Who Was Host, Bob Barker? Died Of Alzheimer’s, Had Suicidal Thoughts After Wife’s Death And More

Bob Barker, the host of the popular game show, The Price Is Right, is hogging the limelight for all the wrong reasons. For the unversed, The Price Is Right model, Holly Hallstrom dropped a bombshell interview on the late game show host. In a recent interview, Holly revealed that Bob forced her into early retirement from the show, The Price Is Right. The former American model highlighted that she was fired due to her weight, but she felt the makers punished her over the show’s scandals.

Now that Bob Barker is making headlines for an incident almost three decades ago, people have become curious to know who he was. The popular game show host passed away in 2023. He left for the heavenly abode just a few days before his 100th birthday. But do you know, Bob wanted to take his own life after his wife, Dorothy Jo Gideon? Yes, you read it right. So, without further ado, let’s jump in to know more about the late game show host, Bob Barker.

Bob Barker’s early life and education

Bob Barker was born as Robert William Barker on December 12, 1923, in Washington. He grew up on the Rosebud Reservation in Mission, South Dakota. He attended Drury College in Missouri. In 1943, he joined the Navy. Before making his TV career, Bob worked in the radio industry. In 1956, Bob began his TV career with show, Truth or Consequences. In 1972, he rose to fame with the game show, The Price Is Right.

Bob Barker married his high school sweetheart, Dorothy Jo Gideon

Bob Barker met his ladylove, Dorothy Jo Gideon, when he was just 15. He tied the knot with his high school sweetheart, Dorothy, in 1945. At the time, Bob was on leave as a Navy pilot. The couple was happily married for more than three decades. But their marriage came to a halt after the tragic death of Dorothy in 1981. Once in an interview, Bob shared that he would never marry again, as Dorothy was the love of his life.

Bob Barker was deeply affected by his wife, Dorothy Jo Gideon’s death

Dorothy passed away on October 19, 1981, at the age of 57. She was diagnosed with lung cancer in early 1981, and she left for the heavenly abode six months after her diagnosis. Her sudden death had deeply affected her husband, Bob Barker. In a past interview with People, Bob’s half-brother, Kent Valandra, revealed that the game show host slipped into depression and was a totally different person for two or three years after her wife’s death. In the documentary, Dirty Rotten Scandals: The Price Is Right, people close to Bob revealed that he experienced suicidal thoughts after his wife, Dorothy’s death. Speaking of the following, show producer, Barbara Hunter said:

“Bob really went into a funk after that. He was ready to take his own life. That’s what he shared with me.”

Bob Barker died at the age of 99

On August 26, 2023, Bob Barker took his last breath. According to multiple reports, Bob died at his Los Angeles home. He was 99 when he left for the heavenly abode. The cause of his death was Alzheimer’s disease. According to his death certificate, Bob had other health factors, including hypertension, hypothyroidism and hyperlipidemia. The certificate also indicated that Bob’s mortal remains were expected to be interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, the same place where his wife, Dorothy, was buried.

The Price Is Right model, Holly Hallstrom, reveals Bob Barker forced her into early retirement from the game show