Bob Newhart, whose stammering, deadpan unflappability carried him to stardom as a standup comedian and later in television and movies, has died, according to a statement from his longtime publicist Jerry Digney. He was 94.
Digney said Newhart died in Los Angeles on Thursday morning after a series of short illnesses. He called the star’s passing an “end of an era in comedy.”
Over the course of five decades, Newhart’s popularity rarely waned, whether it was as the recording star of the comedy album “The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart” (the first comedy album to win the Grammy for album of the year), the lead in two top-rated television sitcoms, or a supporting actor in movies including “Catch-22” (in which he played the timid Maj. Major), “Cold Turkey” and “Elf.”
One of the greatest comics ever. Legend.
Re: RIP Bob Newhart
Posted: July 18 24, 4:19 pm
by BottenFieldofDreams
Dang, he was almost old enough to be president. He’d have my vote. I was also hoping he’d get to be the newest Batman before they gave it to Bieber or whatever.
He was the proto-Norm. His own speed, voice, cadence. What a bummer Norm preceded him, that would be like the number one tribute I want to see right now. I’ll have to check in on some comedy podcasts. He was alive for every moment of stand up’s life. Probably would be hard to overstate his influence. Anyway, Ive always loved him, listened on my folk’s cassettes.
Dang, he was almost old enough to be president. He’d have my vote. I was also hoping he’d get to be the newest Batman before they gave it to Bieber or whatever.
He was the proto-Norm. His own speed, voice, cadence. What a bummer Norm preceded him, that would be like the number one tribute I want to see right now. I’ll have to check in on some comedy podcasts. He was alive for every moment of stand up’s life. Probably would be hard to overstate his influence. Anyway, Ive always loved him, listened on my folk’s cassettes.
Here's the sketch Norm MacDonald wrote for Newhart.
Re: RIP Bob Newhart
Posted: July 18 24, 9:34 pm
by sighyoung
I'm old enough to have watched The Bob Newhart Show on CBS on Saturday nights in the 70's, and remember hearing sketches from his comedy albums played on the Jack Carney Show on KMOX--was it Saturday mornings? Even seeing Newhart as Major Major in Catch-22.
Dang, he was almost old enough to be president. He’d have my vote. I was also hoping he’d get to be the newest Batman before they gave it to Bieber or whatever.
He was the proto-Norm. His own speed, voice, cadence. What a bummer Norm preceded him, that would be like the number one tribute I want to see right now. I’ll have to check in on some comedy podcasts. He was alive for every moment of stand up’s life. Probably would be hard to overstate his influence. Anyway, Ive always loved him, listened on my folk’s cassettes.