Bob Barker’s cause of death revealed: Price Is Right host secretly battled Alzheimer’s disease before he passed away aged 99

Legendary Price Is Right host Bob Barker’s cause of death at 99 has been revealed as the result of a secret battle with Alzheimer’s Disease.

According to TMZ on Tuesday, the television icon’s death certificate said that he had suffered from progressive disease that destroys memory and other important mental functions which he had never publicly addressed before.

It remains unclear how long his battle with Alzheimer’s was but the documents read that his death came ‘years’ after it began.

Back in 2013, Bob teamed up with PETA to highlight the benefits of a vegetarian diet with claims that giving up animal meat can help prevent the onset of the disease.

Tragic: Legendary Price Is Right host Bob Barker's cause of death at 99 has been revealed as the result of a secret battle with Alzheimer's Disease; he is pictured in June 2007

Tragic: Legendary Price Is Right host Bob Barker’s cause of death at 99 has been revealed as the result of a secret battle with Alzheimer’s Disease; he is pictured in June 2007

The television personality had suffered multiple falls over the years.

He also had minor battles with skin cancer and took multiple trips to the hospital in 2018 over health issues. 

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive, degenerative disease of the brain, in which build-up of abnormal proteins causes nerve cells to die.

This disrupts the transmitters that carry messages, and causes the brain to shrink.

His death was confirmed on Saturday, August 26 by his longtime publicist, Roger Neal.

It was claimed at the time that he had passed from natural causes in his longtime Hollywood Hills home. 

‘It is with profound sadness that we announce that the World’s Greatest MC who ever lived, Bob Barker, has left us,’ Neal said in a statement, obtained by NBC News. 

Barker’s girlfriend Nancy Burnet, broke her silence to say that she is ‘so proud of 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.’ 

Thoughtful: Back in 2013, Bob teamed up with PETA to highlight the benefits of a vegetarian diet with claims that giving up animal meat can help prevent the onset of the disease

Thoughtful: Back in 2013, Bob teamed up with PETA to highlight the benefits of a vegetarian diet with claims that giving up animal meat can help prevent the onset of the disease

What is Alzheimer’s?

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive, degenerative disease of the brain, in which build-up of abnormal proteins causes nerve cells to die.

This disrupts the transmitters that carry messages, and causes the brain to shrink. 

More than 5 million people suffer from the disease in the US, where it is the 6th leading cause of death, and more than 1 million Britons have it.

WHAT HAPPENS?

As brain cells die, the functions they provide are lost. 

That includes memory, orientation and the ability to think and reason. 

The progress of the disease is slow and gradual. 

On average, patients live five to seven years after diagnosis, but some may live for ten to 15 years.

EARLY SYMPTOMS:

  • Loss of short-term memory
  • Disorientation
  • Behavioral changes
  • Mood swings
  • Difficulties dealing with money or making a phone call 

LATER SYMPTOMS:

  • Severe memory loss, forgetting close family members, familiar objects or places
  • Becoming anxious and frustrated over inability to make sense of the world, leading to aggressive behavior 
  • Eventually lose ability to walk
  • May have problems eating 
  • The majority will eventually need 24-hour care   

 Source: Alzheimer’s Association

 

A major loss: His death was confirmed on Saturday, August 26 by his longtime publicist, Roger Neal; seen in 2007

A major loss: His death was confirmed on Saturday, August 26 by his longtime publicist, Roger Neal; seen in 2007

Long career: The star was the longtime host of the game show The Price Is Right; pictured in 1984

Long career: The star was the longtime host of the game show The Price Is Right; pictured in 1984

‘We were great friends over these 40 yrs. He will be missed,’ his partner, 79, said in her own statement, obtained by People.

The star was the longtime host of the game show The Price Is Right, beginning his run in 1972.

The show, which had been on air since the 50s and was in decline, was revitalized by Barker, who was the face of the show until 2007.

Before that, Bob had taken over as host of Truth or Consequences in 1956. 

The MC, born Robert William Barker, was born in Darrington, Washington, on December 12, 1923.

When he was 6-years-old he moved to Mission, South Dakota, to live on a Sioux Indian reservation with his mom, according to NBC.

The move came after Byron John Barker tragically died in a workplace accident. 

His mother Matilda Kent Tarleton, who was a schoolteacher, relocated to Missouri after she remarried. 

Near the end of World War II Bob served two years in the Navy.

He then went back to Missouri, where he attended Drury College and completed a degree in economics. 

Flashback: Bob pictured in Los Angeles in 1970

Flashback: Bob pictured in Los Angeles in 1970

His life: The MC, born Robert William Barker, was born in Darrington, Washington, on December 12, 1923; pictured in 2015

His life: The MC, born Robert William Barker, was born in Darrington, Washington, on December 12, 1923; pictured in 2015

From there, Barker was hired at a Florida radio station.

Moving to Burbank, California In 1950, he helmed a radio program called The Bob Barker Show.

Six years later he Barker he became host of Truth or Consequences, keeping the gig for 18 years until the show ended.

He held multiple jobs in tandem, including a two-decade run as the host of the Miss Universe and Miss America pageants.

He was also presenter of the New Year’s Day Tournament of Roses Parade for a long stretch beginning in 1969. 

Barker was married once, to his high school sweetheart Dorothy Jo Gideon, from 1945 until her death in 1981.

He is survived by half-brother Kent Valandra, half-nephews Robert Valandra and Chip Valandra, and half-niece Vickie Valandra Kelly.

Throughout his career Bob was awarded 19 Daytime Emmys and received an Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999.

Rest in peace: Barker is survived by half-brother Kent Valandra, half-nephews Robert Valandra and Chip Valandra, and half-niece Vickie Valandra Kelly

Rest in peace: Barker is survived by half-brother Kent Valandra, half-nephews Robert Valandra and Chip Valandra, and half-niece Vickie Valandra Kelly

In memoriam: Adam Sandler was among the first to pay tribute to the late host, taking to Instagram with a collection of photos and a heartfelt caption

In memoriam: Adam Sandler was among the first to pay tribute to the late host, taking to Instagram with a collection of photos and a heartfelt caption

Bob, an animal rights activist, famously ended each episode of The Price Is Right urging the audience to, ‘Help control the pet population. Have your pets spayed or neutered.’

In 1995 he founded called charity called the DJ&T Foundation – name after his wife and her mother – which provided services for pet owners.

And when fur coats were being gifted as prizes on The Price Is Right, he said he ‘went to [producer] Mark Goodson and told him I didn’t want to be on the stage with these fur coats.’ 

‘So he took fur coats off our show,’ Bob said in a 2013 CBS This Morning interview.

Adam Sandler was among the first to pay tribute to the late host, taking to Instagram with a collection of photos and a heartfelt caption.

‘The man. The myth. The best. Such a sweet funny guy to hang out with. Loved talking to him. Loved laughing with him. Loved him kicking the crap out of me,’ he wrote.

The 56-year-old Big Daddy actor added: ‘He will be missed by everyone I know! Heartbreaking day. Love to Bob always and his family! Thanks for all you gave us!’

The post has so far been liked more than 210,000 times by Adam’s 18.8 million followers.

Tribute: Other posts remembering Barker came from fans and celebs alike, with one Twitter user writing, 'It was exciting back then to know we could watch all of the game shows when we were sick, and Bob was the comfort in that fact

Tribute: Other posts remembering Barker came from fans and celebs alike, with one Twitter user writing, ‘It was exciting back then to know we could watch all of the game shows when we were sick, and Bob was the comfort in that fact

Parallel: Music artist Gretchen Keskeys compared him to entertainment legend Betty White

Parallel: Music artist Gretchen Keskeys compared him to entertainment legend Betty White

Classic: Rob Schneider remembered Bob's role alongside Adam Sandler in the 1996 film Happy Gilmore

Classic: Rob Schneider remembered Bob’s role alongside Adam Sandler in the 1996 film Happy Gilmore

Legacy: Former United States Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Public Affairs called the host 'an American institution'

Legacy: Former United States Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Public Affairs called the host ‘an American institution’

'Thanks for the memories': A Twitter user named Jeff described Barker as the 'GOAT,' or 'greatest of all time'

‘Thanks for the memories’: A Twitter user named Jeff described Barker as the ‘GOAT,’ or ‘greatest of all time’ 

Other posts remembering Barker came from fans and celebs alike, with one Twitter user writing, ‘It was exciting back then to know we could watch all of the game shows when we were sick, and Bob was the comfort in that fact. I will miss him.’ 

Actor Rob Schneider appeared online to write on Twitter, ‘One of the nicest things I ever heard in show business was Bob Barker saying, “I moved to Hollywood to be an actor and the only person who ever let me do it was Adam Sandler!”‘

Commenting on an outtake from the 1996 movie Happy Gilmore, Schneider added: ‘This scene with them was and will always be absolutely hilarious! 

‘God bless you, Bob.’