The Price Is Right’s Drew Carey Reveals How Bob Barker’s Calm ‘Demeanor’ Inspired His Approach to Hosting

Bob Barker left an impression on many people before he died, including his The Price Is Right successor, Drew Carey.

Carey, who took over hosting the long-running game show in 2007, gave a nod to the late game show host’s confident manner on-camera and his special way with contestants during a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight.

“He was so good at this,” Carey, 65, said of his predecessor. “On The Price Is Right stage, he was so good at relating to people and getting them to be relaxed and be themselves. You watch his demeanor and his attitude. He never seemed stressed.”

Watching Barker’s demeanor ultimately helped Carey with his own hosting duties, he told ET.

“I’ve learned to relax while I’m onstage and not be so uptight about what’s going on. I just have to own the show and make it like my living room, because he was so comfortable in front of a camera,” he explained, later adding, “He always seemed in control [like] everything’s going to be fine. I don’t always think like that! But I can fake it through an hour.”

Barker died on August 26, 2023, at age 99 in his Hollywood Hills home as a result of Alzheimer’s Disease, according to his death certificate obtained by PEOPLE.

He left behind a considerable legacy. As the longest-running game show host of the longest-running game show in U.S. history, the TV star was a pop culture fixture and familiar face to generations of viewers.

Barker will also be remembered in the years for his adamant support of animal rights, from his unique sign-off message at the end of The Price Is Right, reminding viewers to get their pets spayed and neutered to his work through his organizations.

“He liked the idea that people found joy in watching these shows,” Barker’s longtime companion Nancy Burnet told PEOPLE in August. “He used to receive letters from some of them saying, ‘We try to schedule our classes so that we can watch the show.’”

“But the thing I think he’d like to be remembered for most of all would be his work for animals,” she adds. “He changed America and maybe some other countries. He educated people and raised their awareness so that they started asking questions. His message, I think, brought that home.

This isn’t the first time that Carey has spoken out and honored Barker’s legacy. Following his death in August, the comedian posted a touching tribute on X (formerly known as Twitter).

“Very sad day for The Price Is Right family, and animal lovers all over the world,” he wrote. “There hasn’t been a day on set that I didn’t think of Bob Barker and thank him. I will carry his memory in my heart forever,” Carey wrote, adding the hashtag #RIPBobBarker.”

He concluded his tribute with a simple, “We love you .”

Carey also hosted a special tribute episode on CBS that honored Barker. During the hour-long special, Carey spoke fondly about the late host.

“Bob had an incredible 50 year career in television, something that will never be duplicated again. Thanks to Bob, The Price Is Right became part of the American fabric, a multi-generational legacy of viewers who loved him along with the shared experience of watching the show with their grandparents, kids, or when they were home sick from school – a bond that lasts to this very day,” he said.

He added, “You know, I mentioned the word ‘legend’ earlier and how that word gets thrown around all too much these days. It couldn’t be more appropriate when you think about Bob’s time on The Price Is Right.”

The Price Is Right airs weekdays on CBS (check local listings) and The Price Is Right at Night premieres Monday, Oct. 2 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.

via