Comedy Legend Bob Newhart Dead At 94
Bob Newhart, the beloved comedian and actor behind the iconic sitcoms The Bob Newhart Show and Newhart, passed away at the age of 94. Newhart’s unique brand of deadpan humor and everyman charm endeared him to audiences for over six decades.
Early Life
Born George Robert Newhart on September 5, 1929, in Oak Park, Illinois, Newhart developed an interest in comedy at an early age. After serving in the U.S. Army, he began a law career but flunked out of Loyola University. He then turned to stand-up comedy. Newhart’s breakthrough came in 1960 with the release of his debut comedy album, The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart, which earned him three Grammys.
“We weren’t doing ‘jokes’; we were doing little vignettes. So there was a change in comedy,” he recalled in a 2006 interview.
Comedy Pioneer
Bob Newhart pioneered a new type of comedy. His comedy album success eventually led to success in television. The Bob Newhart Show ran on CBS from 1972 until 1978. He played a bewildered psychologist.
He returned to television in 1982 in Newhart, where he played an Vermont innkeeper surrounded by a cast of eccentric characters. At the end of the season finale, his character wakes up from sleep and tells his wife that he had the craziest dream, meaning the entire series was a dream. The plot twist is still used in television today.
Bob Newhart tried another television comeback in 1992 with a CBS comedy simply named Bob. However, the audience wasn’t receptive and the show was canceled after just two seasons.
However, his television career was hardly over. He guest-starred on countless shows over the years, including The Simpsons. Despite his lengthy comedy career, Bob Newhart won his first Emmy in 2013 for a guest role on The Big Bang Theory.
Comedy Legend Bob Newhart Dead At 94
Throughout his career, Newhart appeared in numerous films, including Hell is for Heroes, Catch-22, and Elf, where he memorably played Papa Elf to Will Ferrell’s Buddy. He told CNN last year that his role in Elf “outranked” any of his previous roles.
Variety reports that the legend’s publicist confirmed his death on Thursday, July 18, after a brief illness. More details aren’t available at this time.
The sad loss comes amid a series of high-profile celebrities passing away, including Richard Simmons and actress Shannen Doherty.
He is survived by his four children, Robert Jr., Timothy, Courtney and Jennifer. His wife of 60 years, Ginny, passed away in 2023.
Share your favorite memory of the comedy legend in the comments.
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