Nancy Burnet Commemorates Bob Barker's Centennial Birthday Milestone
Nancy Burnet, the beloved girlfriend of TV host Bob Barker, fondly remembers him on his 100th birthday Discover what Burnet cherishes the most about her late partner in this heartfelt tribute
Bob Barker and Nancy Burnet Tibrina Hobson/FilmMagic/Getty Images
Nancy Burnet cherished her 40-year friendship with the late Bob Barker, noting their shared dry sense of humor and enjoyable conversations. Speaking on what would have been his 100th birthday, Burnet reminisced about Barker's charmed life and the aspects of his personality that she misses the most.
Burnet initially rejected Barker's romantic gestures, but eventually gave in, leading to a love story that lasted for decades. The two first met at an animal adoption event in 1983.
"He walked over to me that first day and introduced himself as Bob Barker. He asked if I was there to adopt a dog, and I said no, but ended up adopting the last one anyway," she reminisced. "The dog didn't want to go back into his cage, so I naturally took him home with me."
Barker invited Burnet to dinner that day, but she declined, citing her friends' presence and the need to drive her car. Barker then suggested that her friends drive her car so she could go on the date.
Despite not having dinner that night, Barker's persistence and their mutual passion for animal rights activism deepened their connection. On August 26, at the age of 99, Barker passed away. "It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of the World's Greatest MC who ever lived, Bob Barker," Barker's publicist, Roger Neal, stated at the time.
Weeks after his passing, it was disclosed that the beloved host of The Price Is Right, had succumbed to Alzheimer's disease.
Before his death, Barker had been married to Dorothy Jo Gideon since 1945 until she died from lung cancer in 1981. Barker later began a relationship with Burnet, although they never married - despite his efforts to do so.
"When we initially began dating, I inquired whether he had any plans to marry again," Burnet shared with ET on Tuesday. "He replied that he did not, and I told him, 'Great, because I don't either.' That's something we can both agree on." Despite this, Barker did propose to Burnet "several times" throughout the years.
She explained, "I never had any intention of remarrying, and I definitely did not want to live with anyone. As a Christian, I hold strong values about that."
Deal of the Day
Score Serious Savings on This Makeup Remover and Lash Conditioner Duo
View Deal
One thing Barker did that will always make Burnet laugh is draft a prenup, for use in the unlikely event that she decided to marry him.
“He just didn’t really take no for an answer,” Burnet recalled, noting that she still has the prenup as a “keepsake” of the late star.
