Adam Sandler, Drew Carey, Rob Schneider.Photo:Todd Owyoung/NBC, Kevin Winter/Getty ,Jean Baptiste Lacroix/Getty
Todd Owyoung/NBC, Kevin Winter/Getty ,Jean Baptiste Lacroix/Getty
Bob Barker’s friends and fans are remembering him as an “American treasure,” a “sweet funny guy to hang out with,” and “an absolute legend.”
On Saturday, after it was announced that the legendary host ofThe Price is Righthad died at age 99, celebrities and media personalities began to share their memories of and with Barker — who hosted the show for 35 years before announcing his retirement at the age of 87.
“It is with profound sadness that we announce that the World’s Greatest MC who ever lived, Bob Barker, has left us," longtime publicist Roger Neal said in a statement.
“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 added in her own. “We were great friends over these 40 yrs. He will be missed.”
Sandler, who famously shared plenty of on-screen fun with Barker for his 1996 comedyHappy Gilmore, wrote on Instagram that Saturday marked a “heartbreaking day” for him.
Bob Barker holds a press conference in 2012.Amanda Edwards/WireImage
Amanda Edwards/WireImage
Rob Schneideralso remembered Barker for his work onHappy Gilmore, and shared a link to he and Sandler’s memorable fight scene from the film. “One of the nicest things I ever heard in show business was Bob Barker saying, ‘I moved to Hollywood to be an actor and the only person who ever let me do it was Adam Sandler,'” Schneiderrecalled on X (Twitter). “This scene with them was and will always be absolutely hilarious! God bless you, Bob.”
Julie Bowen, who starred alongside Adam Sandler in Happy Gilmore shared a special memory on Instagram of working with Barker. “I will never forget Adam convincing Bob Barker to say the iconic line, “the price is WRONG, bi*ch!” Bob was kind and polite and had declined to say the line, but he got swept up in the hilarious fight scene between him and Happy, he just…said it. It’s one of my favorite filming memories ever. In honor of Bob: please remember to spay and neuter your pets. RIP Bob.”
Those best known for their time on television also paid tribute to Barker on Saturday, including friendDrew Carey, who took over the role asThe Price is Righthost in 2007 when Barker stepped back.
Carey shared some thoughts of his own, writing that it was a “very sad day for thePrice Is Rightfamily, and animal lovers all over the world.” Barker notably was a longtime animal rights activist.
“There hasn’t been a day on set that I didn’t think of Bob Barker and thank him,” Carey shared. “I will carry his memory in my heart forever.#RIPBobBarkerWe love you.”
Ricki Lakecontinued to spread the message that Barker had come to be known for, writing in an Instargam post: “It was a huge honor and a giant undertaking, channeling my inner #bobbarker for the limited run series of #gameshowmarathon in 2006. I wish I could find the pics of Mr. Barker and me. 😩 A #nationaltreasure and a tireless advocate for animals. Have your pet stayed or neutered.’ May he rest in peace. 💔 #plinko #thepriceisright#adoptdontshop”
Rich Fields, who served asThe Price is Right’s announcer for seven seasons and worked alongside both Carey and Barker,wrote that the late host"changed my life and my wife[’s] life forever.”
“Everything that we have… we have because of Bob Barker,” he wrote, alongside a photo of him giving Barker a kiss on the cheek. “Thank you Mr. Barker. Rest In Peace with Dorothy Jo.”
PETA alsoshared a statementafter Barker’s death which touched on his animal rights activism, writing that “what mattered to him most was using his voice and prominent position to protect animals.” The organization shared that Barker was “one of the first stars to go vegetarian.”
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“His generous donation allowed PETA to open its West Coast headquarters, the Bob Barker Building, in 2012, and it stands as a testament to his legacy and profound commitment to making the world a kinder place. To us—and to so many animals around the world—Bob will always be a national animal rights treasure.”
Another tribute for Barker on Saturday came from Chris Jericho, the WWE star who famously had a heated confrontation with the guest host back in the day. “What a brutal week,” he wrote alongside a hilariousclip of himself and Barker.
John Rich, a country singer known for his work as part of the duo Big & Rich, even toasted Barker on Saturday, and reminded his followers ofVanna White’s appearance on the show with a throwback clip from 1980.
“We watched Bob Barker all the time growing up, he the best there ever was,” Rich wrote. “Remember the time @TheVannaWhitewas asked to “Come on down!” on The Price Is Right? He was an American treasure. RIP Bob Barker.”
Several media personalities also mourned Barker on Twitter, includingCNN’s Jim Acostaand Barstool Sports’Dan Katz, who called Barker’s years on the show “the GOAT game show.“Monica Crowley, former U.S. Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Public Affairs, also called Barker an “American institution” and wrote that they “spent many a sick day afternoon together.”
source: people.com
