LOS ANGELES — The world of comedy has lost a legend. Bob Newhart, the master of stammering and deadpan humor, passed away on Thursday at the age of 94. His publicist, Jerry Digney, confirmed that Newhart died at his home in Los Angeles after a series of short illnesses.
Newhart was a beloved figure in the entertainment industry, known for his iconic roles in two hit sitcoms – “The Bob Newhart Show” and “Newhart.” In both shows, he played a bland, cardigan-clad everyman who found himself surrounded by eccentric characters.
His talent and wit earned him nine Emmy nominations, starting in 1962 for his writing on a short-lived variety show. However, it wasn’t until 2013 that he finally won an Emmy for his guest appearance on “The Big Bang Theory.”
Newhart’s career began in the late 1950s with a comedy routine where he played the straight man to an unheard voice on the other end of a telephone call. His unique style caught the attention of Tommy Smothers of the Smothers Brothers duo, who called him “a one-man comedy team” for his dialogues with invisible partners.
In 1960, Newhart released his first live album, “The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart,” which became a huge success and the first comedy album to top the charts. It also earned him three Grammy awards.
One of Newhart’s trademarks was his stammer, which he claimed was not an act but the way he naturally spoke. In fact, a TV producer once asked him to tone down the stammer because it was making the shows run too long. But Newhart refused, saying, “That stammer bought me a house in Beverly Hills,” as he wrote in his memoir, “I Shouldn’t Even Be Doing This!”
In 1990, Newhart ended his second hit show, “Newhart,” with an unforgettable finale that is still talked about today. In the last scene, he wakes up in bed with his wife from the first series, revealing that the entire second series was just a dream.
Newhart emerged during a time when standup comedy was dominated by edgy and angry comedians like Lenny Bruce, Shelley Berman, and Mort Sahl. However, his act was subtly subversive, without the use of profanity or shock tactics.
He used his hesitant and bashful persona to poke fun at society in his own unique way. His sketches included a publicity agent trying to “handle” Abraham Lincoln and an inept official on the phone with a man trying to defuse a bomb.
Before his successful career in comedy, Newhart had a mundane accounting job, where he famously said, “that’s close enough” was his credo. But he soon realized that his true calling was in making people laugh. “Probably the best advice I ever got in my life was from the head of the accounting department, Mr. Hutchinson, I believe, at the Glidden Company in Chicago, and he told me, ‘You really aren’t cut out for accounting,'” Newhart once shared in an interview.
Aside from his Emmy win in 2013, Newhart had been nominated three times for his acting on “Newhart,” once for writing on his 1961 variety show, and twice for his appearances on other shows. He was also a frequent guest on variety shows and talk shows.
Newhart also had a successful film career, appearing in movies such as “On a Clear Day You Can See Forever,” “Catch-22,” and “Elf.” In 2002, he was honored with the Kennedy Center’s Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.
When asked by the New York Times in 2019 if he felt his age of 90, Newhart replied, “My mind doesn’t. I can’t turn it off.” He continued to entertain audiences with his sharp wit and humor until the very end.
Newhart’s personal life was just as successful as his career. He was introduced to his future wife, Virginia, by comedian Buddy Hackett, and they were married in 1964. The couple had four children together.
The world has lost a comedic genius, but Bob Newhart’s legacy will continue to live on through his timeless performances and the laughter he brought to millions of people. He will be deeply missed, but his humor and wit will never
