On Thursday morning, July 18, 2024, renowned comedian Bob Newhart passed away at his residence in Los Angeles, California. Known for his distinctive deadpan humor and stuttering delivery, Newhart succumbed to a series of brief illnesses at the age of 94, as confirmed by his long-term publicist, Jerry Digney.
Newhart’s career spanned over six decades, significantly influencing both stand-up comedy and television. Born George Robert Newhart on September 5, 1929, in Oak Park, Illinois, he initially pursued a career as an accountant before transitioning to comedy. His first significant breakthrough came in 1960 with his comedy album “The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart,” which gained notable recognition by becoming the first comedy album to top the Billboard charts and earning him Grammy Awards for Album of the Year and Best New Artist.
During a 1990 interview with Los Angeles magazine, Newhart stated, “I tend to find humor in the macabre. I would say 85 percent of me is what you see on the show. And the other 15 percent is a very sick man with a very deranged mind.”
Newhart’s comedic style was distinguished by his one-sided phone conversations, where he would present only his side of the dialogue, leaving the audience to infer the other half. His nonchalant delivery and keen observational humor earned him a revered place in American comedy.
In 1972, Newhart was cast in “The Bob Newhart Show” as Dr. Bob Hartley, a psychologist based in Chicago, Illinois. The sitcom ran successfully for six seasons, receiving critical acclaim. Despite its success, Newhart did not receive any Emmy Awards for his contribution to the show. After 142 episodes, he concluded the series in 1978.
Returning to television in 1982, Newhart starred in another successful sitcom, “Newhart,” as Dick Loudon, a New York author who became a Vermont innkeeper. The show remained popular on CBS for eight seasons. Its series finale is remembered for one of the most notable endings in television, with Newhart’s character waking up next to Suzanne Pleshette, his wife from “The Bob Newhart Show,” implying that the entire series was a dream.
Newhart once shared in an interview with a college business professor, “Somehow there’s a connection between numbers and music and comedy. I don’t know what it is, but I know it’s there. I know it’s a case of 2 and 2 equals 5 in terms of a comedian. You take this fact and you take that fact and then you come up with this ludicrous fact.”
Despite his extensive career, Newhart won his first Emmy Award in 2013 for his guest appearance as Professor Proton on “The Big Bang Theory.” This role, playing the former host of a children’s science show, earned him the award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series.
Beyond his television roles, Newhart appeared in various films, including “Catch-22,” “Elf,” and “Horrible Bosses.” He also lent his voice to animated features like “The Rescuers” and its sequel.
Newhart was inducted into the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame in 1992 and was awarded the Kennedy Center’s Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2002. A statue in his honor was erected on Michigan Avenue in Chicago, Illinois, featuring his likeness seated beside an empty psychiatrist’s couch.
“Keep in mind, when I started in the late fifties, I didn’t say to myself, ‘Oh, here’s a great void to fill — I’ll be a balding ex-accountant who specializes in low-key humor,’ ” Newhart said. “That’s simply what I was and that’s the direction my mind always went in, so it was natural for me to be that way.”
Newhart was married to Virginia “Ginnie” Quinn, daughter of actor Bill Quinn, from January 1963 until her passing in April 2023. The couple was introduced by comedian Buddy Hackett, who believed they were a perfect match due to their shared Catholic faith. They had four children: Robert Jr., Timothy, Courtney, and Jennifer, and ten grandchildren.
Bob Newhart’s influence on comedy and television is substantial and lasting. His distinct comedic style, marked by his stuttering delivery and strategic pauses, added a unique charm to his performances that resonated with audiences. His enduring legacy of humor and warmth will continue to be treasured by fans and peers in the comedy world.
