Vale: Bob Newhart
Legendary US comedian, best known for The Bob Newhart Show and Newhart, has died.
- Published by David Knox
- on
Legendary US comedian Bob Newhart, best known for The Bob Newhart Show and Newhart, has died, aged 94.
He died after a series of short illnesses, it has been confirmed.
As Variety notes, he ruled TV for the better part of two decades, first with The Bob Newhart Show as a befuddled Chicago psychologist from 1972 – 1978 and then on Newhart from 1982 to 1990 as an equally at-a-loss New England innkeeper.
His first Emmy win didn’t come until 2013, when he won for a guest acting spot on The Big Bang Theory.
Before his TV success, Newhart’s comedy albums were wildly popular througn the 1960s where his
comedy monologue recordings established his deadpan, stammering delivery and observational humour.
They led to guest appearances on The Jack Paar Show, The Gary Moore Show, The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson (guest hosting three times) and stand up tours.
His TV credits also included Hell Is for Heroes, Bob, ER, Saturday Night Live, The Simpsons, Everybody Loves Raymond.
Film credits include Hot Millions, On a Clear Day You Can See Forever, Catch-22, Cold Turkey, In & Out, Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde and Elf.
Newhart was inducted into the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame in 1993, and the comic won the second Mark Twain Prize for Humor, presented by the Kennedy Center, in 2002.
- Tagged with Newhart, The Bob Newhart Show
6 Responses
So sad, what an absolute genius of comedy to the end. I knew it would happen soon but hoped it wouldn’t be this soon. Thanks again for being the first to report this as I hadn’t heard until seeing it on here. His original Bob Newhart show is the one of the funniest sitcoms of all time. RIP Bob Newhart
What a sad day…
A very very funny man.
Condolences to his family, his brother Daryl and his other brother Daryl.
RIP Mr Newhart
And responsible for the Greatest Series Finale Suprise for a Comedy Show ever!
With just one scene, in 1990, he managed to wind up not one but both his series “The Bob Newhart Show” (’72 – ’78) and “Newhart” (’82 to ’90) with a breath taking masterstroke that left the live audience in genuine hysterics from the second the lights came up on a certain set at the end of the show, even before a word was spoken. Genius!
He credited his wife Ginnie with the idea – what a guy.
If you’ve seen it, you know what I’m talking about, if you haven’t…sorry! But there’s always YouTube…
Totally agree the best finale in TV history!
It’s a shame that such classic and funny shows are not able to be easily watched anymore. Bob was a comedic legend!
Two words: Comedic Icon