The entertainment world lost an icon when Bob Barker passed away at age 99 in August
2023.
For 35 years, Barker brought his charismatic hosting style and signature "Come on down!"
catchphrase into living rooms across America.
His tenure on the beloved game show remains the longest of any emcee in television history.
Now, following Barker's death, his girlfriend of over 40 years, Nancy Burnet, is opening
up about their loving relationship and Barker's final days.
She provides intimate insights into the man behind the legend, from his dry wit to his
tireless advocacy for animal rights.
Join FactsVerse as we remember the trailblazing life and career of Bob Barker, both on camera
and off.
Early Life and Career Born in 1923 in the small logging town of
Darrington, Washington, Bob Barker grew up in humble circumstances that belied his future
fame and fortune.
He spent much of his youth on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in Mission, South Dakota,
living a life not so different from the cowboys of the Old West.
Despite the family's limited means, Barker's mother ensured he received a good education.
After graduating high school in 1941, Barker enrolled at Drury College in Springfield,
Missouri on a basketball scholarship.
There he joined the Sigma Nu fraternity and met his future wife, Dorothy Jo Gideon.
When World War II broke out, Barker left college to enlist in the Navy as a fighter pilot trainee
in 1943.
He married Dorothy Jo during a short leave the following year before returning to the
Navy.
After the war's end, Barker went back to Drury College and graduated summa cum laude in 1947
with a degree in economics.
Barker's broadcasting career began in college, working part-time at local radio station KTTS.
After graduating, he and Dorothy Jo moved to Lake Worth, Florida where Barker hosted
a radio show.
In 1950, the couple relocated to California to further Barker's media career.
His first big break came when he landed his own radio program, The Bob Barker Show, based
out of Burbank.
It was a huge success, airing for six years on NBC.
Barker went on to host various local shows in Los Angeles.
Dorothy Jo was instrumental in this early stage of his career, often co-writing and
producing her husband's programs.
Then in 1956, Barker's television career took off when he was hired to host the game show
Truth or Consequences.
He hosted the show for an impressive 18 years until 1975.
This launched Barker's decades-long career in game shows, leading ultimately to his record-breaking
tenure on The Price Is Right.
Through talent and perseverance, Bob Barker beat the odds by rising from humble beginnings
to become a beloved fixture on American television for generations.
Longtime Love Nancy Burnet Bob Barker met the woman who would be his
companion for over 40 years in a serendipitous way in 1983.
While hosting an animal adoption event, he encountered fellow animal rights activist
Nancy Burnet.
Though both were married at the time, they formed an immediate connection.
Barker's wife, Dorothy Jo Gideon, had tragically passed away two years earlier after a battle
with lung cancer.
The two had been high school sweethearts and married for 35 blissful years.
In fact, Barker once referred to Dorothy Jo as his most treasured possession.
After her death, he vowed never to marry again, later telling People magazine that Dorothy
Jo was the love of his life.
Meanwhile, Nancy Burnet founded the animal rights organization United Activists for Animal
Rights in 1987.
This shared passion for animal welfare brought her and Barker together.
Though their relationship started platonically, it gradually deepened into romance.
In the late 1980s, Burnet separated from her husband as she and Barker became a couple.
They kept their relationship very private over the ensuing decades.
Despite bonding over their activism, the two maintained independent lives and careers.
Barker popped the question to Burnet many times over the years, but she consistently
turned down his marriage proposals.
Burnet explained that she never had the desire to marry anyone and that she valued their
loving partnership as it was.
The couple ended up together for an impressive 40 years until Barker's death in 2023.
Burnet was by his side in his final years, in constant communication with his caregivers.
After his passing, she movingly described the hollow, empty feeling left by his absence.
Though Burnet treasures their four decades together, she believes that independence is
crucial for successful relationships.
Their mutual devotion mixed with freedom worked well for this private couple.
Nancy Burnet provided companionship and comfort to Barker in the twilight of his life.
While Dorothy Jo was his greatest love, Burnet was the devoted partner who saw him through
to the end.
Barker's Final Days In the last few years of his life, Bob Barker
was blessed to live out his final days in comfort, largely avoiding the infirmities
of old age.
As Barker approached his mid-90s, his girlfriend Nancy Burnet marveled at his continued vigor
and health.
Burnet told Closer Weekly that everyone was quite amazed at Barker's condition after he
died at age 99.
She said that often at that age, people are very thin and frail, but Barker was not at
all.
He was sturdy and strong, and his skin was in great condition.
Barker benefited from the tireless support of caregivers in his Hollywood Hills home.
Burnet herself was involved in overseeing his daily care for years, in constant communication
with his team about every detail.
She made sure Barker received the very best care in his final chapter.
According to Burnet, Barker maintained an upbeat spirit even as his 99th birthday neared.
He had a team of splendid nurses who not only looked after Barker physically but kept him
engaged each day.
Burnet recalled that Barker was never interested in singing and he never particularly cared
about music.
However, his caregivers had taught him "You Are My Sunshine" and he would sing it.
Watching television was one of Barker's main pleasures toward the end.
The nurses also took him outside when weather permitted so he could enjoy sunshine and fresh
air.
Overall, Burnet says Barker was peaceful, comfortable and content in his last days.
He died at home of natural causes, avoiding a prolonged decline.
Burnet was grateful Barker lived such a long, fulfilling life, though she hoped he would
reach the milestone of 100.
While the world mourns Bob Barker's passing, it's reassuring to know his final years were
filled with music, laughter and loving care.
Nancy Burnet helped ensure Barker enjoyed dignity and joy right up until the end.
Interestingly, Barker had specific requests for his posthumous arrangements.
According to Roger Neal, Bob Barker's representative, he had expressed his desire not to have a
funeral or memorial service.
This decision was in line with the TV personality's private nature, even in his final moments.
Neal, who served as Barker's publicist from 1987 to 1994 and resumed their professional
relationship in 2020, also shared that Barker would be laid to rest beside his beloved wife,
Dorothy Jo Gideon, at the Forest Lawn Memorial Cemetery located in the Hollywood Hills.
Animal Activism Bob Barker's most enduring legacy outside
of his TV career was his tireless advocacy for animal rights.
He used his celebrity platform and personal wealth to campaign against animal abuse and
promote pet population control.
Barker's passion for animals could be traced back to his childhood growing up among livestock
on a South Dakota reservation.
But it was later in life that he dedicated himself to the cause.
In 1979, Barker became a vegetarian, giving up meat out of concern for animal welfare.
This was the first of many lifestyle changes he made to align with his convictions.
Barker added the phrase "Help control the pet population - have your pets spayed or
neutered" to the end of every episode of The Price is Right a few years later.
He also pressured the show to stop awarding fur coats and other animal-derived prizes.
In 1987, Barker boycotted the Miss USA Pageant and stepped down as host because the organization
refused his request to discontinue giving fur coats as prizes.
This demonstrated the depth of Barker's commitment to stand up for his principles, even when
it was professionally costly.
Barker founded the DJ&T Foundation in 1994 along with his late wife, Dorothy Jo, and
mother, Matilda.
The foundation funded low-cost spay and neuter clinics across the U.S. and donated millions
more to animal nonprofits over the years.
Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Barker advocated against circus animal acts, zoo elephant exhibits,
and other practices he found abusive.
He donated $1 million to fund an elephant sanctuary in California and $5 million to
the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society to combat whaling.
In 2004, Barker donated $1 million to Columbia Law School to support the study of animal
rights law.
In 2009, he gave another $1 million to the University of Virginia Law School for the
same purpose.
Even after retiring from The Price is Right in 2007, Barker never stopped using his wealth
and fame to be a voice for the voiceless.
His advocacy changed countless lives, human and animal alike.
When he died at 99, his passion for animal welfare remained unwavering.
Remembering a Trailblazer For four decades, Nancy Burnet stood by Bob
Barker's side as his devoted girlfriend and fellow animal activist.
When he passed away at age 99, she was left with a hollow, empty feeling from his absence.
Though never married, their loving companionship profoundly enriched both their lives.
In an exclusive statement after Barker's death, Burnet reminisced about the qualities that
made him so special.
His dry sense of humor always made her laugh.
She'll miss his lively energy that defied his age.
Burnet described Barker as very strong right up until the end, amazing his nurses and caregivers.
Indeed, Burnet never desired marriage from Barker, though he proposed many times.
She valued Barker for exactly who he was, without needing titles or trappings.
Their mutual devotion mixed with freedom let their love endure decade after decade.
Professionally, Burnet will remember the pioneering work she and Barker did together for animal
rights.
Whether advocating against circuses and whaling, or funding spay/neuter clinics across the
country, their partnership made the world a kinder place for countless animals.
Bob Barker's memory will be carried on by many - those who love him, those inspired
by his causes, and the millions entertained by his wit and charm on The Price is Right.
As his longtime love and fellow activist, Nancy Burnet will treasure Barker's spirit
as she continues their important work.
Few public figures could match the longevity and cultural impact of Barker's multi-decade
career.
As host of The Price is Right from 1972 to 2007, he brought joy and prizes to generations
of devoted fans.
He also donated millions to related causes and never wavered in speaking out against
exploitation.
Barker's personal integrity and passionate activism leave a lasting example of using
one's platform for good.
Though impossible to replace, Bob Barker's memory will be carried on by his loved ones
like soulmate Nancy Burnet, by fellow activists, and the millions inspired by his humor and
convictions.
There you have it.
It's now time to hear from you.
What qualities and memories will you cherish about this one-of-a-kind personality?