Following the passing of The Price Is Right host Bob Barker, his cause of death has now been revealed.
The 99-year-old beloved gameshow host was sadly pronounced dead on August 26 after he passed away at his Los Angeles home.
In a heartfelt statement released on the day of his death, Roger Neal, Barker's longtime publicist, announced the sad news, saying: "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, 79, also shared her heartbreak and her pride at the "trailblazing work" they "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."
While his cause of death was initially declared as "natural causes", his death certificate has since been obtained by People Magazine, and it revealed that Barker died as a result of Alzheimer's Disease.
Alongside this, Hypertension (high blood pressure), hypothyroidism, and hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol) were also noted as "other significant conditions" contributing to his death.
With a career that spanned over five decades, Barker became an unforgettable fixture in the annals of American television history.
He took the reins of the show in 1972, breathing new life into a format that had waned since the late '50s. Under Barker's stewardship, the show became a daytime TV cornerstone, and it continues to run successfully even a decade and a half after his retirement.
Robert Thompson, the director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture at Syracuse University, shared his thoughts on the passing of the legendary game show host.
"From the black and white era of television right up to the new century, Bob Barker had a real presence on two really big shows," Thompson remarked.
He also emphasized Barker's unique hosting style, noting that "you’ve got some game shows where the host just stands behind a podium, but Barker really interacted with regular people" who were contestants. "And he was particularly good at it," Thompson added.
Beyond the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry, Barker was a passionate animal rights activist. His commitment to animal welfare was evident as he closed each episode of The Price Is Right with a heartfelt message advocating for pet population control by encouraging owners to neuter their animals.
In 1995, he established the DJ&T Foundation, named after his late wife and her mother, to provide vital services for pet owners.
Barker's publicist told Entertainment Tonight that the star will not have a public funeral or memorial service at his own request.
