During his lifetime, TV star Bob Barker was a force to be reckoned with in the world of television anchoring and Hollywood in general. His presence was felt across the entertainment industry. The crucial role that Barker had in the entertainment industry allowed him to promote series such as “Truth or Consequences” and his most well-known tenure on “The Price Is Right.” His professional life stretched more than sixty years until he finally called it quits. Barker was 99 years old when he died away on August 26, 2023.
Following his passing, several celebrities from the entertainment industry paid respect to his extraordinary life and times by issuing statements shortly after his passing. On August 28, 2023, Nancy Burnet, who had been dating Barker for a very long time, spoke candidly about his dying days while also reflecting on some of the best times they had shared together.
The iconic presenter began his career in the armed forces during World War II as a naval commander. Robert William Barker was born in December 1923. After developing an interest in radio, he decided to go to California in order to pursue a career in the industry. Barker premiered the first episode of his radio program, “The Bob Barker Show,” in the year 1950. Six years later, he was given the opportunity of a lifetime when he was hired as an anchor for the show “Truth or Consequences.” After that, Barker would go on to host the program for nearly to twenty years until getting greater notoriety for his work on “The Price Is Right.”
The process of working on this program turned out to be unprecedented. It was in the year 1990 that “The Price Is Right” became the daytime game show that had been on the air the longest. Barker was also honored with a total of 19 Daytime Emmys over his career. In 1976, Barker was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and in 2004 he was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame.
Dorothy Jo Gideon, the woman with whom the former host of “Miss Universe” had a marriage that lasted from 1945 to 1981, the year in which she went away terribly. After a long and courageous battle with lung cancer, Jo Gideon Barker passed away at the age of 57. The pair, who had a passion for animal rights, did not have any children together throughout their whole relationship. Barker did not marry again, although he did have a long-term relationship with his girlfriend Nancy Burnet.
At a gathering for the adoption of animals in 1983, two years after Jo Gideon’s death, he met Burnet for the first time. The couple became closer because they shared a love for taking care of animals, both domesticated and wild. Barker described the circumstances surrounding the pair’s first meeting in his book, titled “Priceless Memories,” which was published in 2009. Burnet responded to his question about her marital status by saying that she was “winding up a divorce” when he inquired whether she was single or married. From that point on, the two individuals worked to cultivate a friendship that would endure for decades.
Back in December of 2022, Burnet gave an interview to Fox 5 in which he discussed his condition. She went into detail about how healthy he was despite being 99 years old. The advocate for the rights of animals shared the information that her boyfriend only took thyroid medicine. According to what she said, he “does not take anything for blood pressure, cholesterol, or any other condition. The multitude of additional things that the vast majority of individuals experience as they become older. Barker’s health had improved, according to Burnet, when he switched to a vegan meal replacement. This information was provided to the media outlet.
In an interview with Today, Burnet revealed the reasoning behind her decision to maintain secrecy about their relationship and keep things personal. This occurred as a result of the fact that “people treat you differently when they know that there’s a celebrity involved.” Burnet and Barker came to the conclusion on their own that they would never marry each other. She added that she and the TV anchor came to the decision early on in the course of their relationship that neither of them would ever be married again.
Burnet made the observation that Baker would ultimately come to a different conclusion. She said to the journal that when he asked her to marry him, not many people were aware of the news, but she was resolute about her resolve to never get married again despite the fact that he had asked her to marry him.
She added that their love life continued for a long time and that the cornerstone of their relationship was their shared sense of humor and passion. She passed on the message that “people need to have fun together.” They occasionally forget that after they’ve been together for a long. However, if they are able to maintain it in their relationship, it will last for a very long time and help you get through some very difficult times.
Burnet said that “the work that was done” contributed to the improvement of their relationship throughout the course of the years. By this, she was referring to their advocacy on behalf of animals. Through Barker’s DJ&T Foundation, the pair found homes for rescued animals and provided care for them. In the year 2000, Nancy was promoted to the position of vice president of the foundation. When asked about his dying days, she recounted how she had hired the most qualified carers in all of Los Angeles. She went on to say that
Even at the worst stages of his illness, he didn’t seem so thin. You should be aware that a number of persons at that age are very haggard, thin, and weak. However, he was not.
Burnet recounted how she maintained communication with the nurses who were caring for him in order to ensure that he received the best possible treatment. She made the point that the legacy of Barker would go on as a result of his contributions to the field of animal rights. She enthused about how he used to sign off “The Price Is Right” by encouraging viewers to “help control the pet population.” She said that was her favorite part of the show. Burnet claimed the following in an interview with Page Six:
“I am so proud of the pioneering work that Barker and I did together to expose the cruelty to animals in the entertainment industry. This work included working to improve the plight of abused and exploited animals in the United States and internationally. I am so proud of this work.”
Barker died away due to natural causes around four months before he would have celebrated his 100th birthday. Burnet said that the celebrity celebrated his 99th birthday in 2022 by having a low-key gathering in keeping with his uncomplicated lifestyle.