Bob Newhart, the cherished comedian and actor famous for “The Bob Newhart Show,” has passed away at the age of 94, his publicist confirmed. Newhart’s death followed a series of short illnesses, according to a statement from his longtime publicist Jerry Digney on Thursday.
Born in Chicago, Bob Newhart first pursued a career in accounting before finding his true calling in comedy. Renowned for his dry wit and observational humor, he rose to fame with his groundbreaking 1960 comedy album, “The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart.” This album not only won him the Album of the Year Grammy but also earned him the Best New Artist award, a feat still unmatched by any other comedian.
Reflecting on the album’s monumental success, Newhart said in a 2008 interview with the Archive of American Television, “The album just – it went crazy. I went from a man on the street program in Chicago to a year and a half later, to calls from Ed Sullivan. It was just weird. There was a period of adjustment.”
Following the album’s triumph, Newhart was given his own variety show on NBC called “The Bob Newhart Show.” Although it only lasted one season, it earned him an Emmy nomination and a Peabody Award, solidifying his place in television history.
Newhart’s career continued to flourish as he made memorable guest appearances on popular programs like “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” and “The Ed Sullivan Show.” In 1972, he starred in another sitcom named “The Bob Newhart Show,” where he played the character of Robert Hartley, a psychologist. This show was a hit and ran for six successful seasons.
In 1982, Newhart took on a new venture with the sitcom “Newhart,” playing the role of innkeeper Dick Loudon. The show earned him three Emmy nominations and its finale is hailed as one of the greatest in TV history. Interestingly, Newhart credited his wife, Ginnie, with the concept for the final episode, in which his character is revealed to be part of a dream by Robert Hartley from his previous show.
“We were apprehensive. We didn’t know how it would be received,” Newhart recalled in the 2008 interview. “But then when we got the audience’s reaction, we said, ‘That’s it. That’s it.’”
Though Newhart had two more shows, “Bob” and “George and Leo,” they didn’t achieve the same level of success as his earlier works. In 2013, he finally won his first Emmy for a guest role on “The Big Bang Theory.”
Apart from his on-screen roles, Newhart was also a talented voice-over artist, lending his distinctive voice to Disney’s “The Rescuers” and its sequel “The Rescuers Down Under.”
Bob Newhart leaves behind a legacy that spans generations. He is survived by his four children, Jennifer, Courtney, Timothy, and Robert, as well as numerous grandchildren. His beloved wife of 60 years, Virginia “Ginnie” Newhart, passed away in 2023.
Bob Newhart’s passing marks the end of an era for comedy and television, but his influence and humor will continue to resonate with audiences old and new. Rest in peace, Mr. Newhart.
