Bob Newhart, loved for his dry wit and impeccable timing, haspassed away, leaving Hollywood in mourning.
Thecomedy iconwas best known for his roles in sitcoms likeThe Bob Newhart ShowandNewhart. He passed away at the age of 94 on Thursday, July 18, following a series of shortillnesses.
HighlightsBob Newhart, known for his roles in sitcoms like The Bob Newhart Show, passed away at age 94 after a series of short illnesses.The legendary actor began his career as an accountant before being catapulted to fame with his 1960 comedy album “The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart.“Tributes from President Joe Biden and stars like Carol Burnett and Ben Stiller poured in to honor his legacy and career in comedy.He was celebrated for his deadpan humor and impeccable timing, impacting countless comedians and comedy writers who came after him.
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Acclaimed actor and comedy icon Bob Newhart passed away at the age of 94 after a series of short illnesses
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Bob himself has joked in the past about starting his career as an accountant and then moving to comedy.
“There’s something about numbers and music and comedy, I’m not sure what it is,” he added.
Tributes came pouring in from people in the industry, with many saying they would miss the legendary comedian
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His rise in comedy began with his groundbreaking 1960 comedy album,The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart.
The album, filled with his signature deadpan humor and unique monologues, became a sensation, reaching number one on the Billboard charts and earning him a Grammy Award. The success of the album catapulted him to fame, forging his path to become a comedy icon.
He “kept Americans laughing for decades,” U.S. President Joe Biden said in his tribute to the actor
Today, we mourn the loss of Bob Newhart, a comedy legend and beloved performer who kept Americans laughing for decades.
— President Biden (@POTUS)July 19, 2024
Bob had guest-starred on the hit showThe Big Bang Theoryas the lovable Arthur Jeffries
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Hard to explain how important Bob Newhart was to every comedian and comedy writer who came after him.
Working with him ever so briefly was one of the greatest joys and honors of my lifepic.twitter.com/RjKIpfhF8T
— Bill Prady ⚛️ (@billprady)July 18, 2024
“I had the great pleasure of working with Bob and being his friend,” said actress and fellow comedian Carol Burnett about the actor, who guest-starred on her seriesThe Carol Burnett Show in 1971.
“He was as kind and nice as he was funny. He will be missed,” she added in her tweet.
TBBTstars Kaley Cuoco, Mayim Bialik, Kunal Nayyar, and Iain Armitage remembered the deceased star in their messages posted on social media
As a child, the Bob Newhart Show provided countless hours of enjoyment for me – it constituted some of my earliest training in the art of sitcom. When I got to work with alongside him on TBBT, it was absolutely a dream come true. He was effortlessly professional, poised,…pic.twitter.com/mFTEBtmWdG
— Mayim Bialik (@missmayim)July 18, 2024
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“They will be laughing wherever people go when they leave us. God, he was funny!” she wrote on Instagram. “Bob Newhart. You will be missed!”
“He was classy, kind, generous and absolutely hilarious. Every take — every time. Icon forever. … I will never forget you, Bob! Thank you for making our dreams come true!” Kaley said
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Bill Prady, co-creator ofThe Big Bang Theory, in which Bob guest-starred as the lovable Arthur Jeffries, also shared his heartfelt tribute on social media.
“Hard to explain how important Bob Newhart was to every comedian and comedy writer who came after him. Working with him ever so briefly was one of the greatest joys and honors of my life,” Bill said.
“Thanks for being such an inspiring Professor Proton and such an incredible human being,” said Iain, who starred as Sheldon Cooper
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— Ben Stiller (@BenStiller)July 19, 2024
Other stars who shared the screen with him for the hit show also shared their tributes.
Kaley Cuoco, who played Penny on the show, reminisced about her time with Bob on set.
“What a dream it was to witness the genius that was Bob Newhart. He was classy, kind, generous and absolutely hilarious. Every take — every time. Icon forever. … I will never forget you, Bob! Thank you for making our dreams come true!” she wrote.
Bob began his career as an accountant and once joked: “In my case, I don’t think it’s amazing that a bad accountant could become a comedian”
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Bob Newhart was the kindest most hilarious man. He asked me to make a documentary about his friendship with Don Rickles. I was so lucky to get to spend that time with my hero. His brilliant comedy and gentle spirit made everyone he encountered so happy. “Bob and Don: A…
Co-star Mayim Bialik, who played Amy Farrah Fowler onTBBT, also spoke about working alongside him for the show.
“As a child, the Bob Newhart Show provided countless hours of enjoyment for me – it constituted some of my earliest training in the art of sitcom. When I got to work with alongside him on TBBT, it was absolutely a dream come true. He was effortlessly professional, poised, hilarious and incredibly approachable,” she toldThe Hollywood Reporter. “Working with Bob was working in the presence of a true comedy legend – the likes of whom we simple don’t see anymore. How he will be missed!”
The Grammy-winner shot to fame after the release of his groundbreaking 1960 comedy album,The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart
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“Thanks for being such an inspiring Professor Proton and such an incredible human being,” Iain Armitage, who starred as Sheldon Cooper, said in an Instagram Story. “Thinking of you and all who loved you today.”
Co-star Kunal Nayyar, who played Raj onTBBT, also paid tribute to him in an Instagram Story.
“Professor Proton. Our dearest Bob Newhart. RIP. Miss you forever,” he wrote.
Bob was nominated for several Emmy awards before finally winning the award for his guest appearance inTBBTin 2013
Bob Newhart taught countless generations of comedians that you could be funny, smart, uncompromising, and still win on your own terms. This is an immeasurable loss.
— Conan O’Brien (@ConanOBrien)July 19, 2024
Bob Newhart’s Monologue ❤️ February 11, 1995pic.twitter.com/CaC1fKUOkq
— Saturday Night Live – SNL (@nbcsnl)July 18, 2024
ComedianDane Cook spoke about how Bob’sThe Button-Down Mind of Bob Newharthad an impact on his career.
“Mr. Bob Newhart passed away today. His album The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart impacted my career intensely,” Dane wrote in a tweet. “He was and is one of the bestcomediansto ever deliver and man he delivered. Always funny. Always from the heart. Always a reminder to me of why I started in stand up. Legend Bob Newhart you are forever funny.”
Born on September 5, 1929, in Oak Park, Illinois, the deceased actor was married to Virginia “Ginnie” Quinn since 1963, and they had four children together
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From his groundbreaking stand-up to his two classic sitcoms he gave us a lifetime of laughter. Truly one-of-a-kind. Thank you Bob Newhart!#RIPpic.twitter.com/NlkJNuOw80
— Mark Hamill (@MarkHamill)July 18, 2024
Actor Mark Hamill honored the late comedian’s vast contributions to comedy, saying, “From his groundbreaking stand-up to his two classic sitcoms he gave us a lifetime of laughter. Truly one-of-a-kind. Thank you Bob Newhart!”
Bob starred in two successful CBS sitcoms,The Bob Newhart ShowandNewhart,both of which are considered classics
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— Morgan Fairchild (@morgfair)July 18, 2024
Director and film producer Judd Apatow called him “the kindest most hilarious man.”
“He asked me to make a documentary about his friendship with Don Rickles. I was so lucky to get to spend that time with my hero,” he added.
“And we lose another comedy legend,” filmmaker Feig said. “I had the honor of doing a guest role on Newhart & got to spend the week listening to the great Bob Newhart making us all laugh. A brilliant standup & comedic actor, he was truly one of a kind. His legacy will live on.”
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The tributes continued as comedian Conan O’Brien joined in to share his grief.
“Bob Newhart taught countless generations of comedians that you could be funny, smart, uncompromising, and still win on your own terms. This is an immeasurable loss,” the talk show host said in a tweet.
Over his career, Bob received numerous awards and honors, including a Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2002
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And we lose another comedy legend. I had the honor of doing a guest role on Newhart & got to spend the week listening to the great Bob Newhart making us all laugh. A brilliant standup & comedic actor, he was truly one of a kind. His legacy will live on.https://t.co/dxGXnLoPYx
— Paul Feig (@paulfeig)July 18, 2024
I had the great pleasure of working with Bob and being his friend. He was as kind and nice as he was funny. He will be missed.pic.twitter.com/xYYyZpN54m
— Carol Burnett (@imcarolburnett)July 18, 2024
Actor James Woods called the deceased actor one of the “extraordinary men” he had the pleasure of sitting with at his country club.
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