Dorothy Jo Gideon’s biography: Everything to know about Bob Barker's wife
Dorothy Jo Gideon is famously known as the wife of Bob Barker, a legendary TV personality. For many years, Barker graced the TV screens, hosting game shows such as The Price Is Right. The Emmy award-winning TV host was married to Dorothy for over thirty years. But did you know that the two started dating at the age of 15?
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Dorothy Jo Gideon was a big part of Bob Barker's life. Her death took a toll on his life, leaving him in extreme loneliness. Nonetheless, his love for his late wife was on another level. Several years later, she remains in his heart. He always visits her during their anniversaries. Additionally, he never married or got into any other relationship after her demise.
Profile summary
| Birth name | Dorothy Jo Gideon |
| Famous as | Bob Barker's wife |
| Gender | Female |
| Date of birth | 25 February 1924 |
| Place of birth | Springfield, Missouri, United States |
| Died | 19 October 1981 |
| Place of death | Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Age of death | 57 years old |
| Zodiac sign | Pisces |
| Buried | Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Sexual orientation | Straight |
| Hair colour | Dark brown |
| Eye colour | Hazel |
| Father | Jack Oliver Gideon |
| Mother | Dorothy L. Evans Gideon |
| Spouse | Bob Barker (m. 1945–1981) |
| Children | None |
| Profession | TV personality, human rights activist |
Dorothy Jo Gideon’s biography
The human rights activist was born and raised in Springfield, Missouri, United States. She is presumably the only daughter of Dorothy L. Evans and Jack Oliver Gideon.
Her father, Oliver, was in the force and is a WWI veteran. Jo never mentioned having siblings in her lifetime. Nonetheless, she was an American national of white ethnicity.
What happened to Bob Barker's first wife?
Bob Barker's wife, Dorothy Jo Gideon, passed away on 19 October 1981. At the time of her demise, she was 57 years old. Her zodiac sign was a Pisces.
What was Dorothy Jo Gideon's cause of death?
Dorothy Jo Gideon succumbed to lung cancer in October 1981. She was diagnosed with the condition in April 1981. Sadly, she died six months later, a few months after celebrating her 57th birthday.
Dorothy's death deeply affected Bob Barker to the extent he never remarried again. Barker told People in 1999:
I'll never marry again. Dorothy Jo was the love of my life. I immersed myself in [work. I just tried to stay busy.
Bob's half-brother, Kent Valandra, told People magazine that his brother went into depression after his wife passed away.
Bob went into this deep depression and was a totally different person for two or three years
What did Bob Barker's wife do?
Source: UGC
The late wife of Bob Barker was a television personality and an animal rights activist. She is remembered for appearing in It's Your Bet (1972) and Tattletales (1975-1976). Additionally, she occasionally sang in television commercials.
Jo was also an animal lover and animal rights activist. Bob once revealed that he was inspired to champion the rights of animals because of his late wife. In a 2007 interview with Good Morning America, the legendary game show host said:
She was ahead of her time. She really was. She stopped wearing fur coats before anyone was stopping. She became a vegetarian before people were becoming vegetarian. And I gradually did the same thing with her.
How many times was Bob Barker married?
Dorothy Josephine Gideon was the only wife of The Price Is Right game show host. The two met in their teenage years. Interestingly, Dorothy was 14 years old when he met Bob, who was a year older than her.
Their first date was at the Ella Fitzgerald concert in Missouri. As the years passed, they established close ties and would later become a couple. Dorothy Jo Gideon's wedding took place on 12 January 1945.
Bob Barker and Dorothy Jo Gideon's marriage lasted 36 years and were only separated by death. Several years later, the TV icon still honours his wife by taking flowers to her grave on her anniversary.
The last time he was spotted at Forest Lawn Memorial Park was in 2017. But unlike many celebrities, he never considered remarrying.
Did Bob Barker have any kids?
Many have been wondering who Bob Barker's children are. The couple was comfortable not having children. Barker aired his thoughts on the issue once in an interview with Esquire. He noted:
We didn't have time for children. I don't regret it, not when so many of my friends are having so much trouble with their children. I have thirteen ducks, and that's a lot of work.
Who was Bob Barker?
Bob Barker was a well-known American television game show host. He is best recognized for his long tenure as the host of The Price Is Right, one of the most popular game shows in television history. Barker hosted the show from 1972 until his retirement in 2007.
Before The Price Is Right, Barker hosted Truth or Consequences, another popular game show. In addition to his TV career, he was an outspoken animal rights activist, famously ending each episode of The Price Is Right with the reminder:
Help control the pet population. Have your pets spayed or neutered.
Source: Getty Images
What was Bob Barker's net worth?
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Bob Barker'a net worth is $0 at the time of his death. Bob vowed to die broke after donating all his wealth to animal charities.
At the height of his wealth, Bob's fortune reached $70 million. Throughout his life, he contributed over $30 million to animal charities and causes. A passionate advocate for animal rights, Bob's significant donations included $2.5 million to PETA in 2012, leading them to name their West Coast headquarters in his honour.
He also invested $25 million of his own funds to create the "DJ&T Foundation," which supports clinics offering spaying and neutering services. Additionally, he donated $5 million to the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, funding an anti-whaling ship named the "S.S. Bob Barker."
Bob Barker's funeral
Bob Barker, the host of The Price Is Right, died on 26 August 2023 at the age of 99 years. According to TMZ, the statement read:
We lost a beloved member of the CBS family today with the passing of Bob Barker. During his 35 years as host of ‘The Price Is Right,’ Bob made countless people’s dreams come true and everyone feel like a winner when they were called to ‘come on down.’ In addition to his legendary 50-year career in broadcasting, Bob will be remembered as a dedicated animal rights activist. Daytime television has lost one of its most iconic stars
Barker's family decided on a private funeral service to honour his wishes for a quiet Farewell. He was laid to rest next to his wife, Dorothy Jo Gideon, at Forest Lawn Memorial Cemetery in the Hollywood Hills.
What was Bob Barker suffering from?
Bob has had a few health issues over the years. For instance, he once had skin cancer, stroke, knee injury, and prostate injury. Also, he has made few public appearances since retiring from the show business industry in 2007.
According to his death certificate, Bob Barker had been living with Alzheimer's disease for several years before his passing at the age of 99.
Source: Getty Images
Was Bob Barker married when he did The Price Is Right?
Yes, Bob Barker was married while hosting The Price Is Right. He married his high school sweetheart, Dorothy Jo Gideon, in 1945, and they remained together until her passing in 1981.
After her death, Bob Barker never remarried. He continued hosting The Price Is Right until his retirement in 2007, often sharing his deep affection for his late wife in interviews.
Did Bob Barker marry again?
After his wife's passing, Barker chose not to remarry, stating that he simply never felt the need to. However, Barker did continue to date. Eight years after his wife's death, he began a relationship with Dian Parkinson, a model from The Price Is Right.
Their relationship eventually ended when Barker discovered that Parkinson might have been using him. He said:
I heard that she was using her relationship with me to have her way on the set.
In 1994, Parkinson filed an $8 million sexual harassment lawsuit against Barker. However, she withdrew the suit a year later.
Barker also dated Nancy Burnet. Their relationship was casual and grounded in friendship and shared interests. Bob Barker and Nancy Burnet have been close companions for many years, bonded by their shared passion for animal rights.
Nancy Burnet, an animal rights activist, has collaborated with Barker on numerous initiatives to promote animal welfare. They met in the early 1980s, shortly after Barker's wife, Dorothy Jo Gideon, passed away.
They have worked together on various campaigns, including Barker's efforts to end the use of fur in fashion and his advocacy for spaying and neutering pets. Though they've remained close for decades, Barker and Burnet never married. Burner told People:
I’m very active in my work, and I don’t have a great deal of time for a full-time relationship with anyone. When I do have time, Barker is the person I’m interested in spending it with. We are very, very comfortable together.
Fast facts about Dorothy
- Barker established a foundation in her honour.
- Dorothy died of lung cancer.
- She and Barker never had kids.
- She sang commercial jingles.
- She was an animal rights advocate.
- She and Barker eloped in 1945.
- She met Barker when he was just 15 years old.
Indeed, true love exists. Bob Barker and Dorothy Jo Gideon met in their teenage years and married in their early twenties. They were together for around 36 years until death separated them. Barker chose not to remarry because of his love for his late wife.
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Rodah Mogeni (Lifestyle writer) She is a content creator with more than 4 years of experience. She graduated from Chuka University with a BA degree in Journalism and Mass Communication (2023). She joined Briefly in 2019. Rodah has been working as a health/fitness writer at BetterMe (since 2020), London Brokers, The Hoth, and Ardor Content. In 2023, Rodah finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. Her email is rodahmugeni998@gmail.com
Adrianna Simwa (Lifestyle writer) Adrianna Simwa is a content writer at Briefly.co.za, where she has worked since mid-2022. She has written for many periodicals on a variety of subjects, including news, celebrities, and lifestyle, for more than three years. She has worked for The Hoth, The Standard Group and Triple P Media. Adrianna graduated from Nairobi University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in 2020. In 2023, Adrianna finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. You can reach her through her email: adriannasimwa@gmail.com
