“Bob Newhart was the kindest most hilarious man,” Judd Apatow wrote, while Paul Feig remembered Newhart as “truly one of a kind.”
Hollywood has lost another legend — Bob Newhart has passed away at 94.
On Thursday, the comedy icon’s longtime publicist, Jerry Digney, announced that Newhart died in his Los Angeles home on Thursday “after a series of short illnesses.”
The account-turned-actor — who was known for his deadpan delivery and humor — rose to fame in 1960 with his stand-up comedy album, The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart, which won three Grammy Awards in 1961.
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Following his success in his stand-up career, Newhart went on to star in two beloved CBS sitcoms, The Bob Newhart Show, which ran from 1972 to 1978, and Newhart, which aired from 1982 to 1990.
He later made a handful of appearances in successful TV shows and appeared in several films, most noticeably as Papa Elf in the 2003 Christmas film, Elf, opposite Will Ferrell.
Despite his successful TV career, Newhart did not win an Emmy until 2013 for his guest appearance as Arthur Jeffries on The Big Bang Theory.
He is survived by his four children — Jennifer, Courtney, Timothy and Robert — and grandchildren. Newhart’s wife of 60 years, Virginia “Ginnie” Newhart, died last year.
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Following the news of Newhart’s passing, Hollywood and beyond took to social media to pay tribute.
Comedy filmmaker Judd Apatow shared a post on X, formerly Twitter, writing, “Bob Newhart was the kindest most hilarious man. He asked me to make a documentary about his friendship with Don Rickles. I was so lucky to get to spend that time with my hero. His brilliant comedy and gentle spirit made everyone he encountered so happy.”
The Big Bang Theory star Kaley Cuoco shared a photo of herself and Jeffries on set on her Instagram Stories, writing, “What a dream it was to witness the genius that was Bob Newhart. He was classy, kind, generous and absolutely hilarious. Every take – every time. Icon forever.”
“I will never forget you, Bob! Thank you for making our dreams come true!”
Bob Newhart was the kindest most hilarious man. He asked me to make a documentary about his friendship with Don Rickles. I was so lucky to get to spend that time with my hero. His brilliant comedy and gentle spirit made everyone he encountered so happy. “Bob and Don: A…
— Judd Apatow 🇺🇦 (@JuddApatow) July 18, 2024
@JuddApatow
And we lose another comedy legend. I had the honor of doing a guest role on Newhart & got to spend the week listening to the great Bob Newhart making us all laugh. A brilliant standup & comedic actor, he was truly one of a kind. His legacy will live on. https://t.co/dxGXnLoPYx
— Paul Feig (@paulfeig) July 18, 2024
@paulfeig
Such a loss! One of my first jobs in LA was the old Bob Newhart Show, directed by Dick Martin, of Rowan & Martin. What a joy to work with that group! Bob was so kind & such a doll, and always so gracious whenever I ran into him over these decades. A real One-Of-A-Kind! A loss… https://t.co/FyF8ozv11G
— Morgan Fairchild (@morgfair) July 18, 2024
@morgfair
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!#RIP pic.twitter.com/NlkJNuOw80
— Mark Hamill (@MarkHamill) July 18, 2024
@MarkHamill
I started off as your fan, then I became your writer, then I became your friend. But all the time I remained your fan. R.I.P. #BobNewhart pic.twitter.com/YKvWLW7XGv
— Alan Zweibel (@AlanZweibel) July 18, 2024
@AlanZweibel
Every time I met Bob Newhart, he was EXACTLY Bob Newhart: witty, graceful, low-key, and friendly. We often talk about how someone lights up a room when they enter, but Bob Newhart had an essence that was equally impressive: when he exited a room, he left everyone smiling. pic.twitter.com/5rYO6FuSP4
— Richard Roeper (@RichardERoeper) July 18, 2024
@RichardERoeper
Bob Newhart was a giant, a genius, and a great guy. I’ll always remember when he hosted SNL and did a stellar show. He was, as you might expect, a joy to work with. May his memory be a blessing. https://t.co/5EUfsdR37g
— Al Franken (@alfranken) July 18, 2024
@alfranken
So sad to learn that Bob Newhart has passed. A comedic giant who had some of the greatest timing in history. pic.twitter.com/lUqG40xjtF
— Matt Friend (@themattfriend) July 18, 2024
@themattfriend
