Bob Barker, the iconic host of America’s TV game show “The Price Is Right,” has died at the age of 99, according to his longtime publicist Roger Neal. Barker hosted the popular game show for 35 years, from 1972 to 2007, and gained a loyal following. His career spanned over half a century, starting as the host of “Truth or Consequences” in 1956, and retiring from “The Price Is Right” in 2007.
Born on December 12, 1923, in Darrington, Washington, Barker moved to a Sioux Indian reservation in Mission, South Dakota, at the age of six. After serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II, he attended Drury College and graduated with a degree in economics. Barker’s broadcasting career began in Florida, where he hosted his own radio program before moving to California in 1950.
Barker became the host of “The Price Is Right” in 1972, breathing life into the show and helping it become the longest-running daytime game show in TV history. He also hosted the Miss Universe and Miss America pageants for 20 years, as well as the New Year’s Day Tournament of Roses Parade.
Despite a scandal involving a former model accusing him of impropriety in 1994, Barker’s TV legacy remained strong, and he received an Emmy Award for Lifetime Achievement. He retired from television in 2007 but continued his activism for animals until his death.
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