Photo:Vinnie Zuffante/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty
Vinnie Zuffante/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty
Adam Sandleris paying tribute to one of his most iconic costars,Bob Barker.
“The man. The myth. The best,” theGrown Upsactor, 56, began the caption of his post. “Such a sweet funny guy to hang out with.”
“Loved talking to him. Loved laughing with him. Loved him kicking the crap out of me,” he continued, referencing his and Barker’s legendary onscreen brawl in the comedy film.
InHappy Gilmore,Sandler plays the titular character, an unlikely golf prodigy with anger issues, while Barker plays himself.
In the unforgettable fight scene that ensues, the characters throw punches and wrestle all the way down a hill, before Barker comes out on top.
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Earlier this year, theUncut Gemsstar revealed that Barker agreed to take the role — which was originally written for another iconic game show host, Ed McMahon — so long as he got to “throw punches.”
“Bob was like, ‘Yeah, if I get to fight, if I get to throw punches, I’m doing it,’” Sandler said in an interview withCollider. “That was a good, good time for all of us.”
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Barker died of natural causes, PEOPLE confirmed on Saturday. He was 99.
“It is with profound sadness that we announce that the World’s Greatest MC who ever lived, Bob Barker, has left us,” his publicist, Roger Neal, announced on behalf of Barker’s longtime girlfriend,Nancy Burnet.
“I am so proud of the trailblazing work Barker, and I did together to expose the cruelty to animals in the entertainment industry and including working to improve the plight of abused and exploited animals in the United States and internationally," Burnet said in a statement of her own. “We were great friends over these 40 yrs. He will be missed.”
Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty
Before retiring in 2007 at age 87, Barker served as the host ofThe Price Is Rightfor 35 years.
The show, which first aired on CBS in 1972, became the longest-running game show in U.S. history and made Barker the longest-tenured game show host.
source: people.com
