Bob Barker (1923-) was born into a modest home environment in the state of Washington. Barker spent most of his youth, however, on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in Mission, South Dakota, enrolled as a member of the Sioux tribe. Somewhat typical of his generation, as a youth he enlisted for military service in WW2. After the war, he returned to Drury (College) University to finish his education, graduating summa cum laude with a degree in economics.
Baker worked part-time in radio while attending college. He moved to California in 1950 to pursue a broadcasting career. He was given his own radio show, The Bob Barker Show, which ran for six years. He began his television game show career in 1956, hosting Truth or Consequences until 1972. He hosted the Miss Universe and Miss USA pageants from 1967 to 1987, giving him the distinction of being the longest-serving host of those pageants. Barker is best known for hosting CBS's The Price Is Right from 1972 to 2007, making it the longest-running daytime game show in North American television history. His popular 1987 decision to appear without black hair dye was immediately accepted by a cheering audience. Considering his salesmanship, it is no wonder he was destined to be a "barker."
Though officially retiring in 2007, Barker continued to make occasional public appearances until 2017. One of his best received was a 2015 April Fools' Day appearance on The Price Is Right, taking Drew Carey's place at the beginning of the show.
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