Bob Newhart, Comedy Legend, Dead At 94
Comedy legend Bob Newhart has passed away at the age of 94, leaving behind a legacy of all-time great sitcoms and immensely successful stand-up albums. He died after suffering from a series of minor illnesses, according to his publicist Jerry Digney. The comedy icon, whose wife Ginnie died last year, is survived by four children and 10 grandchildren.
A Career Spanning 6 Decades
The comedian rose to prominence with a series of comedy albums, beginning with the 1960 album The Buttoned-Down Mind of Bob Newhart. These comedy albums were centered around his famous one-sided phone conversations in which he usually played the straight man reacting to outlandish events happening on the other end of the line. These albums dominated the Billboard charts, with the first becoming the 20th best-selling album in Billboard history.
From Stand Up To Sitcom Star
His early career was notable not just for his immense, instant, popularity but for his critical success as well. The Buttoned-Down Mind of Bob Newhart was the first comedy album to earn the Best New Album Award at the Grammys. He was also the first and only comedy act to earn the Best New Performer Grammy.
In the 1970s he transitioned from stand-up comedy to comedic acting, with the popular sitcom The Bob Newhart Show. The show ran from 1972 to 1978 and became an immediate hit that remained popular long after it had stopped airing new episodes. The show solidified Newhart as a sitcom legend, which would become his biggest claim to fame in years to come.
A Second Successful Sitcom
The Bob Newhart Show was followed by another hugely successful sitcom bearing his name, Newhart. That show ran from 1982 to 1990 and was immortalized by its final episode, which revealed that the entire show had been the dream of his character from The Bob Newhart Show.
That iconic finale, which was conceived by his wife, Ginnie, would be parodied, recreated, and referenced for decades to come and is widely considered one of the greatest TV finales of all time.
The Big Bang Theory
While Newhart was the last major sitcom starring Bob Newhart, he would continue to play an important role in the genre through frequent guest spots. He had a popular recurring role in The Big Bang Theory as Professor Proton, which would earn him an Emmy. He also had an iconic appearance as himself on The Simpsons in which he spoke at Krusty the Clown’s memorial service.
In The Movies
While he was best known for his TV roles, Bob Newhart also acted in many movies over the years. He played Major Major in the 1970 adaptation of Catch-22 and voiced Bernard in The Rescuer’s movies for Disney. He also played Papa Elf in the beloved Will Ferell Christmas comedy Elf and had a recurring role in the TV movie series The Librarian.
One Of The Greatest Comedy Minds Of All Time
For over 50 years, Bob Newhart was a legendary comedian whose talents made him a star across multiple mediums. His stuttering, straight-man delivery made him a unique presence in the comedy world. He will be remembered as one of the greatest comedic voices to ever live, spreading laughter and joy to millions of people across several generations.
