The iconic American sitcom star and deadpan comedy legend, Bob Newhart, has died at 94.
His passing was confirmed by his longtime publicist, Jerry Digney, who described it as “an end of an era in comedy.”
Newhart’s career, spanning five decades, showcased his unique stammering and deadpan style that brought him fame as a standup comedian, and later, as a television and film star.
He passed away in Los Angeles on Thursday morning following a series of short illnesses.
Newhart is best known for his roles in ‘The Bob Newhart Show’, 1972-78, and ‘Newhart’,1982-90.
Both sitcoms capitalized on his portrayal of a sane man surrounded by eccentric characters.
His final episode of ‘Newhart’ is particularly famous: after being hit by a golf ball, Newhart’s character wakes up as his previous role from ‘The Bob Newhart Show’ in a comedic twist.
Born George Robert Newhart on September 5, 1929, in Oak Park, Illinois, he initially worked as an accountant and advertising copywriter.
His comedy album, ‘The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart’, 1960, became a major success, winning Grammy Awards and topping charts for 14 weeks.
Newhart’s television career was marked by his portrayal of Bob Hartley, a Chicago psychologist in ‘The Bob Newhart Show’, and Dick Loudon, a Vermont innkeeper in ‘Newhart’.
The latter’s finale, featuring a dream sequence that seamlessly connected his two major TV characters, was a creative triumph.
In addition to his television achievements, Newhart was nominated for nine Emmys and won his first individual Emmy in 2013 for his role as Professor Proton on “The Big Bang Theory.”
His legacy includes regular appearances on variety shows and guest roles in series like “Young Sheldon” and “Hot in Cleveland.”
Newhart was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 1993 and received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor from the Kennedy Center in 2002. His work is also featured in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.
He is survived by his four children—Jennifer, Courtney, Timothy, and Robert—and to “Ginnie” Newhart, passed away last year.
