Bob Newhart, a gentlemanly yet razor-sharp satirist whose television series "The Bob Newhart Show" and "Newhart" reigned supreme in the 1970s and 80s, passed away peacefully in Los Angeles on Thursday, aged 94. Jerry Digney, his publicist, revealed that Newhart succumbed to a brief but relentless illness.
Beyond his television triumphs, Newhart was a beloved figure among younger audiences, portraying the endearing Papa Elf in the 2003 holiday masterpiece "Elf." He also delighted fans with guest appearances on "The Big Bang Theory," earning his sole Emmy Award as a guest star in 2013, and most recently, in three episodes of "Young Sheldon."
Chuck Lorre, the creator of "The Big Bang Theory," reminisced fondly about Newhart, stating, "For years, I pleaded with Bob to grace one of my shows with his presence. He consistently declined, but then he fell deeply in love with 'The Big Bang Theory' and said yes—with two caveats. Firstly, his character must have a narrative arc spanning multiple episodes. Secondly, he aspired to win an Emmy. We fulfilled both. It was a privilege to collaborate with a comedy legend, a master craftsman, and a kind-hearted soul. I even had the honor of calling him a friend. How fortunate I am indeed!"
Prior to his television fame, Newhart's comedy albums garnered immense popularity, pioneering a novel approach of observational humor. He reigned supreme on television for over two decades, initially as a befuddled Chicago psychologist in "The Bob Newhart Show" and later as a perplexed New England innkeeper in "Newhart." He garnered consecutive Emmy nominations for Best Actor in a Comedy Series from 1985 to 1987. Both shows were colossal successes for CBS, spanning a total of 16 years between 1972 and 1990.
Remarkably, his first Emmy victory did not materialize until 2013, when he triumphed for his guest appearance on "The Big Bang Theory." He graced the hit sitcom with his presence in six episodes.
Beginning in 1960, when his comedic monologue recordings soared to the top of the charts, Newhart ushered in a fresh style of comedy, one that was not rooted in the Borscht Belt or vaudeville but instead grounded in observation and psychology. His work paved the way for later, eccentric comedians like Steve Martin. With his deadpan delivery, stammering cadence, and choice of subject matter, Newhart quietly subverted the norm, striking a chord with audiences both in urban centers and beyond.
His debut album, "The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart," was the first comedy album ever to ascend to the summit of the Billboard charts, a feat that saved the then-struggling Warner Bros. Records. Furthermore, his first two albums held the Billboard No. 1 and 2 positions simultaneously, an unprecedented accomplishment that was only matched when Guns N' Roses achieved the same feat with a pair of discs in 1991.
George Robert Newhart, born in the lush surroundings of Oak Park, Illinois, embarked on an unconventional journey towards entertainment. After studying commerce at Loyola University in Chicago and graduating in 1952, he ventured into the U.S. Army for a two-year stint. Post-military life led him to Loyola's law school, but he soon found himself floundering and dropped out in 1956. Instead, he took on various odd jobs while performing in a local Oak Park stock company.
Newhart and his friend, Ed Gallagher, recorded snippets of their witty conversations, hoping to sell them to radio stations. Although the tapes failed to find a buyer, Newhart's solo monologues caught the attention of Chicago's DJ Dan Sorkin, who offered him a fleeting five-week radio gig. But it was Sorkin's introduction to James Conkling, the president of Warner Bros. Records, that changed the trajectory of Newhart's career. Conkling booked him at the Tidelands nightclub in Houston and recorded his performances.
The live album, "The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart," became an instant sensation in 1960, followed by equally successful "The Button Down Mind Strikes Back" and "Behind the Button-Down Mind." In addition to its phenomenal sales, "The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart" earned Newhart three Grammys in 1961, including Best New Artist, Comedy Performance (Spoken Word), and the prestigious Album of the Year award, making it the first comedy record to achieve such a feat.
Reflecting on his early success, Conan O'Brien described Newhart's approach as "premise" comedy, where the overall scenario, rather than individual lines, creates the humor. Jerry Seinfeld is among the comedians who have emulated this style. In a 2006 interview with Guy MacPherson of the Comedy Couch blog, Newhart said, "There was a shift happening, and I was a part of it. Along with Mike and Elaine (Nichols & May), Shelley Berman, Mort Sahl, Johnny Winters, and Lenny Bruce, we weren't just telling jokes; we were creating little vignettes that reflected the humor in the world. It wasn't a conscious decision to revolutionize comedy; it was just our way of finding what made people laugh."
The immense popularity of Newhart's recordings led to appearances on "The Jack Paar Show" and "The Gary Moore Show." He toured the country, performing one-night gigs that culminated in a sold-out performance at Carnegie Hall in 1961. This success led to his film debut in Paramount's "Hell Is for Heroes." Over the next few years, Newhart starred in movies ("Hot Millions," "On a Clear Day You Can See Forever," "Catch-22," "Cold Turkey"), made regular guest appearances on television, and performed in Las Vegas before embarking on his hit sitcoms.
Despite a brief stint in series television with "Bob" on CBS in 1992-93 and "George and Leo" starring Judd Hirsch in 1997-98, Newhart continued to shine in later years, earning an Emmy nomination for his portrayal of a librarian losing his eyesight on "ER" in 2003 and another for his role in the 2008 TV movie "The Curse of the Judas Chalice."
In the golden decades of his career, Bob Newhart graced the stages of "Saturday Night Live" in 1980 and 1995, lending his distinct voice to an episode of "The Simpsons" in 1996. He shared laughs with Johnny Carson on "The Tonight Show" for a remarkable 17 episodes between 1966 and 1992, even guest-hosting thrice, and later, continued the tradition with Jay Leno, appearing five times between 1998 and 2009. In 2002, he made a cameo in the heartwarming sitcom "Everybody Loves Raymond," and stole the spotlight at the 2006 Emmy Awards with Conan O'Brien, jointly presenting the award for comedy series after a hilarious prank.
Despite his advancing years, Newhart remained active in the big screen, gracing films like "In & Out" (1997), "Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde" (2003), and "Elf" (2003). Even in his 70s, he continued to delight audiences with his stand-up routines, performing approximately 30 nights a year in 2006. Remarkably, he discovered that his timeless humor from the 1960s still resonated with modern audiences. His 1995 comedy special "Off the Record" for Showtime was a testament to this, as he recounted. "The audience was predominantly in their 30s and 40s," he shared with MacPherson of the Comedy Couch blog. "I revisited some of my original material from the first and second albums, and it connected with them just as powerfully as it did decades ago. I believe the humor is as relevant today... Perhaps my Abe Lincoln routine is even more so today than it was four decades back."
His autobiographical yet humorous book, "I Shouldn't Even Be Doing This," was released in 2006, and in 1993, he was inducted into the prestigious Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame. In 2002, he was awarded the esteemed Mark Twain Prize for Humor by the Kennedy Center. Another feather in his cap was the recognition of his comedy album, "The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart," which was selected as one of the 25 entries in the National Recording Registry at the Library of Congress in 2007. Following the passing of his beloved wife Ginny last year, Newhart leaves behind a cherished legacy with his children, Robert Jr., Timothy, Courtney, and Jennifer, as well as 10 grandchildren.
