Bob Barker
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Robert William "Bob" Barker (born December 12, 1923) is a seventeen-time Emmy Award-winning American television game show host. He is best known for hosting CBS's The Price Is Right since September 4, 1972, making it the longest-running daytime game show in television history. On October 31, 2006 he announced that he would retire from hosting The Price Is Right in June 2007 after holding the job for nearly 35 years and having been in television for 50 years. His last episode of The Price Is Right is set to air on June 15, 2007.
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Biography
Born in Darrington, Washington, his mother, Matilda ("Tillie") Valandra, was a schoolteacher, and his father, Byron John Barker, was an electrical power foreman who died in a fall from a utility pole in 1929. Barker has a half-brother, Kent Valandra, from Matilda's subsequent remarriage. In the 1940s the family moved to Springfield, MO, where Barker attended, and graduated from, Central High School. He was also in a three-piece jazz band called The Scatters in the mid 1940s.
Barker attended Drury College (now Drury University) in Springfield, Missouri on a basketball scholarship. He was a member of the Epsilon Beta Chapter of Sigma Nu fraternity at Drury. His education was interrupted by World War II. Barker served in the Navy as a fighter pilot. However, the war ended before he was assigned to a seagoing squadron. After the war, he returned to Drury to finish his education, graduating summa cum laude with a degree in economics. While attending Drury, Barker worked his first "media job" at KTTS-FM Radio in Springfield.
Barker left Springfield and worked at a radio station in Florida before landing another radio job in California. He was hosting an audience-participation radio show in Los Angeles when game show producer Ralph Edwards happened to be listening and liked Barker's voice and style. On December 31, 1956, Barker took over hosting of the game show Truth or Consequences. The show made him a star; he was clearly a natural whose charisma and charm connected with contestants and viewers. He would host it for 18 years.
Bob Barker and his wife, the former Dorothy Jo Gideon, were high-school sweethearts. On their first date on November 17, 1939, Bob took D.J. (as he would often call her) to an Ella Fitzgerald concert. They married in 1945. Years later, it would be Dorothy Jo (as well as Barker's mother Tillie) who inspired Bob to become an advocate of animals. D.J. died of lung cancer on October 19, 1981. The couple had no children. Barker never remarried after her death, saying that he's never had any desire to do so. Dorothy Jo was the love of his life and that was that. His mother Matilda (Tillie) Valandra lived with him until her death in 1993, after her second husband (Bob's step-father) died.
In October 2006, it was announced that Barker had accepted Drury University's invitation to receive an honorary degree recognizing his life achievements and to speak at its May 12, 2007 commencement exercises. It will be the first honorary degree Barker has received in his lifetime [1].
Animal rights
Bob Barker is well known for his work in animal rights. He became a vegetarian in 1979. That same year, he began promoting animal rights. Barker began ending each episode of The Price Is Right with the phrase: "Help control the pet population; have your pet spayed or neutered" in 1981 and was named national spokesman for "Be Kind to Animals Week" in May of that year. On A&E's Biography program, Bob credited his wife, Dorothy Jo, with him becoming more aware of animal rights and becoming a vegetarian because she had done so. Bob said that Dorothy Jo was ahead of her time in terms of animal rights. Bob took up animal rights in order to keep doing something that his recently deceased wife had done. Fellow game show hosts Jack Barry and Bert Convy eventually followed Barker's lead in promoting animal rights on the air.
During the first ten years of The Price Is Right, fur coats were often featured as prizes. After Barker became involved in animal rights, he insisted that the show not offer prizes that harmed animals, a demand to which CBS agreed; animals and fur coats have not since been offered on the program. Barker also forbids the reairing of older episodes in which fur coats and live animals are offered.
Barker hosted the Miss USA/Universe Pageants from 1967 to 1987. In 1987, he requested the removal of fur prizes and stepped down as host when those in charge of the pageant refused.
Bob Barker's "DJ&T Foundation" has contributed millions of dollars to fund animal rescue and park facilities all over the country. He works closely with Betty White as an advocate for animal rights.
Game Show Career
Truth or Consequences
Barker started hosting on December 31, 1956, and would continue with the program until 1975. The idea was to mix the original quiz element of game shows with wacky stunts. On the show, people had to answer a trivia question correctly (usually an off-the-wall question that no one would be able to answer correctly) before "Beulah the Buzzer" was sounded. If the contestant could not complete the "Truth" portion, there would be "Consequences," usually a zany and embarrassing stunt. In addition, during Barker's run as host, "Barker's Box" was played. Barker's Box was a box with 4 drawers in it. If a contestant was able to pick the 3 boxes with money it, they won a bonus prize.
In many broadcasts, the stunts on Truth or Consequences included a popular, but emotional, heart-wrenching surprise for a contestant, that being the reunion with a long-lost relative or with an enlisted son or daughter returning from military duty overseas, particularly Vietnam.
The Family Game
In 1967, Barker hosted the short-lived game show The Family Game for Chuck Barris, where he would ask children contestants questions about their family's lives, and the parents had to guess how they answered in a Newlywed Game-esque fashion.
The Price Is Right
On September 4, 1972, Barker began his most famous assignment hosting the CBS revival of The Price Is Right. In the four decades of the CBS version, he has become far more strongly associated with the show than first host Bill Cullen was with the 1950s–1960s original.
On October 15, 1987, Barker did what other M.C.'s almost never did: he renounced hair dye and allowed his hair to go gray. It was a shock to the studio audience because it hadn't been publicized in advance; it was a shock to the home audience because the change came in the middle of the week at that time. One home viewer famously wrote Barker a letter saying "Bob, you must have had a hell of a night last night!" The episodes with dyed hair and gray hair were, in actuality, taped several weeks apart. Fellow hosts Monty Hall and Alex Trebek would follow Barker's decision to go to gray hair in the late 1980s.
In 2006, The Price Is Right celebrated 35 consecutive years on the air. It is the longest-running game show of all time in North America and is also the longest running five-day-a-week daytime entertainment program (and only The Tonight Show's 50 years on the air has surpassed it in terms of overall five-day-a-week American entertainment television programming). Overall, in daytime programming (excluding Saturday and Sunday), The Price Is Right is ranked sixth among the longest-continuing television programs (NBC's Today ranks the longest, followed by four daytime soap operas: Guiding Light, As the World Turns, General Hospital, and Days Of Our Lives). It has won its timeslot (11 a.m. Eastern) for the past 25 years with its closest competitor (currently ABC's The View) normally getting about half of TPIR's ratings.
Barker has recently had success with a prime time version of The Price Is Right. This stemmed from the incredibly high ratings for the thirtieth anniversary show in January 2002. Since then, the prime time specials have returned in spurts for sweeps weeks and on occasion when CBS's turn in the rotation occurs for the Daytime Emmy Awards, including the post-September 11 terrorist attack themed episodes honoring the different branches of the U.S. Armed Forces (Army, Air Force, Navy, etc.) and public safety officers and, later, special occasions. Coincidentally, the first of the specials saluting the Armed Forces to air was the Navy, which was Barker's own branch of the military, and both CBS and RTL showed photos from Barker's own time in the Navy.
During the prime time shows, the prizes are more extravagant than in the daytime version, and the cash amounts are higher, with Plinko, It's in the Bag, and Grand Game featuring higher dollar values. In the Showcase Showdown, the $10,000 bonus was replaced during the specials. In the 2002 military specials, $100,000 can be won if the players spin $1.00 in their bonus spin but was never won. Since 2003, a $1,000,000 prize can be won on the prime time version; this has yet to be won; however, there have been a few close calls.
On October 31, 2006, Bob made his announcement that he will retire from The Price Is Right in June 2007. After 35 years as M.C. of U.S. television's longest-running game show Bob says he is ready for retirement.[2]
Barker has revealed that Fremantle Media, the company that owns the show, has been looking for a successor in the last two to three years, and also that he had considered retirement for a while, but he had so much fun that he continued to do the show. As for a replacement host, no names have been mentioned as of April 2007.
Longevity records and celebration
Barker has set a longevity record as holding a weekday TV job continuously for 50 years as of 2006, which includes his years on Truth or Consequences. Only sportscaster Vin Scully, who is four years younger than Barker, has held a job longer than Barker in the entertainment industry, albeit a seasonal job and not a daily one.
At age 83, Barker holds the record of being the oldest man ever to host a game show and the oldest man ever to host a weekday television program since the inception of network television. Barker is now in his fiftieth consecutive year on television (network or syndication). Barker has also hosted/appeared on a five-day-a-week television program longer than anyone else in the history of television.
In 2003, Barker celebrated his 80th birthday with a prime-time special on CBS. It featured guest appearances by fan Céline Dion along with friends talk-show host Larry King and actor Chuck Norris. The show also featured taped vignettes from CBS stars like Ray Romano, the cast of Becker, and the cast of Joan of Arcadia.
On December 31, 2006, Bob Barker celebrated the anniversary of his 50th year on national television.
Legal issues
Dian Parkinson, a prize model for The Price Is Right from 1975 to 1993, filed an $8 million lawsuit against Barker for sexual harassment. Barker admitted that he had sexual relations with Parkinson but stated, "As God is my witness I never asked her to do anything she didn't want to do" and that everything was indeed consensual. Parkinson declared herself no financial match to Barker and his resources and gave up her legal fight with him in 1995.
Barker was involved in more legal trouble with a Price model in 1995. Holly Hallstrom, a model from 1977 to 1995, stated that she had gained 14 pounds due to a prescription medication and that Barker used the weight gain as an excuse to fire her, which Barker denied. Hallstrom alleged that the real reason Barker fired her was because she had refused to support Barker when Parkinson sued him for sexual harassment. Barker responded with a lawsuit for slander and libel, Barker v. Hallstrom, claiming Hallstrom was lying, but the court declared Hallstrom the prevailing party and ordered Plaintiff Barker to pay all Hallstrom's legal fees. Hallstrom countersued Barker and in October 2005 Hallstrom received a multi-million-dollar out-of-court settlement.
Since 1996, Bob Barker has been sued by six women for charges including Sexual Harassment, Racial Discrimination and Wrongful Termination (most notably by Janice Pennington and Kathleen Bradley, two other longtime and well-known models on the show). To date all the women have received out-of-court financial settlements, save one (Reigert), which is still pending.
Filmography
In 1996, Barker played himself in the Adam Sandler comedy movie Happy Gilmore. In one scene, Barker beats up Gilmore after an altercation arising from their teaming up in a Pro-Am Golf Tournament. Gilmore fights back and briefly gets the upper hand, declaring, "The price is wrong, bitch!" Bob then gets up, holds Gilmore in a strangle hold and continues to punch him before delivering a high kick to Gilmore's chin that knocks him down a grassy hill declaring "Now you've had enough...bitch!" Barker reportedly accepted the role when he learned he would get to win the fight with Sandler [3]. "It took 46 years from the time I first came to Hollywood for me to land a movie role," Barker said about his role in Gilmore. "I hope I won't have to wait that long for the next offer." [4] He and Sandler won the MTV Movie Award for Best Fight for Happy Gilmore, making Barker the oldest winner of any MTV award at 73. Bob's appearance in this movie is often credited with the increased popularity of TPIR among college students.
Barker also in the late 1990s played the father of Mel Harris' character on a few episodes of the NBC sitcom Something So Right.
He appeared in the Futurama episode Lesser of Two Evils in 2000, followed by the Family Guy episodes Screwed the Pooch in 2001, and The Fat Guy Strangler in 2005.
He made a cameo appearance on The Bold and the Beautiful in 2002.
He made a cameo appearance on Yes, Dear.
Awards and recognition
Barker has won 17 Emmy Awards in total. Twelve were for Outstanding Game Show Host, more than any other performer. He has also won twice for Executive Producer of The Price Is Right and received the Lifetime Achievement Award for Daytime Television in 1999.
In March 1998, on the five thousandth episode of The Price Is Right, CBS dedicated the soundstage where the show has been produced since 1972 in honor of Barker.
In 2004, Barker was inducted into the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame.
Health
Barker's health problems started in 1991 after he complained of having vision problems while exercising. After a visit to the doctors, they sent him to see a neurologist, where the doctors told Barker he had a mild stroke. He soon recovered and went back to work.
On September 16, 1999, Barker was in Washington, D.C., to speak about HR 2929, the proposed legislation that would ban elephants from traveling shows. While preparing for the presentation, Barker experienced what he called "clumsiness" in his right hand. He was admitted to George Washington University Hospital and diagnosed with a partially blocked left carotid artery. Barker underwent carotid endarterectomy to remove the blockage, and the procedure went well enough that he was able to return to work within the month.
Three years later, Barker also had two health crises after taping the season finale on The Price Is Right; and while lying out on the sun, he was hospitalized again with a stroke on May 31, 2002; and six weeks later, on July 11, 2002, he underwent prostate surgery both at George Washington University Hospital in Washington, D.C. Both surgeries were successful.
In July 2006, Barker suffered a minor injury to his right hand. On the July 15, 2006 episode of The Late Late Show, he jokingly stated that he broke it by karate chopping "countless desks" (something he later proceeded to do to host Craig Ferguson's desk).
Trivia
- Barker was a semi-regular panelist on the game shows Tattletales (with wife Dorothy Jo) and Match Game. Barker sat in Richard Dawson's former place during the first week of Dawson's permanent absence from Match Game.
- Barker, the Beauties, and Rod Roddy all played in a week-long tournament on CBS's Family Feud with Ray Combs against the cast of The Young and the Restless in a battle of the daytime shows in November 1991 with money donated to charity.
- Barker would have a luncheon with Ralph Edwards every December 21 until Edwards died in 2005.
- Ukranian-born actress Mila Kunis has often stated that she learned to speak English by watching The Price Is Right, noting that Barker spoke slowly enough for her to catch on.
- Barker trained and earned his black belt in the martial arts with action celebrity and famous black belt Chuck Norris. Norris was one of the many guest stars on the special primetime The Price Is Right celebrating Bob's eightieth birthday. Other guests included Ray Romano, Charlie Sheen, Celine Dion, and Larry King.
- Barker has appeared on many talk shows such as The Rosie O'Donnell Show, The Arsenio Hall Show, The Wayne Brady Show, Crook & Chase, Late Show with David Letterman, Larry King Live, and The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
- He appeared as a sub-host on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson in 1966.
- Created and hosted "The Bob Barker Fun and Games Show" from 1978 to 1986 which was a combination of stunt participation in the style of Truth or Consequences and pricing games such as the Price Is Right in which Bob traveled throughout the United States and Canada in various arenas and venues.
- Played the father of Mel Harris on a few episodes of the NBC sitcom Something So Right.
- In December 2002, Bob appeared on Hollywood Squares/H2 three times in the same week to do some outro segments during Game Show Week. (It was that week where Bergeron would assume the center square and Marshall have a one-day hosting gig.) The first one had Tom Bergeron mentioning that Hollywood Squares/H2 was taped at the Bob Barker studio, the same studio where The Price Is Right is taped. Following that, Barker appears on screen and asks Tom for rent money. In the second, he's talking to host Tom Bergeron, telling him "I remember watching Hollywood Squares with my good friend Peter Marshall... Who's hosting now?" In the last, Tom replaces Bob Barker's name on the plaque outside of Bob Barker Studios/Studio 33 (where both shows taped) with his name written in marker on a piece of tape. Bob would later remove the tape, then look at the camera and say "As if!" Bob and the TPIR models also were guests on Hollywood Squares in 1987 when John Davidson was the host.
- In the 1970s, he was the host of the annual/biennial Pillsbury Bake-Off (the bake-off occurred every two years starting in 1976). In the 1978 Bake-Off, he was the first host to have a male category champ.
- Barker had Tyra Banks guest star as a model on one episode of The Price Is Right for a few segments after Banks told Barker how big of a fan she was of the show.
- Two popular segments on The Price Is Right involved Bob interviewing the models and interacting with the announcer (Johnny Olson or Rod Roddy). The model interview was a throwback to Barker's experience hosting beauty pageants. Both segments have been removed from the show due to time constraints.
- He appeared on the NBC TV Western Bonanza, playing a character named Mort in the 1960 episode "Denver McKee."
References
- Drury University. "Alumnus, Price is Right Host Bob Barker to Give Spring Commencement Address, Receive Honorary Degree", Drury University, 2006-10-05. Retrieved on February 19, 2007.
External links
- Bob Barker Bio at CBS - Price is Right
- Bob Barker at the Internet Movie Database
- Bob Barker at the Notable Names Database
- Bob Barker Yahoo! Group
- Bob Barker at Academy of Television Arts & Sciences
- DJ&T Foundation
| Preceded by Bill Cullen |
The Price Is Right Host September 4, 1972 – Present |
Succeeded by incumbent |
| Preceded by Dennis James |
The Price Is Right Host (nighttime) 1977 – 1980 |
Succeeded by Tom Kennedy |
| Preceded by Art Linkletter |
Miss USA Host 1967 – 1987 |
Succeeded by Alan Thicke |
| Preceded by Art Linkletter |
Miss Universe Host 1967 – 1987 |
Succeeded by Alan Thicke |
| Preceded by Jack Bailey |
Truth or Consequences Host December 31, 1956 – 1975 |
Succeeded by Bob Hilton |
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| NAME | Barker, Bob |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Barker, Robert William (full name) |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | American game show host |
| DATE OF BIRTH | December 12, 1923 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Darrington, Washington, USA |
| DATE OF DEATH | |
| PLACE OF DEATH | |
Categories: Semi-protected | Articles with large trivia sections | 1923 births | Living people | American game show hosts | American television actors | American television personalities | American karateka | American vegetarians | The Price is Right | Daytime Emmy Award winners | Game show hosts | Hollywood Walk of Fame | Native American actors | People from Missouri | People from Washington | People from South Dakota | Sigma Nu brothers
