several minor bouts of skin cancer over the years, and suffered a nasty fall in in 2015 and 2017 that sent him to the ER. He fell again in 2019, and was treated once more at the hospital. On top of that, he was transported by ambulance twice in 2018 for back issues.
Safe to say, he's had a lot of health scares over the years, especially of late. Of course, when the pandemic hit in 2020 ... we checked in with him to see how we was dealing -- and were pleasantly surprised to learn he was taking it in stride. Self-isolating wasn't a problem.
We last saw him out in the streets of Hollywood back in 2016, when he was complaining to us about a bad foot he was dealing with. We chopped it up with him about TV, residuals, his basketball-playing days, and ... a potential Sandler rematch. He was such a good sport and a sweet guy.
Bob's wife, Dorothy Jos, died of lung cancer in 1981. They had no children, and he never remarried. Bob does, however, have extended family that have helped care for him in his later years.
Bob was 99. RIP.
LOL great scene in the movie- also liked the heckler in the movie-
I went to His show with the Ex.
She blew it when the audition guy
Came Around.
RIP Bob
Cool!
I guess.
It’s funny!
I was kidding. I know the game has to with him and not Mr. Barker.
On my first visit to Hollyweird I went to the Tonight Show and The Price is right in 1987 among other events and shows. I was not called down.
Dian Parkinson sued for sexual harassment. At least two others, Lanisha Cole, and Deborah Curling sued the show and Barker for sex harassment and other job related stuff.
Wouldn’t it be good if the first thing he heard was Johnny Olson shouting “Bob Barker, come on UP!!!”
The lady in question was Dian Parkinson.
They choose those people based on a combination of youth, outward enthusiasm, good disposition, ability to not clam up on TV, and general healthy photogenic appearance.
I tried to get on a few shows. I had none of those traits, but I noticed the choices made had those qualities PLUS an interesting background so the host could make a funny comment about it, or some outstanding physical trait. I remember one contestant had a beautiful smile, seemed almost a mile wide.
Bob was such a champion for animals. I imagine he is being greeted in heaven right now by quite a huge contingent of animals he helped here. Truly one of the greats! Thank you Bob Barker.
True, but wasn't Bob spayed and neutered?
Lots of ex-pissed off castrated pets. No?
Bob Barker, C’mon down!
I took a sick day so I could watch his final appearance on TPIR.
The girls were nice looking. You know what CAN accompany that. Maybe he still had a few molecules of testosterone left..either way...sic transit Gloria , RIP, to an excellent TV show host.
Yes that’s correct.
Horny old dog finally hit the bullet
Come on down you old dork
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