How This 99-Year-Old Entertainment Legend is Defying Age and Inspiring the World

In 1972, a lot of big things were happening. Don McLean’s song “American Pie” was at the top of the charts, Richard Nixon was president, and his administration was dealing with the Watergate scandal. NASA’s Space Shuttle program was also starting, and Bob Barker had just begun hosting a new game show called “The Price is Right,” where brand new cars were valued at less than $4,000.

Bob Barker, famous for hosting “The Price is Right,” is a well-known name across generations. He hosted the game show for an incredible 35 years. This year, Bob Barker is celebrating his 100th birthday.

Bob Barker grew up on an Indian reservation in South Dakota and is a member of the Sioux Tribe. He met his future wife, Dorothy Jo Gideon, at an Ella Fitzgerald concert. Barker married Gideon, his high school sweetheart, in 1945 while he was on leave from the U.S. Navy Reserve. Although he trained as a fighter pilot during World War II, he never served on active duty. He later graduated with a degree in economics.

At 99 years old, Barker first gained fame while hosting a radio show in Los Angeles. He caught the eye of Ralph Edwards, a game show producer looking for a new host for “Truth or Consequences,” the first game show to be broadcast on TV. Barker hosted “Truth or Consequences” from 1956 to 1975, which helped build his popularity. In 1967, he also began hosting the Miss Universe and Miss USA pageants.

The big break came in 1972 when Barker began hosting “The Price is Right.” This role catapulted him and the show to superstardom.

“The Price is Right” became the longest-running game show in history, a record it still holds. Bob Barker, who served as the show’s executive producer starting in 1988, won 14 Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Game Show Host and four Emmys for his role as executive producer.

Barker often credits his late wife, Dorothy Jo Gideon, for his success. In a 2008 interview, he said, “She gave me the confidence to even try to do what I set out to do. She didn’t just urge me on; she worked right at my side.”

Gideon, who was 57, passed away from lung cancer in 1981, leaving Barker behind after 36 years of marriage. Barker never felt the need to remarry, saying, “She was my wife.”

However, Barker did find another partner, Nancy Burnet, who has been with him for 40 years. Burnet, now 79, shared a surprising fact about Barker’s health with Fox News Digital just before his 99th birthday. She revealed that Barker takes only one prescription medication for his thyroid. Unlike many people his age, he doesn’t take medications for blood pressure, cholesterol, or other common issues.

Burnet joked about Barker’s health, saying, “He’s in very good health for his age and his humor is still in good shape. He’s had a very charmed life.”

Bob Barker’s health hasn’t always been smooth sailing. In 1999, he had surgery to address clumsiness in his hand, which was due to a partially blocked artery. This surgery was meant to lower his risk of stroke. Then in 2002, Barker had a stroke and later underwent prostate surgery. Being a sun lover, he’s also dealt with several cases of mild skin cancer, suffered from a series of falls that led to more hospital visits, and faced major back problems.

Nancy Burnet, his partner for 40 years, played a key role in helping him improve his health. She helped Barker, a long-time vegetarian, by adding supplements to his diet to boost his strength. “It was not to replace meals but to enhance everything,” Burnet said. “He was looking tired and kind of frail. And, you know, if you’re going to be a vegetarian and vegan, you better know what you’re doing.”

Even after retiring from “The Price is Right,” which is now hosted by Drew Carey, Barker has made a few guest appearances, including a notable one on his 90th birthday in 2013.

Bob Barker’s time on “The Price is Right” was a major part of his life. According to Nancy Burnet, Barker never grew tired of the show. “He never grew bored with it,” she said. Barker himself shared a similar sentiment on “Good Morning America” in 2007, stating he wasn’t ready to say goodbye but wanted to leave the show on a high note.

Barker’s tenure on the show was filled with memorable moments, from Vanna White’s appearance before her fame on “Wheel of Fortune” to enthusiastic contestants losing their tops from excitement. But more than the fun moments, Barker took pride in using his platform to promote animal welfare.

He is well-known for his commitment to animal rights, and his show’s catchphrase, “This is Bob Barker reminding you to help control the pet population. Have your pets spayed or neutered,” became a hallmark of his advocacy.

Bob Barker, now 99, has been a household name for decades thanks to his long run on *The Price is Right*. He’s known not just for his game show hosting but also for his strong advocacy for animal rights.

Barker credits his late wife, Dorothy Jo Gideon, as the driving force behind his passion for animal activism. She was ahead of her time, giving up fur coats and becoming a vegetarian long before it became popular. Barker followed her lead, adopting a similar lifestyle.

Through his DJ&T Foundation, named after Gideon and his mother Matilda (or “Tilly”), Barker has donated millions to animal rights causes. The foundation has helped set up animal-rights programs at prestigious law schools like Harvard, Columbia, and Northwestern. Barker believes educating young people about animal exploitation is crucial for change.

Even after retiring from *The Price is Right*, Barker continued his advocacy work. He met his current partner, Nancy Burnet, at an animal adoption event he hosted, and together they continue to campaign against animal entertainment.

Barker’s legacy is not only about his entertainment career but also his commitment to improving the lives of animals.