Bob Barker is still living his best life at 99, having been in a lasting relationship with his girlfriend Nancy Burnet.
The host was once devastated by his wife’s death, vowing never to marry again after her.
However, at the age of 60, he found love again through Burnet and is now “happy” and “engaged.”Born Robert William Barker on December 12, 1923, in Darrington, Washington, Bob Barker would go on to be one of America’s most iconic game show hosts. He hosted “The Price Is Right” from 1972 to 2007, an amazing 35 years.
Initially, Barker had trained to become a US Navy fighter pilot amidst World War II. However, after graduating from Drury College in Springfield, Missouri, he switched paths and began a career in radio.
While working for a station in California, he was scouted by Ralph Edwards, the creator of “Truth or Consequences,” a popular TV game show wherein contestants had to perform stunts in case they answered trivia questions incorrectly.
Edwards asked Barker to host the show, and he began doing so in 1956. He was so relatable, and he quickly won the hearts of the show’s viewers. He was on the show for almost twenty years until 1975, alongside other short-lived game shows throughout that time.
In 1972, he was given hosting duties for “The Price Is Right,” a revival of its 1956 to 1965 run. Contestants were picked from the audience and asked to guess the prices of merchandise.
The show was a huge hit – it became the longest-running game show on American TV, and Barker was partly to thank for that. He hosted the show until his retirement in 2007 when he was replaced by Drew Carey.
Other than his game shows, Barker was also often asked to host the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants for a couple of years. He’s also appeared in several TV series, and in 1996, made his movie debut in “Happy Gilmore” alongside Adam Sandler.
