Bob Newhart, deadpan master of sitcoms and telephone monologues, dies at 94
Bob Newhart, the deadpan accountant-turned-comedian who became one of the most popular TV stars of his time after striking gold with a classic comedy album, has died at 94.
Jerry Digney, Newhart’s publicist, says the actor died Thursday in Los Angeles after a series of short illnesses.
Newhart, best remembered now as the star of two hit television shows of the 1970s and 1980s, launched his career as a standup comic in the late 1950s. He gained nationwide fame when his routine was captured on vinyl in 1960 as “The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart,” which went on to win a Grammy Award as album of the year.
While other comedians of the time, including Lenny Bruce, Mort Sahl, Alan King, and Mike Nichols and Elaine May, frequently got laughs with their aggressive attacks on modern mores, Newhart was an anomaly. His outlook was modern, but he rarely raised his voice above a hesitant, almost stammering delivery. His only prop was a telephone, used to pretend to hold a conversation with someone on the other end of the line.
Comedian Bob Newhart is shown in 1980 photo. (AP Photo)
Comedian Bob Newhar is shown, April 1962. (AP Photo)
Comedians George Burns, left, his wife, comedienne Gracie Allen, Bob Newhart and Jack Benny, far right, pose together at the Crescendo, where Newhart is opening his show, in Oct. 1960. (AP Photo)
Comedian Bob Newhart is shown in Aug. 1975 at an unknown location. (AP Photo)
Bob Newhart hosts a showtime special “Just For Laughs: The Montreal International Comedy Festival.” June 26, 1990 photo. (AP Photo/Suzanne Vlamis)
Comedian Bob Newhart and his wife Ginny arrive at the Golden Globe Awards Saturday night, January 26, 1985 at the Beverly Hilton. Newhart is nominated for Best Actor, Television Series, Musical or Comedy, for his series “Newhart.” (AP Photo/Lennox McLendon)
“President Manfred Link,” seated at desk, takes question from reporter during news conference at the “Oval Office” while he is flanked by his wife, left, and daughter. Left to right are: Madelline Kahn who portrays the the First Lady, Actor Comedian Bob Nehart who plays the President and Gilda Radner who plays the Presidents daughter. (AP Photo/Wally Fong)
Comedian Bob Newhart, 33, and his bride, the former Virginia Quinn, 22, kiss during toast at a reception that followed their marriage in St. Victor Roman Catholic Church in West Hollywood January 12, 1963. The bride is the daughter of actor William Quinn. (AP Photo/David Smith)
Comedian Bob Newhart, 33, and his bride, Virginia Quinn, 22, join hands to cut their wedding cake at a reception that followed their marriage in St. Victor Roman Catholic Church in West Hollywood, Jan. 12, 1963. The bride is the daughter of actor William Quinn. (AP Photo/David F. Smith)
American comedian Bob Newhart, one of the stars in the Royal gala show called “Supernight” at the London Palladium on April 9, with his wife Virginia at London’s Heathrow Airport April 5, 1978 as they arrived from Los Angeles. (AP Photo)
Actor Bob Newhart, left, and actress Suzanne Pleshette, right, at the TV Land 35th anniversary celebration of the Bob Newhart Show in Beverly Hills, Calif. on Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2007. (AP Photo/Dan Steinberg)
Actor Bob Newhart poses on the press line at the TV Land 35th anniversary celebration of the Bob Newhart Show in Beverly Hills, Calif. on Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2007. (AP Photo/Dan Steinberg)
Actor Bob Newhart, left, and actor Bill Daily, right, at the TV Land 35th anniversary celebration of the Bob Newhart Show in Beverly Hills, Calif. on Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2007. (AP Photo/Dan Steinberg)
Actor Bob Newhart lets out a laugh as he jokes with comedian Don Rickles, right, Freddy Roman, left, and New York Friars Club celebrity Roast Producer and chairman Roberk Saks, second from left, prior to the roast in New York Friday, Sept. 30, 1994. Newhart is this year’s recipient of the Friars Roast Award and Rickles is the roastmaster. (AP Photo/Luc Novovitch)
** FILE ** In this May 20, 1977 file photo, Dick Martin, right, explains to Bob Newhart, star of the “Bob Newhart Show,” a scene Martin will direct in an episode of the series. Dick Martin, the zany half of the comedy team whose “Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In” took television by storm in the 1960s died Saturday night May 24, 2008. He was 86. Martin, who went on to become one of television’s busiest directors after splitting with Rowan in the late 1970s, died of respiratory complications at a hospital in Santa Monica, according to a family spokesman. (AP Photo, File)
“30 Rock” star Tina Fey kisses presenter Bob Newhart after the show won the award for best comedy series at the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009, in Los Angeles. (AP Photos/Mark J. Terrill)
Bob Newhart walks backstage at the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Actor Bob Newhart shown with wife Virginia at the Golden Globe Awards, Jan. 29, 1983 in Hollywood, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Harms)
New CBS comedy series stars Bob Newhart, left, and Judd Hirsch share a laugh while Hirsch explains his role in the new series to the members of Televison Critics Associaton during the CBS’ part of the TCA press tour Wednesday, July 16, 1997, in Pasadena, Calif. Newhart and Hirsch star as George and Leo, an incredibly mismatched pair of in-laws in a show with the same name. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)
Comedian Bob Newhart, right, seen with Gig Young at the premiere of ?The Incident,? Nov. 5, 1967 at the Victoria Theater, New York. (AP Photo)
In this handout photo released by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, actors Bob Newhart and Don Rickles chat backstage at Bob Newhart’s Celebration of 50 Years in Show Business which took place at the Leonard H. Goldenson Theatre in North Hollywood, CA on June 1, 2010. (AP Photo/Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, Craig T. Mathew)
Comedian Bob Newhart and his wife Virginia, arrive at the Beverly Hilton in Hollywood, May 15, 1963 for annual Grammy Awards ceremonies sponsored by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. (AP Photo/Ed Widdis)
Actors Bob Newhart, left, and Henry Winkler pose backstage at the Critics’ Choice Television Awards in the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Monday, June 10, 2013, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Bob Newhart accepts the icon award at the Critics’ Choice Television Awards in the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Monday, June 10, 2013, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Frank Micelotta/Invision/AP)
EXCLUSIVE – From left, Ginny Newhart and Bob Newhart attend the 2013 Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards, on Sunday, September 15, 2013 at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live, in Los Angeles, Calif. (Photo by Frank Micelotta/Invision for Academy of Television Arts & Sciences/AP Images)
From left, Ginny Newhart and Bob Newhart arrive at the 2013 Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards, on Sunday, September 15, 2013 at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live, in Los Angeles, Calif. (Photo by Scott Kirkland/Invision for Academy of Television Arts & Sciences/AP Images)
Bob Newhart poses in the press room at the 2013 Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards, on Sunday, September 15, 2013 at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live, in Los Angeles, Calif. (Photo by Scott Kirkland/Invision for Academy of Television Arts & Sciences/AP Images)
EXCLUSIVE – From left, Margo Martindale and Bob Newhart attend the 2013 Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards, on Sunday, September 15, 2013 at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live, in Los Angeles, Calif. (Photo by Frank Micelotta/Invision for Academy of Television Arts & Sciences/AP Images)
From left, Ginny Newhart and Bob Newhart attend the Governors Ball at the 2013 Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards, on Sunday, September 15, 2013 at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live, in Los Angeles, Calif. (Photo by Frank Micelotta/Invision for Academy of Television Arts & Sciences/AP Images)
Bob Newhart, right, and representatives from Ernst & Young onstage at the 65th Primetime Emmy Awards at Nokia Theatre on Sunday Sept. 22, 2013, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Phil McCarten/Invision for Academy of Television Arts & Sciences/AP Images)
EXCLUSIVE – Johnny Galecki, left, and Bob Newhart pose backstage at the 22nd annual “A Night At Sardi’s” to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Wednesday, March 26, 2014, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by John Shearer/Invision for Alzheimer’s Association/AP Images)
Actor-comdian Bob Newhart,R, and daughter Courtney are seen at the Governors Ball at the Television Academy’s Creative Arts Emmy Awards at the Nokia Theater L.A. LIVE on Saturday, Aug. 16, 2014, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Vince Bucci/Invision for the Television Academy/AP Images)
EXCLUSIVE – Bob Newhart, left, and Suzanne Somers attend the Television Academys 70th Anniversary Gala and Opening Celebration for its new Saban Media Center on June 2, 2016, in the NoHo Arts District in Los Angeles. (Photo by Danny Moloshok/Invision for the Television Academy/AP Images)
EXCLUSIVE – Arsenio Hall, from left, Suzanne Somers, and Bob Newhart attend the Television Academys 70th Anniversary Gala and Opening Celebration for its new Saban Media Center on June 2, 2016, in the NoHo Arts District in Los Angeles. (Photo by Danny Moloshok/Invision for the Television Academy/AP Images)
EXCLUSIVE – Ted Danson, left, and Bob Newhart at the Television Academys 70th Anniversary Gala and Opening Celebration for its new Saban Media Center on June 2, 2016, in the NoHo Arts District in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision for the Television Academy/AP Images)
Bob Newhart, left, and Ginny Newhart arrive at the Television Academy’s 70th Anniversary at The Television Academy on Thursday, June 2, 2016, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Rich Fury/Invision/AP)
Bob Newhart arrives at night one of the Television Academy’s 2016 Creative Arts Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theater on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2016 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Dan Steinberg/Invision for the Television Academy/AP Images)
Bob Newhart arrives at night one of the Television Academy’s 2016 Creative Arts Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theater on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2016 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Dan Steinberg/Invision for the Television Academy/AP Images)
Bob Newhart, from left, Bob Saget and Jeff Ross attend the 30th annual Scleroderma Foundation Benefit at the Beverly Wilshire hotel on Friday, June 16, 2017, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Bob Saget, from left, Bob Newhart and Jimmy Kimmel attend the 30th annual Scleroderma Foundation Benefit at the Beverly Wilshire hotel on Friday, June 16, 2017, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
EXCLUSIVE – Bob Newhart, left, and Tony Carey pose for a picture in the green room at the conclusion of “The Rise of the Cerebral Comedy: A Conversation with Bob Newhart” presented Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017, at the Television Academy’s Wolf Theater at the Saban Media Center in North Hollywood, Calif. (Photo by Vince Bucci/Invision for the Television Academy/AP Images)
EXCLUSIVE – Bob Newhart poses with his grandchildren at the conclusion of “The Rise of the Cerebral Comedy: A Conversation with Bob Newhart” presented Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017, at the Television Academy’s Wolf Theater at the Saban Media Center in North Hollywood, Calif. (Photo by Vince Bucci/Invision for the Television Academy/AP Images)
EXCLUSIVE – Bob Newhart poses with his grandchildren at the conclusion of “The Rise of the Cerebral Comedy: A Conversation with Bob Newhart” presented Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017, at the Television Academy’s Wolf Theater at the Saban Media Center in North Hollywood, Calif. (Photo by Vince Bucci/Invision for the Television Academy/AP Images)
IMAGE DISTRIBUTED FOR THE TELEVISION ACADEMY – EXCLUSIVE – Bob Newhart, left, and Conan O’Brien pose for a picture in the green room at the conclusion of “The Rise of the Cerebral Comedy: A Conversation with Bob Newhart” presented Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017, at the Television Academy’s Wolf Theater at the Saban Media Center in North Hollywood, Calif. (Photo by Vince Bucci/Invision for the Television Academy/AP Images)
IMAGE DISTRIBUTED FOR THE TELEVISION ACADEMY – EXCLUSIVE – Bob Newhart poses for a portrait at “The Rise of the Cerebral Comedy: A Conversation with Bob Newhart” presented Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017, at the Television Academy’s Wolf Theater at the Saban Media Center in North Hollywood, Calif. (Photo by Vince Bucci/Invision for the Television Academy/AP Images)
IMAGE DISTRIBUTED FOR THE TELEVISION ACADEMY – EXCLUSIVE – Bob Newhart participates in a discussion at “The Rise of the Cerebral Comedy: A Conversation with Bob Newhart” presented Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017, at the Television Academy’s Wolf Theater at the Saban Media Center in North Hollywood, Calif. (Photo by Vince Bucci/Invision for the Television Academy/AP Images)
IMAGE DISTRIBUTED FOR THE TELEVISION ACADEMY – EXCLUSIVE – Conan O’Brien, left, and Bob Newhart pose for a portrait at “The Rise of the Cerebral Comedy: A Conversation with Bob Newhart” presented Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017, at the Television Academy’s Wolf Theater at the Saban Media Center in North Hollywood, Calif. (Photo by Vince Bucci/Invision for the Television Academy/AP Images)
FILE – This 1980 file photo shows actor-comedian Bob Newhart. Newhart is celebrating his 90th birthday on Thursday, and he’s got big plans: spending the day with his wife of 56 years, Ginnie, and their children. The comedian and actor said he considers laughter the key to longevity in marriage and in life. (AP Photo, File)
Honoree Bob Newhart poses at “The Paley Honors: A Special Tribute to Television’s Comedy Legends” at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2019, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Honoree Bob Newhart, right, accepts his award from presenter Conan O’Brien during “The Paley Honors: A Special Tribute to Television’s Comedy Legends” at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2019, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
FILE – Actor-comedian Bob Newhart sits with a bronze likeness of Dr. Bob Hartley, the character he played in the 1972-78 sitcom “The Bob Newhart Show,” at the unveiling of the statue in Chicago on July 27, 2004. Newhart, the deadpan master of sitcoms and telephone monologues, died in Los Angeles on Thursday, July 18, 2024. He was 94. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green, File)
FILE – Honoree Bob Newhart, gets a round of applause at the Kennedy Center in Washington during the Mark Twain Prize for Humor Awards on Oct. 29, 2002. Newhart, the deadpan master of sitcoms and telephone monologues, died in Los Angeles on Thursday, July 18, 2024. He was 94. (AP Photo/Lawrence Jackson, File)
In one memorable skit, he portrayed a Madison Avenue image-maker trying to instruct Abraham Lincoln on how to improve the Gettysburg Address: “Say 87 years ago instead of fourscore and seven,” he advised.
Another favorite was “Merchandising the Wright Brothers,” in which he tried to persuade the aviation pioneers to start an airline, although he acknowledged the distance of their maiden flight could limit them.
“Well, see, that’s going to hurt our time to the Coast if we’ve got to land every 105 feet.”
Newhart was initially wary of signing on to a weekly TV series, fearing it would overexpose his material. Nevertheless, he accepted an attractive offer from NBC, and “The Bob Newhart Show” premiered on Oct. 11, 1961. Despite Emmy and Peabody awards, the half-hour variety show was canceled after one season, a source for jokes by Newhart for decades after.
He waited 10 years before undertaking another “Bob Newhart Show” in 1972. This one was a situation comedy with Newhart playing a Chicago psychologist living in a penthouse with his schoolteacher wife, Suzanne Pleshette. Their neighbors and his patients, notably Bill Daily as an airline navigator, were a wacky, neurotic bunch who provided an ideal counterpoint to Newhart’s deadpan commentary.
The series, one of the most acclaimed of the 1970s, ran through 1978.
Four years later, the comedian launched another show, simply called “Newhart.” This time he was a successful New York writer who decides to reopen a long-closed Vermont inn. Again Newhart was the calm, reasonable man surrounded by a group of eccentric locals. Again the show was a huge hit, lasting eight seasons on CBS.
It bowed out in memorable style in 1990 with Newhart — in his old Chicago psychologist character — waking up in bed with Pleshette, cringing as he tells her about the strange dream he had: “I was an innkeeper in this crazy little town in Vermont. … The handyman kept missing the point of things, and then there were these three woodsmen, but only one of them talked!”
The stunt parodied a “Dallas” episode where a key character was killed off, then revived when the death was revealed to have been in a dream.
Two later series were comparative duds: “Bob,” in 1992-93, and “George & Leo,” 1997-98. Though nominated several times, he never won an Emmy for his sitcom work. “I guess they think I’m not acting. That it’s just Bob being Bob,” he sighed.
Over the years, Newhart also appeared in several movies, usually in comedic roles. Among them: “Catch 22,” “In and Out,” “Legally Blonde 2” and “Elf,” as the diminutive dad of adopted full-size son Will Ferrell. More recent work included “Horrible Bosses” and the TV series “The Librarians,” “The Big Bang Theory” and “Young Sheldon.
Former Associated Press writer Bob Thomas contributed to this report.
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