Bob Barker Dead at 99: His Longtime Girlfriend Nancy Burnet Reacts
The longtime partner of the TV legend shared a statement after the news that he had died at age 99.
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Bob Barker's loved ones are reacting to his death. ET confirmed on Saturday that the former host of The Price Is Right died at the age of 99. He died of natural causes.
His longtime girlfriend Nancy Burnet released a statement to ET following the news of Barker's death.
"I am so proud of the trailblazing work Barker and I did together to expose the cruelty to animals in the entertainment industry and including working to improve the plight of abused and exploited animals in the United States and internationally," Burnet shared. " We were great friends over these 40 years. He will be missed."
Burnet has overseen Barker's care and is responsible for keeping the TV legend healthy for years. She is also the co-executor of Barker's estate.
Alex Wong/Newsmakers
On Saturday, Barker's publicist Roger Neal released a statement to ET, saying, "It is with profound sadness that we announce that the World's Greatest MC who ever lived, Bob Barker, has left us."
Prior to his relationship with Burnet, Barker was married to his high school sweetheart, Dorothy Gideon, for 35 years. Gideon tragically died of lung cancer in 1981. The couple had no children and Barker never remarried.
Barker previously spoke to ET about meeting Gideon for the first time, saying, "She was sitting on the Veranda at the hotel where I worked. There was a deck of cards there. She reached into the deck and pulled out the 10 of spades and she said, 'Here, this will be your luck.' And I've had this for 60 years and on the other side is Dorothy Joe."
Bob Barker and Dorothy Barker
Herb Ball/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank
Throughout his lengthy television career, Barker won 19 Emmy awards. He appeared as the host of The Price is Right for more than 35 years on CBS daytime and hosted a nighttime version and primetime specials on CBS as well. He retired from The Price Is Right in 2007.
In addition to his role on The Price Is Right, Barker also made appearances on The Nanny, The Bold and the Beautiful, as well as in Adam Sandler's comedy Happy Gilmore. He was also well known for hosting the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants as well as his popular radio show, The Bob Barker Show.
He spent his final years mostly out of the spotlight.
He is survived by his half-brother, Kent Valandra and half-nephews Robert Valandra and Chip Valandra and half-niece Vickie Valandra Kelly.
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