This morning, comedian Bob Newhart’s publicist, Jerry Digney, announced his passing, noting that the legendary actor succumbed to ‘a series of short illnesses.’
Newhart, an absolute legend in comedy, was renowned for his deadpan delivery in numerous TV and film appearances.
Fans fondly remember his variety show, “The Bob Newhart Show,” and his delightful role as Papa Elf in “Elf” alongside Will Ferrell.
“ELF” wouldn’t be “ELF” without Bob Newhart.
— Jon Donahue (@JonDonahue) July 18, 2024
Rest In Peace, Sir …and THANK YOU also for everything else.
LEGEND. pic.twitter.com/7EkBqXNaCr
He later earned an Emmy Award for his recurring guest-star role in “The Big Bang Theory,” playing Sheldon’s idol, Arthur Jeffries—better known as Professor Proton, the former children’s TV show host.
Farewell, Bob Newhart. The series finale of NEWHART is easily one of the greatest TV moments ever, the kind of hat trick it’d be near impossible to pull off today. pic.twitter.com/h17p2HsL29
— Tyler Ruggeri (@t_ruggeri) July 18, 2024
Before becoming the beloved star we all knew, Newhart was actually an accountant.
In an interview with a college business professor, he once shared, “Somehow there’s a connection between numbers, music, and comedy. I don’t know what it is, but I know it’s there. It’s a case of 2 and 2 equals 5 in terms of a comedian. You take this fact and you take that fact, and then you come up with this ludicrous fact.”
Newhart also made memorable appearances in “Horrible Bosses,” “Saturday Night Live,” “The Simpsons,” and “Young Sheldon.”
