Bob Barker, a TV personality and the host of The Price Is Right, has died of natural causes at the age of 99.
In a statement on social media, Barker’s publicist Roger Neal said:
“It is with profound sadness that we announce that the World’s Greatest MC who ever lived, Bob Barker, has left us.”
Barker was born on 12 December 1923 in Darrington, Washington, and he grew up on the Rosebud Indian reservation in Mission, South Dakota.
He attended Drury University in Springfield, Missouri, on a basketball scholarship. During his time in university, Barker worked part time for the KTTS radio station.
Barker hosted CBS’s The Price is Right for 35 years up until his retirement in 2007. Before The Price is Right, Barker hosted Truth or Consequences from 1956 to 1975. In total, Barker taped more than 5,000 shows.
He also hosted the Miss USA, Universe pageants on CBS from 1967 to 1987, and went on to become the longest-running host in pageant history.
Barker has gotten numerous awards including 19 Daytime Emmy awards, five of them for outstanding game show host.
Barker also won the Guinness World Record of television’s “Most Durable Performer” for his 3,524 consecutive performances of Truth or Consequences.
Barker leaves behind his half-brother Kent Valandra and half-nephews Robert Valandra and Chip Valandra, and half-niece Vickie Valandra Kelly.
