Bob Newhart, who starred in hit comedies The Bob Newhart Show and Newhart in the 1970s and 1980s, has died in Los Angeles. He was 94. Newhart’s publicist Jerry Digney said he died after a series of short illnesses.
George Robert Newhart was born in Oak Park, Illinois, and came to entertaining via a circuitous route. Studying at Loyola University in Chicago, he majored in commerce and graduated in 1952, when he entered the U.S. Army. After ending his military service two years later, he entered Loyola University Chicago School of Law, but did not complete a degree. He then worked a variety of odd jobs while performing in an Oak Park stock company.
Before his TV success, Newhart was best known for his comedy albums, which were wildly popular for their at-the-time new approach of observational humor. Newhart was a known fixture on CBS for many years, first with The Bob Newhart Show as a befuddled Chicago psychologist and then on Newhart as an equally at-a-loss New England innkeeper. He drew Emmy nominations for actor in a comedy three years running from 1985-87. Both shows were major successes for CBS, and they ran for a total of 16 years between 1972 and 1990.
Newhart is best known to younger audiences as Papa Elf in the 2003 Christmas classic Elf. Disney fans will remember Newhart as the voice of Bernard in the 1977 film The Rescuers. The Rescuers tells the story of two mice who are members of the Rescue Aid Society, an international mouse organization dedicated to helping abduction victims around the world. Both must free 6 year old orphan Penny (voiced by Michelle Stacy) from two treasure hunters who intend to use her to help them obtain a giant diamond. The film is based on a series of books by Margery Sharp, including The Rescuers (1959) and Miss Bianca (1962). He reprised his role in the 1990 film The Rescuers Down Under. In The Rescuers Down Under, Bernard and Bianca travel to the Australian Outback to save a young boy named Cody from a villainous poacher who wants to capture an endangered golden eagle for money.
In 1992, Newhart hosted Holiday Greetings from The Ed Sullivan Show, a Christmas special that featured guest appearances by Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, and other Muppets. Newhart tells Miss Piggy that he admires her karate chops, and Piggy offers a demonstration, using Kermit as a target. Kermit ducks for the final move, however, and Piggy hits Newhart instead.
Daps Magic sends Bob Newhart’s family and friends our deepest sympathies and condolences.
