Robert William Barker (December 12, 1923 – August 26, 2023) was an American media personality and animal rights advocate.

He hosted CBS's The Price Is Right, the longest-running game show in North American television history, from 1972 to 2007.

Regarded as a pop culture icon, Barker continued to make occasional appearances for several years into his retirement until 2015.

Barker was born in Darrington, Washington, and spent most of his youth on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in Mission, South Dakota.

"[5] Barker met his future wife, Dorothy Jo Gideon, at an Ella Fitzgerald concert while he was attending high school in Missouri; they began dating when he was 15.

[8] Barker joined the United States Navy Reserve in 1943 during World War II to train as a fighter pilot but did not serve in combat.

[12] In early 1972, Mark Goodson and Bill Todman began shopping a modernized revival of The Price Is Right, with Dennis James as host.

[24] In 1987, Barker requested the removal of fur prizes for the Miss USA pageant and stepped down as host when the producers refused.

[30] Barker founded DJ&T Foundation in 1994, named after his late wife and mother, which has contributed millions of dollars to animal-neutering programs[31] and funded animal rescue and park facilities all over the United States.

The ship was then named the MY Bob Barker, and its existence was first revealed when it helped discover the location of the Japanese whaling fleet.

[37][38] Barker participated in several PETA public service announcements over the years, including one that claimed that vegan diets prevent Alzheimer's disease.

American Humane responded by suing Barker for $10 million, citing libel, slander and invasion of privacy.

[42] In a series of public advertisements along with the lawsuit, American Humane responded to Barker's claims that his allegations were made based on insufficient and misleading information.

[43] In 1994, former model Dian Parkinson filed a lawsuit against Barker alleging sexual harassment following a three-year affair while working on The Price Is Right.

Parkinson, who alleged that she was extorted by threats of firing, later dropped her lawsuit, claiming the stress from the ordeal was damaging her health.

[45] In October 2007, Deborah Curling, a CBS employee assigned to The Price Is Right, filed a lawsuit against CBS, Bob Barker, and The Price Is Right producers, claiming that she was forced to quit her job after testifying against Barker in a wrongful-termination lawsuit brought by a previous show producer.

[49] On September 16, 1999, Barker was in Washington, D.C., to testify before Congress regarding proposed legislation that would ban captive elephants from traveling shows, such as circuses.

Barker was admitted to George Washington University Hospital and diagnosed with a partially blocked left carotid artery.

Barker consulted a dermatologist regularly to make sure any cancers were caught and removed before they spread; they did not pose a threat to his life.

They called an ambulance which took him to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where Barker received stitches for an injured forehead and was released; he also hurt his left knee.

[57] Barker's last public interview was with People in August 2021, in which he discussed The Price Is Right's upcoming 50th season on air.

[58] As of 2022, Burnet stated that other than some non-prescription supplements such as collagen and a meal replacement drink to replenish nutrients not found naturally in Barker's vegetarian diet, he took only one prescription medication for hypothyroidism.

[61] Barker's autobiography, Priceless Memories, written with former Los Angeles Times book review editor Digby Diehl, was published on April 6, 2009.