Following the announcement of Barker’s death at the age of 99, a number of celebrities paid tribute to him with messages online.
Bob Barker’s friends and fans remember him as an “American treasure,” a “sweet funny guy to hang out with,” and “an absolute legend.”
On Saturday, when it became public that the well-renowned host of The Price is Right had died at the age of 99, celebrities and media personalities began to share their fondest memories of and with Barker — who was host for the show for 35 years until retiring 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,” said longtime publicist Roger Neal 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 statement. “We were great friends over these 40 yrs. He will be missed.”
Adam Sandler, who memorably co-starred with Barker in the 1996 comedy Happy Gilmore, stated on Instagram that Saturday was a “heartbreaking day” for him. His post received a whopping 1.3M+ likes:
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“The man. The myth. The best,” Sandler tweeted, with photographs of the two together. “Such a sweet funny guy to hang out with. Loved talking to him. Loved laughing with him. Loved him kicking the crap out of me. He will be missed by everyone I know! Heartbreaking day. Love to Bob always and his family! Thanks for all you gave us!”
Rob Schneider also commended Barker for his work on Happy Gilmore and shared a link to his and Adam Sandler’s memorable fight scene from the movie. “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,'” Schneider recalled in a X (Twitter) post. “This scene with them was and will always be absolutely hilarious! God bless you, Bob.” The tweet garnered a stunning 1.4M+ Views, with 5.5K+ Reposts and 42.3K+ Likes:
One of the nicest things I ever heard in showbusiness 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!”
This scene with them was and will always be absolutely hilarious!
God bless you, Bob https://t.co/5kKt0EM81x— Rob Schneider (@RobSchneider) August 26, 2023
Julie Bowen, who co-starred in Happy Gilmore with Adam Sandler, shared a memorable experience on Instagram of collaborating 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.” The Instagram post received 103K+ likes:
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On Saturday, those most known for their time on television paid tribute to Barker, including pal Drew Carey, who took over as The Price is Right host in 2007 when Barker stepped down.
Carey expressed his own feelings, stating that it was a “very sad day for the Price Is Right family, and animal lovers all over the world.” Barker was a well-known longtime animal rights campaigner.
“There hasn’t been a day on set that I didn’t think of Bob Barker and thank him,” shared Carey. “I will carry his memory in my heart forever. #RIPBobBarker We love you.” His Instagram post got 582.2K+ Views and 18.6K+ Likes:
Very sad day for the Price Is Right family, and animal lovers all over the world. There hasn’t been a day on set that I didn’t think of Bob Barker and thank him. I will carry his memory in my heart forever.#RIPBobBarker
We love you ❤️— ʎǝɹɐƆ ʍǝɹᗡ (@DrewFromTV) August 26, 2023
Ricki Lake continued to convey the message for which Barker had become known, writing on Instagram: “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”. Her Instagram post got over 2.1K likes:
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Rich Fields, who worked as an announcer for The Price is Right for seven seasons alongside both Carey and Barker, wrote that the departed 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 himself kissing Barker on the cheek. “Thank you Mr. Barker. Rest In Peace with Dorothy Jo.” @iRichFields tweet was viewed by over 19K users:
Here are the last two photos that I ever took with Mr. Barker. I have said it many times but Bob changed my life and my wife @iChrisFields
life forever. Everything that we have… we have because of Bob Barker. Thank you Mr. Barker. Rest In Peace with Dorothy Jo. pic.twitter.com/qmy74OrsNO— Rich Fields (@iRichFields) August 26, 2023
PETA also made a statement following Barker’s death that mentioned his animal rights advocacy, stating that “what mattered to him most was using his voice and prominent position to protect animals.” The organization pointed out that Barker was “one of the first stars to go vegetarian.”
“He joined PETA in urging families to stay away from SeaWorld, demanded the closure of cruel bear pits masquerading as tourist attractions, implored Hollywood to take action to protect animals used in film and TV, and, as a Navy veteran, called for the end of military medical drills on live animals,” PETA wrote.
“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.”
On Saturday, Chris Jericho, the WWE star who infamously had a heated debate with the guest host back in the day, paid tribute to Barker. “What a brutal week,” he wrote beside a funny clip of himself and Barker. Jericho’s post received 80K+ likes:
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“Sorry to hear about the passing of the legendary #BobBarker, who by far was the BEST guest host in #WWERaw history. He is also the only guy who almost made me break on camera. See if u can notice when in this clip! Thank u Bob for everything you contributed to show business and for loving and respecting pro wrestling as an art form! @wwe”
John Rich, a country artist known for his work with the duet Big & Rich, toasted Barker on Saturday, and reminded his followers of Vanna White’s visit 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 Vanna White was asked to “Come on down!” on The Price Is Right? He was an American treasure. RIP Bob Barker.”
@TheVannaWhite paid tribute to Barker thanking him for introducing her to the game show world. Her tweet got 308.1K Views, and over 13.8K Likes:
When I moved to LA in 1980, I was on Price Is Right and met Bob Barker. Thank you Bob for introducing me to the game show world! We will miss you. pic.twitter.com/b4VTbI1DzF
— Vanna White (@TheVannaWhite) August 27, 2023
Several media figures, including CNN’s Jim Acosta and Barstool Sports’ Dan Katz, also mourned Barker on Twitter, calling Barker’s time on the show “the GOAT game show.” Former U.S. Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Public Affairs Monica Crowley dubbed Barker an “American institution” and mentioned that they “spent many a sick day afternoon together.”
@Acosta’s tweet included a short clip of Barker and got 104.7K+ Views:
Beloved “Price is Right” host and animal welfare advocate Bob Barker has passed away at the age of 99. RIP. pic.twitter.com/wzkxVi4Anc
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) August 26, 2023
@BarstoolBigCat paid tribute with a short clip of a segment on the GOAT game show garnering over 4.3M Views:
RIP Bob Barker. An absolute legend. Price Is Right with Bob Barker will forever be the GOAT game show pic.twitter.com/1rkBC9mAlo
— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) August 26, 2023
@MonicaCrowley also remembered Barker in a tweet with a short clip of the famous game show:
We spent many a sick day afternoon together.
Bob Barker was an American institution.
RIP Legendpic.twitter.com/BegmSTTTNJ
— Monica Crowley (@MonicaCrowley) August 26, 2023
NATAS President and CEO Adam Sharp extended his respects in a statement: “Bob Barker was a Daytime television mainstay for generations. He helped to define the game show genre, cementing the Price is Right as a powerhouse format that has remained essentially unchanged for more than half a century. You don’t mess with perfection. His championship of the craft and for animal welfare were equal in their exuberance. His presence will be missed greatly by the Emmy community.”
The late longtime TV personality is survived by his half-brother Kent Valandra, half-nephews Robert Valandra and Chip Valandra, and a half-niece, Vickie Valandra Kelly.
While paying tribute to the legendary Bob Barker, share your fondest memories of the late game show host in the comments below!
