Bob Newhart, the refined yet sharply satirical comedian known for his hit TV shows “The Bob Newhart Show” and “Newhart,” passed away on Thursday in Los Angeles at the age of 94. According to his publicist, Jerry Digney, Newhart’s death followed a series of brief illnesses.
Newhart, also recognized by younger audiences for his role as Papa Elf in the 2003 film “Elf” and his recent appearances on “Young Sheldon,” first gained fame with his groundbreaking comedy albums, which introduced a new style of observational humor.
His TV career spanned nearly two decades, with “The Bob Newhart Show” featuring him as a perplexed Chicago psychologist and “Newhart” as a confused New England innkeeper.
Both shows were major successes on CBS, running for a combined 16 years from 1972 to 1990, and earned him Emmy nominations for three consecutive years from 1985 to 1987. Newhart’s first Emmy win came in 2013 for a guest role on “The Big Bang Theory,” where he appeared in six episodes.
Newhart began his career with comedy monologue recordings in 1960, which were innovative at the time for their observational style rather than traditional vaudeville humor. His debut album, “The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart,” topped the Billboard charts and helped revive Warner Bros. Records, with his first two albums holding the top two spots simultaneously—a record later matched by Guns N’ Roses in 1991.
Born George Robert Newhart in Oak Park, Illinois, he initially pursued a degree in commerce at Loyola University before serving in the U.S. Army. After failing out of law school, he took on various jobs while performing in a local stock company.
His breakthrough came when radio DJ Dan Sorkin noticed his work, leading to a recording contract with Warner Bros. His live album became a bestseller and won three Grammys in 1961, including Best New Artist and Comedy Performance (Spoken Word).
Newhart’s innovative approach to comedy, characterized by his use of vignettes rather than traditional jokes, marked a significant shift in the genre. His recordings led to appearances on prominent TV shows and a notable debut in the film “Hell Is for Heroes.”
