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Bob Barker

Robert William Barker is a retired television game show host from the United States. From 1972 to 2007, he was the host of CBS's The Price Is Right, the longest-running daytime game show in North American television history. From 1956 through 1975, he was the host of Truth or Consequences.

Related Biography: Rhonda Worthey

About Bob Barker

Barker enlisted in the United States Navy during World War II after being born in a low-income family in Darrington, Washington. While in college, he worked part-time in radio. He relocated to California in 1950 to seek a radio career. The Bob Barker Show, which aired for six years, was his radio show. In 1956, Barker debuted on the game show Truth or Consequences. From there, he hosted a variety of game programs and the Miss Universe and Miss USA pageants from 1967 to 1987, making him the pageant's longest-serving host. In 1972, he began presenting The Price Is Right. He became an advocate for animal rights and activism after his wife Dorothy Jo died of lung cancer at 57 in 1981, supporting organizations such as the United Activists for Animal Rights and the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. After a 50-year career on television, he retired from hosting The Price Is Right in 2007.

Background

Bob Barker was born on December 12, 1923, in Darrington, WA. His parents are Matilda and Byron Barker. Bob's mother was a school teacher, while his father was a foreman in the electrical industry. In 1929, his father fell from the top of a tower and died at the hospital. Bob's mother moved the family to Springfield, where he graduated high school in 1941.

Barker went to Drury College on a basketball scholarship. He left school in 1943 to prepare as a military pilot in the United States Naval Reserve, yet World War II finished before he was given a task for deployment. Barker came back to Drury and graduated in 1947 with a degree in finance.

Relationships

Bob Barker and Dorothy Jo Gideon tied the knot on January 12, 1945. Their marriage lasted for a beautiful 36 years until Dorothy died of lung cancer in 1981. They had no children, and Bob never remarried.

Career

Bob Barker's first job was at a radio station in Springfield while he was still in college. To pursue his career in broadcasting, he moved to California. He was given his radio show, The Bob Barker Show, which ran out of Burbank for six years. The first show he hosted was called Truth or Consequence. The program constrained its competitors to perform peculiar tricks if they failed to address a question inside around one second,

Since then, Bob has hosted various shows, including Simon Says and That's My Line. Bob earned a lot of money from these hosting jobs. Until his retirement at the age of 83 years in 2007, he was the host of the show "The Price is Right". He was also the oldest man to host a weekday show since the birth of American network television. The show featured games that required the hopefuls to figure the cost of different products, running from cutlery to luxurious vehicles. In November 1975, The Price is Right turned into the first hour-long game show in TV history. In 1990, it outperformed Truth or Consequences as the longest-running daytime game show ever. Barker's rule on The Price Is Right prompted his appearance at the focal point of various other prominent programs, including the Pillsbury Bake-Off, which he emceed from 1969 to 1985, and the yearly New Year's Day Tournament of Roses Parade, which he hosted from 1969 to 1988.

Bob also had a show that aired locally on CBS every week for Southern California Edison, an electric power company. Bob's wife was the producer of this show.

Barker was a kind and gentle person. Bob did a lot for animals. He founded the DJ&T Foundation, which is dedicated to the service of animals. He named the organization after his wife and mother. He was very passionate about fighting cruelty towards animals. At the end of every show, he ended his performance with a catchphrase dedicated to raising awareness of animal rights.


Quick Facts
Birth Date: 12 Dec, 1923
Age: 96 yrs
Citizenship: United States of America
Birth Place: Darrington
Education: Drury University
Gender: Male
Description: American game show host
Net Worth 2020: 70 million
Net Worth 2021: 70 million
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Last Modified: Feb 19 2023
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