Bob Newhart Dead at 94, Comedy Legend and Television Star Passes Away

Comedy icon Bob Newhart, who starred in two popular self-named comedic shows, died Thursday in Los Angeles. He was 94. Newhart’s shows The Bob Newhart Show and Newhart aired in the 70s and 80s.

Newhart’s publicist Jerry Digney confirmed that the actor and comedian died following a series of short illnesses.

Bob Newhart Dead at 94

Newhart gained a new generation of fans via his role as Papa Elf in the 2003 Christmas classic “Elf.” His most recent appearances were on the hit show Young Sheldon.

The comic genius starred in the 70s on The Bob Newhart Show as a confounded Chicago psychologist and in the 80s he launched Newhart about a befuddled New England innkeeper.

Newhart was nominated for Emmys from 1985-87 and in total his CBS shows ran for nearly two decades between 1972 and 1990.

Prior to his TV career Newhart’s comedy albums, based on what Variety calls “observational humor,” were huge hits.

Comedian and Actor Bob Newhart Passes Away in LA

The beloved American comic actor was born George Robert Newhart on September 5, 1929. His signature style was based on a deadpan delivery and stammering technique.

Newhart started out as a stand-up comedian before transitioning to radio and television. During his Emmy-nominated career he won an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award. Newhart received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2002.

Bob Newhart Starred in The Bob Newhart Show

Newhart got his start in 1960 when he released an album of comedic monologues, The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart. The record was a bestseller and reached number one on the Billboard pop album chart.

When Newhart released his follow-up album, The Button-Down Mind Strikes Back!, his records held the Billboard number one and number two spots simultaneously.

Bob Newhart Television Star Died Today

Before he launched his television series The Bob Newhart Show, Newhart hosted a short lived NBC variety show also titled The Bob Newhart Show. That show lasted one season (1961) and his second show ran from 1972 to 1978.

He followed that hit up with Newhart which ran from 1982 to 1990. During the 90s Newhart also had had two short-lived sitcoms, Bob and George, and Leo.

Newhart’s acting credits included Catch-22, Cold Turkey, In & Out, and Elf. He was the voice of Bernard in the Disney films The Rescuers and The Rescuers Down Under.

Newhart’s most recent role was as Professor Proton on the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory.

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