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Bob Barker Just Turned 93 Years Young, Here’s How He Wants To Be Remembered [Video]

By Patricia Ramirez
Published on: 14:21 PST, Dec 14, 2016

On December 12, Bob Barker celebrated his 93rd birthday. Barker is perhaps the most renowned game show host in America. Under his watch, The Price Is Right earned the title of “longest-running game show in North America.” Bob Barker held the reins of the fan-favorite game show in his capable hands from 1972 to 2007 before handing over the coveted hosting gig to Drew Carey.

Last month, just before Bob Barker turned a ripe 93 years young, The Price Is Right celebrated 60 continuous years on the air.

Not bad.

According to beloved long-time host Bob Barker, The Price Is Right had (and has) huge fan appeal because everyone wants to win a prize. The Price Is Right has given regular folks the chance to do just that for six decades, reports Parade. And when speaking of the secret of the show’s success, Bob Barker claimed that it has remained so popular because anyone can be a winner.

“People always like to win prizes. And they can win them without knowing who discovered America or anything in the way of history.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLJ3g0sAO9s

Indeed, rather than being a quiz-type game show, the daytime standby that made Bob Barker a household name made it possible for the average Joe (or Jane) to go on TV and come away a big winner with just a couple good guesses and flick of the wrist spinning the big wheel.

In addition to being known as the guy who gave away cash and prizes far and wide for decades, Barker also has another claim to fame — and no, we’re not talking about his “Barker’s Beauties.” Before retiring at the impressive age of 83, Bob Barker often showed his animal advocate colors at the end of The Price Is Right episodes. If you ever watched the popular show, you may remember Barker talking about pet “fixing” more often than not.

“Help control the the pet population. Have your pets spayed or neutered.”

That’s right. Bob Barker, game show host millionaire and “father” of The Price Is Right, often ended his broadcasts by talking about animal reproduction and, specifically, slowing down the process to prevent “unwanted” animals from being euthanized. In addition to being at the helm of the longest-running American game show for decades and decades, Bob Barker was and is also a renowned and passionate advocate for the rights and protections of creatures.

In fact, according to Bob Barker himself, that’s what he wants to be remembered for in the years and decades to come — not so much the kitschy games and hamming it up with contestants, but his love of animals and the work he has done to ease their plight in modern society.

Even after his hard-earned and well-deserved retirement in 2007, Bob Barker has devoted his time, energy, and considerable fortune to helping animals. Following the conclusion of his iconic stint on The Price Is Right, Barker has actually devoted more of his time to helping his beloved animals. Monetarily, Bob has donated millions to animal rights organizations. In a single donation, Bob Barker handed over a cool $1 million to fund the transportation of three African elephants to a California sanctuary.

He’s even fought against the television industry that made him rich and famous. Just last summer, Bob Barker and PETA worked together to end the use of real animals on the CBS series Zoo.

Bob Barker says that he is frequently asked what he misses most about his game show hosting gig.

“People ask me, ‘What do you miss most about Price is Right?’ And I say, ‘The money.’ But that is not altogether true. I miss the people, too.”

He missed the people so much that, just three years ago, Barker showed up on The Price Is Right for his 90th birthday bash.

[Image by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP Images]

Even so, Barker concurs that his 2007 retirement was “the right decision.”

While he just barely celebrated a milestone birthday, Bob Barker has been talking about his legacy for years. The conversation of how he’d like to be remembered began long ago, and he discussed his wishes in a 2000 interview.

“How would I like to be remembered? As the man who said, ‘Have your pets spayed or neutered.”

There you have it. Despite his decades on television, decades largely spent making his devoted contestants and fans happy and giving away tons of free stuff (not to mention the buckets of money he earned throughout his career), Barker wants to be remembered for something else entirely. According to Bob, his animal rights activism has been the most worthwhile part of his life and legacy.

So show a little love to Bob Barker, pay a little homage, and have your pets spayed or neutered.

[Featured Image by Damian Dovarganes/AP Images]

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