Actor And Comedy Legend Bob Newhart Dies At 94

Newhart was known for his deadpan delivery and a slight stammer, which he incorporated early on into his persona, building a successful career around it. On his TV shows, while he had his share of funny lines, he often played the “straight man” in the tradition of Jack Benny, allowing the sometimes bizarre cast members around him to get the laughs. However, Newhart stated, “Jack Benny did not influence me,” and instead cited George Gobel and Bob and Ray as his initial inspirations for writing and performance.

Newhart translated his initial success to television, starring in two highly popular sitcoms, The Bob Newhart Show in the ’70s and Newhart in the ’80s. The former series, in which Newhart played a psychologist, delicately tackled issues like mental illness and the emerging gay rights movement. In his later years, Newhart became known to generations X, Y, and Z for his roles in Elf and The Big Bang Theory.

In the 1970s, he transitioned to television stardom, portraying Dr. Bob Hartley on NBC’s The Bob Newhart Show from 1972 to 1978. From 1982 to 1990, he starred in the CBS sitcom Newhart, playing Dick Loudon, an author who moves with his wife from New York City to Vermont to run a historic inn.

In later years, Newhart received an Emmy nomination in 2003 for his role as a librarian, losing his eyesight on ER, and another in 2008 for the TV movie The Curse of the Judas Chalice.

Newhart hosted episodes of Saturday Night Live in 1980 and 1995, voiced himself on a 1996 episode of The Simpsons, and appeared on 17 episodes of The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson between 1966 and 1992, guest-hosting three times. He also appeared on five episodes of the Leno version between 1998 and 2009, portrayed himself in a 2002 episode of Everybody Loves Raymond, and participated in an elaborate gag at the 2006 Emmy Awards, hosted by Conan O’Brien, before co-presenting the award for comedy series.

BOB, from left, Steve Lawrence, Dick Martin, Tom Poston, Bob Newhart, Bill Daily, ‘A Streetcar Named Congress Douglas,’ aired November 6, 1992. ph: Tony Esparza / TV Guide / ©CBS / courtesy Everett Collection

His book I Shouldn’t Even Be Doing This, which blends reminiscences with comedic bits, was published in 2006. Newhart was inducted into the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame in 1993, and he received the second Mark Twain Prize for Humor from the Kennedy Center in 2002. In 2007, The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart was selected as one of 25 entries into the National Recording Registry at the Library of Congress.

 

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Perhaps Newhart may be best remembered for the series final of his show Newhart. It has been described as one of the most memorable moments in television history. A visiting Japanese tycoon buys the entire town, transforming the hamlet into a massive golf course and recreation resort.

He is survived by his children, Robert Jr., Timothy, Courtney, and Jennifer, as well as ten grandchildren. His wife, Ginnie, passed away last year.