The comedian, best known for his deadpan humor, died at his Los Angeles home on July 18, following a series of short illnesses
Bob Newhart, the award-winning comedian and actor, has passed away at the age of 94.
His publicist, Jerry Digney, announced that Newhart died peacefully at his Los Angeles home on Thursday, July 18, after battling a series of short illnesses.
Newhart’s career in show business spanned over six decades, where he became a household name through iconic roles in TV series like The Bob Newhart Show (1972-1978) and Newhart (1982-1990).
Born as George Robert Newhart on September 5, 1929, in Oak Park, Illinois, Newhart’s journey began far from the limelight. After graduating from Loyola University and serving in the Army, he initially worked as an accountant. But in the late ’50s, he decided to pursue comedy in Chicago. The risk paid off, and he quickly became a sensation.
In 1959, his debut comedy album, The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart, made history by becoming the first comedy record to top the Billboard album chart. This success earned him two Grammy Awards, including album of the year and best new artist.
“In 1959, I gave myself a year to make it in comedy; it was back to accounting if comedy didn’t work out,” he once commented, as shared in his obituary by Digney.
The triumph of his comedy album kicked off a successful 12-year career in stand-up comedy, which paved the way for his celebrated stint on The Bob Newhart Show. The series garnered him multiple Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. Subsequently, Newhart led the cast of Newhart from 1982 to 1990 and George and Leo from 1997-1998. He also made memorable appearances in films like Legally Blonde 2 and Elf.
Over the decades, Newhart received seven Emmy nominations, beginning with a 1962 nod for writing The Bob Newhart Show. Despite many acting nominations, his first Emmy win came in 2013 for his guest role on The Big Bang Theory, followed by two more nominations in 2014 and 2016. His roles in ER and The Librarian: The Curse of the Judas Chalice also earned Emmy recognition.
Reflecting on his illustrious career and lasting legacy in November 2020, Newhart remarked, “I have a theory that when it’s all over … and you go up — [if] I’ve been led to believe to heaven — and there’s a God and he says, ‘What did you do?’ [And] I say, ‘I made people laugh,’ [He will say,] ‘Yeah, get in that real short line over there.’”
“Comedy has given me a wonderful life. When I first started out in stand-up, I just remember the sound of laughter,” he once shared in his obituary. “It’s one of the great sounds of the world.”
His passing follows the recent death of his wife Ginnie, who passed away in April 2023 after a long illness. The couple had been married since 1963.
Bob Newhart is survived by their four children — sons Robert and Timothy, and daughters Jennifer and Courtney — along with 10 grandchildren.
