The late “The Price Is Right” game show host Bob Barker’s longtime love and companion, Nancy Burnet, is remembering him following his death.
In a phone interview with the “Today” show, Burnet revealed the pair first met at an animal adoption event in 1983.
“My friend and I were there and we’re just kind of standing around and he walked over to me and introduced himself,” Burnet shared.
However, Burnet said she declined Barker’s first invitation to dinner because it was an “inconvenient time” as she didn’t want to leave her friend and car behind. Following their meeting, their relationship began to blossom.
“We saw each other periodically for dinner or lunch and, if I was in Los Angeles for business, we would meet up,” she said.
Burnet also revealed why she kept her relationship with Barker hidden for so many years.
“I kept my relationship with him very low-key because people treat you differently when they know that there’s a celebrity involved,” she explained.
Burnet continued, “At one time, we were very much a couple and then later (our) relationship evolved into more of a friendship.”
Additionally, she shared why the couple, who were both previously married, never married one another.
“When we started seeing each other, that was one of the things we talked about at the beginning, about ever remarrying or anything. And he said ‘No, no, he would never remarry,'” Burnet explained.
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She continued, “And I said, ‘Perfect because I have no intention ever remarrying.'”
However, Burnet said Barker’s mind changed over the years and he “proposed many times.”
During the interview, Burnet detailed what role she played toward the final stages of Barker’s life. She described his physical condition as “healthy and sturdy.”
“I was in touch with the caregiver nurses every day, all day, and they checked in with me at night, if ever there was a problem and I was speaking with them until late … It was my pleasure to do it. To make sure that he was cared for in a way that everybody should be, frankly, but not everyone has that benefit that he did,” she said.
Barker died on Aug. 26. He was 99 years old.
Burnet spoke about his legacy and what that meant to the legendary host and animal lover.
“A lot of people did appreciate him or enjoy his work or certainly appreciated what he did for animals. He was aware, of course, of all of that. He was always grateful for it,” she said.
