Iconic actor Bob Newhart has died aged 94.
The comedy legend passed away at his LA home on Thursday after a series of short illnesses, his longtime publicist, Jerry Digney announced to THR.
Newhart began his career as a stand-up comedian before launching a hugely successful acting career. His deadpan delivery and trademark stammering made him a comic sensation.
His accolades include three Grammy Awards, an Emmy Award, and a Golden Globe Award.
He famously starred as Papa Elf in 2003 Will Ferrell comedy, Elf and played Susan Mayer’s stepfather Morty Flicker in Desperate Housewives in 2005.
Landing his first Primetime Emmy Award nomination in 1962 for his comedy variety show – The Bob Newhart Show – he would finally scoop the accolade in 2013 for his role as Arthur Jeffries/Professor Proton on The Big Bang Theory.
Iconic actor Bob Newhart has died aged 94
He famously played Papa Elf in 2003 Will Ferrell comedy Elf
The star is pictured playing Bob Hartley on sitcom The Bob Newhart Show in 1973
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Bob Newhart says Elf role 'far outranks' any character he has played
He would reprise this role in three episodes of the show’s spin-off, Young Sheldon.
He was married to Ginnie Quinn – the daughter of actor Bill Quinn – from 1963 until her death aged 82 in April 2023.
He is survived by their four children, sons Robert and Timothy and daughters Jennifer and Courtney – and 10 grandchildren.
Stars including Mark Hamill, Alec Baldwin and Quinta Brunson led tributes to Newhart.
Star Wars actor Hamill wrote: ‘From his groundbreaking stand-up to his two classic sitcoms he gave us a lifetime of laughter. Truly one-of-a-kind. Thank you Bob Newhart!’
Newhart – who began his entertainment career as a comedian in the late 1950s – scored two big hit sitcoms playing Robert Hartley on The Bob Newhart Show (1972-1978) and Dick Loudon in Newhart (1982-1990).
In one of his final interviews in November 2023 Newhart said Elf was his favorite role to play in his storied 70 year career.
‘Without question, the part of Papa Elf outranks, by far, any role I may have ever played,’ Newhart declared in a new email interview with CNN.
‘My agent sent me the script and I fell in love with it,’ the Oak Park, Illinois native revealed, before telling his wife, Virginia Quinn, that it was ‘going to be another Miracle on 34th Street, where people watch it every year.’
Directed by Jon Favreau from a screenplay by David Berenbaum, Ferrell played the lead role of Buddy The Elf, who was raised by Newhart’s Papa Elf in the North Pole, who travels to New York to meet his biological father, a curmudgeonly business executive played by the late James Caan.
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The comedy legend passed away at his LA home on Thursday after a series of short illnesses, his longtime publicist, Jerry Digney, announced to THR – pictured 2019
He was married to Ginnie Quinn – the daughter of actor Bill Quinn – from 1963 until her death in April 2023 – pictured together in 1985
The couple welcomed four children during their marriage – they are pictured on their wedding day on January 12, 1963
On his seventh try he would finally scoop a Primetime Emmy in 2013 for his role as Arthur Jeffries / Professor Proton on The Big Bang Theory – seen on the show with Jim Parsons, Bill Nye and Johnny Galecki
The star is seen with his Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor In A Comedy Series in 2013
In one of his final interviews in November 2023 Newhart said Elf was his favorite role to play in his storied 70 year career pictured with Will Ferrell in the film
He played Susan Mayer’s stepfather Morty Flicker in Desperate Housewives in 2005 – pictured with Lesley Ann Warren
The star played Sidney Post in 2003’s Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde (pictured with Reese Witherspoon)
Newhart has a stop-start entry to the world of entertainment. Born in Oak Park, Illinois – he graduated from Loyola University Chicago in 1952 with a bachelor’s degree in business management.
He was then drafted into the United States Army and served in the United States during the Korean War as a personnel manager until being discharged in 1954.
After leaving the Army he worked as an accountant before becoming an advertising copy writer.
It was in this role he and a co-worker began having long telephone conversations about bizarre situations – which he would record and send to radio stations as audition tapes.
After making solo tapes, Newhart was later introduced to the head of talent at Warner Bros. Records who signed him in 1959.
He adapted his material into stand-up comedy and won fans with his portrayal of a solo ‘straight man’ portraying one end of a conversation.
His 1960 comedy album The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart became the first comedy album to hit number one on the Billboard charts and peaked at number two in the UK Albums Chart.
It won the star two Grammy Awards – Album of the Year and Best New Artist.
He would release further albums The Button-Down Mind Strikes Back, Behind the Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart (1961), The Button-Down Mind on TV (1962), Bob Newhart Faces Bob Newhart (1964), The Windmills Are Weakening (1965), This Is It (1967), Best of Bob Newhart (1971), and Very Funny Bob Newhart (1973).
His 1960 comedy album The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart became the first comedy album to hit number one on the Billboard charts and peaked at number two in the UK Albums Chart
The star is pictured onstage with Ben Stiller at the Emmy Awards in 2019
Star Wars icon Mark Hamill led the celebrity tributes to Newhart
Alec Baldwin paid tribute to Newhart – days after his manslaughter case was dismissed
Quinta Brunson also lauded the late star in a social media tribute
Richard Pryor shared a sweet snap of the pair as he paid tribute
He landed The Bob Newhart Show in 1961 which scored him his first Primetime Emmy Award nomination and a Peabody Award – but only lasted one season.
Newhart won the Best TV star – Male Golden Globe Award for the show.
Newhart also guest-hosted The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson 87 times, and hosted Saturday Night Live twice, in 1980 and 1995.
He would then play psychologist Bob Hartley on sitcom The Bob Newhart Show alongside Suzanne Pleshette, Bill Daily and Howard Borden – which ran from 1972-1978.
Newhart played Vermont innkeeper and TV talk show host Dick Loudon in series Newhart which ran from 1982-1990 – with the show’s finale twist ending voted one of the best of all time.
In 2003 he guest-starred on three episodes of ER as a depressed elderly man going blind, who later commits suicide. This earned him his first Primetime Emmy Award nomination n nearly 20 years.
In 2009, he received another Primetime Emmy nomination for reprising his role as Judson in The Librarian: Curse of the Judas Chalice.