This article will answer every question you have about Bob Barker. Below are some of the frequently asked questions about him.
- What does Bob Barker do for a living?
- Who are Bob Barker’s parents and siblings?
- What are Bob Barker’s interests and hobbies?
- Is Bob Barker married or does he have a girlfriend?
- Does Bob Barker have any children?
- Where is Bob Barker now?
- How tall is Bob Barker?
- How much money does Bob Barker earn?
- What is Bob Barker’s net worth?
N/B: Please read the entire post to have all your questions answered.
Who is Bob Barker?
Bob Barker is an American retired television game show host. He is known for hosting CBS’s The Price Is Right from 1972 to 2007, making it the longest-running daytime game show in North American television history. He is also known for hosting Truth or Consequences from 1956 to 1975.
Born in Darrington, Washington in modest circumstances, Barker enlisted in the United States Navy during World War II. He worked part-time in radio while he attended college. In 1950, he moved to California in order to pursue a career in broadcasting. He was given his own radio show, The Bob Barker Show, which ran for six years. Barker began his game show career in 1956, hosting Truth or Consequences.
From there, he hosted various game shows, and the Miss Universe and Miss USA pageants from 1967 to 1987, giving him the distinction of being the longest-serving host of these pageants. He began hosting The Price Is Right in 1972. When his wife Dorothy Jo died of lung cancer at age 57 in 1981, he became an advocate for animal rights and of animal rights activism, supporting groups such as the United Activists for Animal Rights and the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. In 2007, he retired from hosting The Price Is Right after celebrating his 50-year career on television.
Bob Barker’s Career
Broadcasting career
While attending college in Drury, Barker worked his first media job, at KTTS-FM Radio, in Springfield. He and his wife left Springfield and moved to Lake Worth Beach, Florida, and he was a news editor and announcer at nearby WWPG 1340 AM in Palm Beach (now WPBR in Lantana). In 1950, Barker moved to California in order to pursue a career in broadcasting. He was given his own radio show, The Bob Barker Show, which ran for the next six years from Burbank. He was hosting an audience-participation radio show on KNX (AM) in Los Angeles when game show producer Ralph Edwards, who was looking for a new host to replace Jack Bailey on the daytime-television version of his long-running show, Truth or Consequences, happened to be listening and liked Barker’s voice and style.
Game show career
Truth or Consequences (1956–1975)
Barker started hosting Truth or Consequences on December 31, 1956 and continued with the program until 1975.
The Price Is Right (1972–2007)
In early 1972, Mark Goodson and Bill Todman began shopping a modernized revival of The Price Is Right to stations, with Dennis James as host. CBS expressed interest in the series, on one condition: instead of James, Barker would be installed as host. After some initial resistance, Barker instead offered to host another upcoming CBS game show, Jack Barry’s The Joker’s Wild (which had difficulty finding a host and was scheduled to debut the same day as Price) to allow James to host Price, but CBS rejected this proposal.
On September 4, 1972, Barker began hosting the CBS revival of The Price Is Right. Later 0n October 15, 1987, Barker did what other MCs almost never did then: renounced hair dye and began wearing his hair gray, which was its natural color by that time. On October 31, 2006, Barker made his announcement that he would retire from The Price Is Right in June 2007. He taped his final episode on June 6, 2007, with the show airing twice on June 15. After his retirement, Barker made three return appearances to The Price is Right.
Priceless
He first appeared on the episode that aired on April 16, 2009, to promote his new autobiography, Priceless Memories. He appeared in the Showcase round at the end of the show. Barker made another guest appearance on the show to celebrate his 90th birthday celebration, which aired on December 12, 2013. He announced a contestant for the first time ever on the show, along with one showcase. Barker’s latest appearance was a surprise appearance on April 1, 2015, for an April Fools’ Day switch where he took Drew Carey’s place at the show’s intro. He hosted the first bid and pricing game of that day before handing the hosting duties back to Drew and later appeared during the showcase.
How Old is Bob Barker?
Barker was born on December 12, 1923, in Darrington, Washington. He is currently 97 years old.
Bob Barker‘s Family
Who are Bob Barker’s parents?
His mother, Matilda Valandra, was a school teacher; his father, Byron John Barker, was the foreman on the electrical high line through the state of Washington.
Does Bob Barker have siblings?
Barker has a brother named Kent.
Bob Barker‘s Education
Barker attended Drury College (now Drury University) in Springfield, Missouri, on a basketball athletic scholarship. He was a member of the Epsilon Beta chapter of the Sigma Nu fraternity at Drury. Barker joined the United States Navy Reserve in 1943 during World War II to train as a fighter pilot but did not serve on active duty. After the war, he returned to Drury to finish his education, graduating summa cum laude with a degree in economics.
Bob Barker‘s wife
Barker met his future wife, Dorothy Jo Gideon, at an Ella Fitzgerald concert while he was attending high school in Missouri, and they began dating when he was 15. During his time on leave from the military, he married Dorothy Jo on January 12, 1945. After the war, he returned to Drury to finish his education, graduating summa cum laude with a degree in economics.
Bob Barker‘s Children – Kids
Barker does not have any children.
Bob Barker’s Net Worth
Barker has an estimated net worth of $70 million.
Height/Measurements
Barker stands 6 ft tall.
