Bob Barker death: From World War II Navy official to 'The Price Is Right' host, all you need to know
Upon taking the helm of «The Price Is Right» in 1972, Barker proved to be a jackpot choice for producers. The game show had experienced a significant decline since its heyday in the late 1950s and had been turned down by two networks prior to finding its home at CBS.
Barker's tenure breathed new life into the show, and even after his retirement, it continued to captivate audiences for over 15 years.
Robert Thompson, the director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture at Syracuse University, noted that Barker's status as an iconic game show host was partially attributed to the remarkable length of his career. Barker's television journey spanned more than five decades, beginning with his role as host of the popular «Truth or Consequences» in 1956 and culminating with his retirement from «The Price Is Right» in 2007.
Born Robert William Barker on December 12, 1923, in Darrington, Washington, Barker's life took him to a Sioux Indian reservation in Mission, South Dakota, at the age of 6, following his father's death in a workplace accident.
His mother, Matilda, who was a schoolteacher, later remarried and relocated to Missouri. After a brief service in the Navy towards the end of World War II, Barker returned to Missouri to pursue an economics degree at what is now known as Drury University.
Barker's journey into the world of media commenced when he secured a job at a radio station in Florida.
His smooth and captivating delivery swiftly gained recognition. In 1950, he ventured to California, where he established his own radio program, «The Bob Barker Show,» in Burbank.
Television executives soon took notice, offering Barker his inaugural game show opportunity in 1956 with NBC's «Truth or Consequences,» a
