Drew Carey is paying tribute to Bob Barker, who died this week at the age of 99.Photo:Kevin Winter/Getty

Drew Carey reacts to Bob Barker’s Death

Kevin Winter/Getty

Drew Careyis remembering his good friend and “The Price Is Right” predecessorBob Barker.

“Very sad day forThe Price Is Rightfamily, and animal lovers all over the world,” Carey — who stepped into Barker’s shoes as host of the long-running CBS game show in 2007 — wrote onX(formerly known as Twitter) Saturday.

“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 ❤️.”

“It is with profound sadness that we announce that the World’s Greatest MC who ever lived, Bob Barker, has left us," Neal said in a statement.

“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 added in her own statement. “We were great friends over these 40 yrs. He will be missed.”

Drew Carey followed in Bob Barker’s shoes as host of ‘The Price Is Right.'.Sonja Flemming/CBS via Getty

Drew Carey reacts to Bob Barker’s Death

Sonja Flemming/CBS via Getty

Barker served as the host ofThe Price Is Rightfor 35 years before announcing his retirement at the age of 87. His final episode on the show was in 2007, at which point Carey took over as host.

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“The man. The myth. The best. Such a sweet funny guy to hang out with,” Sandler wrote onX. “Loved talking to him. Loved laughing with him. Loved him kicking the crap out of me.”

Barker kicked off his television career in 1956 as host ofTruth or Consequences, a role he filled for 18 years. He began hostingThe Price Is Rightin 1972, helping to turn the show into an overnight hit. Fans would gather for hours outside the show’s Los Angeles studio just to hear Barker say his iconic phrase, “And the actual retail price is …”

source: people.com