The cause of death for the legendary TV personality, Bob Barker, has been disclosed following his passing last month, just a few months short of his 100th birthday.
According to the official death certificate obtained by PEOPLE, Bob Barker, renowned as the host of “The Price Is Right,” succumbed to Alzheimer’s Disease. The document indicated that Barker had been grappling with Alzheimer’s for an extended period, though it did not specify the exact time of his diagnosis.
The certificate also identified “other significant conditions” that contributed to Barker’s passing, including hypertension (high blood pressure), hypothyroidism, and hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol).
In recent years, Barker had faced various health challenges. In January 2019, paramedics were summoned to Barker’s Hollywood Hills residence after he experienced a fall, although he was not subsequently hospitalized.
In October 2018, Barker’s manager confirmed to PEOPLE that an ambulance and the fire department had responded to Barker’s Hollywood Hills home due to a “non-emergency back problem.”
Roger Neal, Barker’s publicist, officially announced the passing of the 15-time Daytime Emmy winner on August 26. Neal expressed, “It is with profound sadness that we announce that the World’s Greatest MC who ever lived, Bob Barker, has left us.”
Barker’s girlfriend, Nancy Burnet, also paid tribute to him at the time, highlighting their joint efforts in exposing animal cruelty in the entertainment industry and advocating for abused and exploited animals in the United States and globally. Burnet reminisced about their enduring friendship over four decades and expressed her sorrow at his loss.
CBS, the network where Bob Barker hosted “The Price Is Right” for an astounding 35 years, paid homage to him with a primetime tribute.
Drew Carey, the current host of “The Price Is Right,” opened the special by acknowledging that while most people remember Bob Barker for his time on the show, he had a multifaceted career that included hosting “Truth or Consequences,” working in radio, and serving as a naval aviator during World War II. Carey hailed Barker as a “legend” before presenting a clip package that celebrated Barker’s illustrious career.
Barker took the reins of “The Price Is Right” in 1972, and the game show subsequently became the longest-running in U.S. television history. His enduring tenure on the show solidified his status as the longest-tenured game show host.
Reflecting on his time with “Price Is Right” in 2021, Barker remarked, “I’m often asked what I loved most about my years with Price, and the first thing that pops to mind is … the money, of course!” He continued by praising the dedicated and talented cast and crew he had the privilege of working with for 35 remarkable years.
