'The Price Is Right': Bob Barker's Cause Of Death In Memoriam

Bob Barker was born on December 12, 1923 in Darrington, Washington, where he spent his early years in a modest household. His mother, Matilda, used to work as a schoolteacher, while his father, Byron, was an electrical foreman. 

Before pursuing an entertainment career, Barker joined the U.S. Navy Reserve during the Second World War. Later on, he began working in radio, at the same time he was completing his studies.

Eventually, in the early '50s, he moved to California to pursue a broadcasting career and hosted his own radio show, 'The Bob Barker Show', for about six years. 

By the mid '50s Bob Barker embarked on a game show career and started hosting 'Truth or Consequences'. The latter ran from 1956 to 1975 in its TV format, as it was previously hosted on NBC radio.

In the early '70s Bob began hosting the popular game show 'The Price Is Right', where contestants guess the prices of certain products in order to win cash and other prizes. 

Barker became the show's longest-running host, as he appeared on it from 1972 until 2007, when he announced his retirement. The show kept going on with Drew Carey replacing him.

However, Barker made three surprising comebacks to the show: In 2009 to promote his memoir 'Priceless Memories', then in 2013 to celebrate his 90th birthday, and then again in 2015 for an April Fool's Day special episode.

As of his personal life, Bob married Dorothy Jo Gideon in 1945. Sadly, she died aged 57 in 1981 from lung cancer.

In 1983 he began dating animal rights activist Nancy Burnet, 20 years younger than him. The couple remained together until 2023, when Bob died.

The TV personality did not have any children, as he considered he was too busy to raise a kid.

Apart from his media career, Barker was a vegetarian and a committed animal rights activist, encouraging his 'Price Is Right' audience to prevent animal mistreatment. Starting 1982, he began ending his game show's episodes with the phrase: "This is Bob Barker reminding you to help control the pet population. Have your pets spayed or neutered."

During his career as a TV presenter, Bob Barker earned multiple awards, being the most notable ones 19 Daytime Emmys: 14 for Outstanding Game Show Host and 4 for Outstanding Game Show, as well as a Lifetime Achievement Award.

He also received a Hollywood Walk of Fame star and the Barker Studio at CBS Television City was named in his honor.

Bob Barker's TV career includes other notable credits. In 1960 he appeared in 'Bonanza's' episode 'Denver McKee' as "Mort," and made cameo appearances in 'The Bold and The Beautiful' and 'The Nanny' in 2002 and 1994, respectively. On the big screen, he shared screen with Adam Sandler in the 1996 film 'Happy Gilmore', playing himself.

Barker struggled with multiple health issues. In 1999 he was diagnosed with a partially blocked left carotid artery, resulting in him undergoing surgery.In 2002 he was rushed to the hospital after having a stroke, and underwent prostate surgery only six weeks later. His recovery at the time was successful.Between 2015 and 2017 he had multiple health scares, most of them related to injuries he got from falling on sidewalks and at home.

On August 26, 2023 news on Bob Barker's death broke, leaving fans and the TV industry devastated. The legendary host died at age 99 following a longtime Alzheimer's disease battle, which was kept a secret from the public. 

In his final years Barker also struggled with multiple conditions, including hyperlipidemia, hypertension and hypothyroidism, which were also listed as secondary causes of death in his death certificate.