Bob Newhart, legendary comedian and sitcom star, dead at 94
'The Bob Newhart Show' aired in the '70s
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Comedian and sitcom legend Bob Newhart has died at age 94, Fox News Digital can confirm.
Newhart passed away from natural causes following a series of short illnesses on Thursday morning at his home in Los Angeles, according to his publicist, Jerry Digney. The comedian was surrounded by his family.
The actor was known for his hit sitcom, "The Bob Newhart Show," in the '70s. Newhart went on to have two additional shows named after him, "Newhart" and "Bob."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"Bob Newhart’s groundbreaking work in stand-up and television – and his beloved deadpan delivery – have left an indelible mark on the art form of comedy and will be treasured by comedy fans for generations to come. We are proud to celebrate and preserve his extraordinary work at National Comedy Center," Journey Gunderson, National Comedy Center executive director, shared in a statement with Fox News Digital.
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Bob Newhart has died at the age of 94. (Getty Images)
Newhart first began his career in comedy in the 1950s. He released his comedy routine on vinyl, "The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart," in 1960.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}He was later received the Grammy Award for album of the year.
"When I first started out in stand-up, I just remember the sound of laughter," he once said. "It’s one of the great sounds of the world."
He transitioned to television in 1961 with the launch of "The Bob Newhart Show." The half-hour variety show ran for one season before its cancellation, despite being nominated for numerous awards.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Bob Newhart stars as Bob Hartley and Suzanne Pleshette as Emily Hartley, in the CBS television series "The Bob Newhart Show." (Getty Images)
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Ten years later, in 1972, Newhart went on to premiere another "The Bob Newhart Show," which proved to be a great hit. The series ran through 1978 and featured the comedian portraying a Chicago psychologist living with his wife.
A few years later, "Newhart" premiered. The sitcom showcased a New York writer who embarks on a journey to reopen an abandoned Vermont inn.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Bob Newhart in a scene from "Newhart." (Getty Images)
The show's finale is one of the most talked about in the sitcom world. In the final episode, Newhart's character wakes up next to his wife, Mary Frann, claiming he's had a bad dream. Except it's not Frann next to him, it's Suzanne Pleshette – who played his wife Emily on the "The Bob Newhart Show."
The entirety of the "Newhart" show was billed to be a dream from "The Bob Newhart Show."
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Bob Newhart began his comedy career in the 1950s. (Getty Images)
Newhart went on to star in two more sitcoms, "Bob," in 1992, and "George & Leo," in 1997.
Despite his prolific career, Newhart was not awarded an Emmy until 2013.
He won outstanding guest actor in a comedy series for his role as Arthur Jeffries in "The Big Bang Theory."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Newhart is survived by four children, Jennifer, Courtney, Timothy and Robert, and numerous grandchildren. His wife of 60 years, Virginia "Ginnie" Newhart, passed away in 2023.