Barker

September 16, 1999
Web posted at: 3:20 p.m. EDT (1920 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Veteran television game show host Bob Barker was hospitalized Thursday. Hospital officials say he appeared to be fatigued.

Barker, 75, the host of "The Price Is Right" for 27 years, was taken to the emergency room at George Washington University Hospital early Thursday and is expected to stay for tests until Friday afternoon. His condition is listed as good, according to hospital spokeswoman Lisa Saisselin.

Barker, a noted animal rights activist, was in the nation's capital to attend a breakfast meeting with congressional legislators to encourage support for the Captive Elephant Accident Prevention Act. The aim of the proposed legislation is to ban circuses and traveling shows from using elephants.

"I'm disappointed not to have been able to attend the meeting," Barker said in a statement. "I've been working with thousands of people across the country, trying to protect elephants from the horrors of circuses. This is a serious problem."

Barker, an 11-time Emmy Award winner, has hosted "The Price Is Right" since its debut in September 1972. In a national poll, he recently was named America's most popular game show host.