Bob Barker Has a Fiancée at 99 Yet Didn't Believe He Would Marry Again after Losing 'Love of His Life'

After Bob Barker's love of his life, Dorothy Jo Gideon, passed, he didn't think he'd find anyone new. Luckily, love came again unexpectedly in Nancy Burnet. Even though he is a little forgetful in old age, the two have built a new, happy life together.

Bob Barker was married to Dorothy Jo Gideon for 36 years, and he sincerely believed she was the love of his life. The two met in the mid-1930s at an Ella Fitzgerald concert and immediately fell in love. In 1945, with Barker on leave from the U.S. Navy, the two decided to elope to spend their lives together.

Unfortunately, in 1981, Dorothy passed away, leaving Bob sure that he would never find love again. The retired gameshow host contemplated that some men can remarry or find someone new, but not him. He found the love of his life when he was 21, and together they built the perfect.

Bob and Dorothy never had any children together. The "Price is Right" host noted that they never had any time for children. He also said that he doesn't regret not having any kids since so many of their friends had trouble with their kids. Keeping 13 ducks was enough for him.

After the loss of his wife, Bob has had a few accidents and some serious health issues, including a few falls and two strokes. Although he's not as active as he once was, Bob can still get around in his wheelchair.

Bob also found himself a new fiancée – Nancy Burnet. The two had been together for a while before they decided to tie the knot. At the age of 99, one would expect the Drury alumni to seem old and frail, but Nancy insisted that the opposite is true.

Bob claimed that he has lasted as long as he has, mainly due to two things, namely vegetarianism and staying active. He has followed a vegetarian diet for a long time, and he remembers taking karate classes with Chuck Norris for 30 years.

How Nancy Stole Bob's Heart

Bob's vegetarian diet has always stemmed from his love of animals. Throughout his life, the TV host has advocated for the fair treatment of animals. He has often encouraged people to spay and neuter animals to ensure responsible pet ownership and avoid needless suffering.

Nancy shares a love of animals with her husband-to-be. The two's love of animals is, in fact, the thing that initially brought them together. In March 1983, both Nancy and Bob attended an animal adoption event. They instantly bonded over their love of animals, and both of them felt strongly about animal rights activism.

Nancy mentioned that Bob is “a little bit forgetful” but that “comes with the territory.”

Eventually, Bob decided he would, in fact, remarry, and he and Nancy got engaged. Together they also decided to open an almost 2000-acre wildlife preserve called DonkeyLand. The preserve is dedicated to saving wild burros and their habitats. In this same vein, Nancy admires Bob greatly for the advocacy he has done:

"I think his legacy is just the lives — the millions of the animals that have not been born — because of his show. Helping to raise awareness about spaying and neutering, which is probably the most important thing … He made the awareness and made people think about it."

The "Truth or Consequences" host's fiancée also gushes about his professionalism and talent. She revealed that "Price is Right" never had to edit his takes. She also went on to talk about how happy he had been to host "Truth or Consequence" and said, "Even his peers agree that he's the most talented master of ceremonies."

Nancy says the "Happy Gilmore" actor is doing surprisingly well for a 99-year-old. She says he's happy, and they are both happy to be engaged. She also mentioned that he's a fan of the new host of "Price is Right," Drew Carey.

Where Is Bob Now?

But old age takes a toll on the body, and Nancy also notes that Bob just doesn't have the stamina to host "Price is Right" any longer. So, the aged animal rights activist decided to take a step back and retire.

Although Bob is in good shape, he has had a few mishaps and emergencies over the years. Besides the two strokes, the retired TV host has had a partially blocked left carotid artery, several instances of skin cancer, and prostate surgery.

Sadly, the "Price is Right" alum has also had a few falls over the years, resulting in more than a few stitches, knee injuries, and head injuries. Nancy mentioned that Bob is "a little bit forgetful," but that "comes with the territory."

His fiancée also mentions that, despite his age, he stays busy. Apparently, the retiree reads a lot, often losing himself in his library filled with history books. He especially prefers American history. At other times, he enjoys TV programs about animals, unsurprisingly.

Bob has also offered his outlook on his career over the years. Without bragging, the TV host talked about the number of shows he has worked on. He recalled how he has always been hard-working, and if he got a job, he made sure he kept it.

He also opened up about what it's like to be famous and admired by so many people. He said that he always considered it a compliment when a fan approached him. He commented that actors and stars should always remember why they are where they are and that without the fans, they would be nowhere.

Bob's fans have always not only been an inspiration for him but also one of the driving forces behind his stellar performances over the years. He recounted the times when the audience begged him to say his "Happy Gilmore" line during commercial breaks, and he never disappointed.

The star exhibits an almost endless amount of modesty. He told a story of a letter he had received from an elderly lady, saying he had never been as funny as he was one specific day. With humility, Bob commented on the letter, saying, "That day I earned my money."