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Bob Newhart, deadpan comedian who became a sitcom and movie star, dies at 94

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Bob Newhart, deadpan comedian who became a sitcom and movie star, dies at 94

I’ve always been fascinated by the extraordinary life story of Bob Newhart, a man who discovered his knack for making people laugh as a child and went on to become a beloved comedian and actor. Born into a middle-class Catholic family in Oak Park, Illinois, Newhart was the second eldest of four children, with three sisters, one of whom became a nun. Growing up on the west side of Chicago, he first realized his comic flair at the tender age of ten during a parlor game.

In the 1960s, Bob Newhart emerged as a popular stand-up comedian known for his buttoned-down, relatable persona and distinctive stuttering speech. He went on to create two successful sitcoms in the 1970s and ’80s based on this style, and sadly, he passed away in Los Angeles recently.

Until his later years, Newhart made frequent appearances as a guest star on some of prime time’s prominent shows. He passed away at the age of 94 following a succession of minor health issues, according to his longtime publicist Jerry Digney, who shared this information with The Times on Thursday.

I was a devoted fan of “The Bob Newhart Show” that aired on CBS from 1972 to 1978. In this beloved sitcom, Bob Newhart brilliantly brought to life the character of Bob Hartley – a dry, deadpan Chicago psychologist with a sharp wit. Meanwhile, Suzanne Pleshette beautifully portrayed Emily, his loving and wry schoolteacher wife.

After running for six consecutive seasons, Newhart decided it was time to bring his popular show to an end. Six years, in his opinion, was a sufficient length of time, and he expressed a desire to conclude the series on his own terms rather than stretching it out beyond its prime.

As a devoted moviegoer and TV enthusiast, I went back to my roots in situation comedy in 1982. I joined forces with CBS for “Newhart,” a captivating series that lasted until 1990. In this heartwarming production, I starred alongside the talented Mary Frann, portraying us as the loving couple who ran an authentic colonial inn nestled in the beautiful landscape of Vermont.

In the same vein as “Newhart,” this new role enabled him to excel at reacting to the quirky ensemble of co-stars.

In a quiet and unassuming manner, without the need for exaggerated movements or loud shouting, Mr. Newhart extracts more humor from seemingly ordinary lines than any other actor in the industry, according to John J. O’Connor of The New York Times when “Newhart” was first introduced.

In a straightforward and clear manner, “He doesn’t rely on witty remarks. Instead, he skillfully employs impeccable timing and presentation. His humor lacks malice or current fads. He is merely incredibly amusing.”

In 2013, Newhart received his initial Emmy Award for acting in an episode of “The Big Bang Theory” on CBS. He had been put forward for a total of nine Emmy Awards throughout his career.

In the late ’50s, a former accountant from Chicago named Bob Newhart started creating and performing stand-up comedy routines. By 1960, he had achieved great success with his first comedy album, titled “The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart.”

The first comedy album of this newcomer comedian reached the number one spot on the Billboard chart, making history. Later in the year, his second album, titled “The Button-Down Mind Strikes Back!”, debuted and ranked number two, giving Newhart the top two best-selling comedy albums in the country.

During the 1961 Grammy Awards, where the finest achievements of 1960 were recognized, “The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart” received the album of the year award; moreover, “The Button-Down Mind Strikes Back!” triumphed in the comedy performance category. Lastly, Newhart was announced as the best new artist that year.

“According to Gerald Nachman’s 2003 book ‘Seriously Funny,’ Bob Newhart had one of stand-up comedy’s most effective opening acts if the concept of normalcy is just an illusion.”

Among the groundbreaking comedians from that period such as Mort Sahl, Lenny Bruce, and Shelley Berman, Nachman commented that Newhart stood out as the most relatable. He was neither ethnic nor abrasive, without the angst or the “you-name-it” traits that were becoming more prevalent. Instead, Newhart’s gentle, inquisitive demeanor acted as a calming balm during the growing chaos of the times.

In the beginning of his career, similar to Chicago comedian Berman, Newhart became well-known for performing humorous one-sided phone conversations on stage.

He once shared with his crowd that his preferred film is “King Kong,” where the colossal ape iconically ascends the external walls of the Empire State Building. Based on this, Newhart assumed the role of a greenhorn guard, working his first shift at the Empire State Building. Feeling compelled to contact his superior at home due to an unforeseen predicament not outlined in his training manual.

In the distance, Sir, an enormous ape’s toe is peeking through the window. But let me assure you, this isn’t your average ape, Sir. He stands tall, reaching anywhere between eighteen and nineteen stories high, depending on whether there’s a thirteenth floor or not.

In an alternate skit named “Abe Lincoln Faces Off Against Madison Avenue,” Newhart portrayed a conversation over the phone between Lincoln and his public relations representative, taking place right before the president’s renowned Gettysburg speech.

Hi Abe, my dear. I hope you’re doing well. How is life treating you in Gettysburg? Feeling a bit down, isn’t it? I understand if that’s the case. But listen, Abe, I received your message. What seems to be the issue? I hear you’re considering shaving off something? Could you please clarify what you mean by that?

“Abe, what else is new?… You altered ‘four score and seven’ into 87?… I get it, it holds the same meaning, Abe. Abe, that line was intended to be attention-grabbing…. However, we tried it out in Erie and the response was overwhelming.”

I was thrilled when Newhart got the chance to record his first comedy album live at a nightclub in Houston, as he had never performed in such a setting before. Yet, following his unexpected fame, he became the headliner on stages across the country and graced the shows of Jack Paar, Garry Moore, and Ed Sullivan.

In 1961, NBC aired “The Bob Newhart Show,” a comedy-variety series where he took the leading role, following his success. This show earned an Emmy and a Peabody Award, yet it ran for just one season.

In 1964, Newhart teamed up with Carol Burnett and Caterina Valente to co-host “The Entertainers,” a now-defunct variety show.

In 1962, Newhart appeared in his first film role. He brought humor to the screen as an Army clerk-typist in the WWII film “Hell Is for Heroes,” titled “A Lighthearted Character” in this version.

Over the years, there were several movies that came after the first ones, such as “Hot Millions,” “On a Clear Day You Can See Forever,” “Catch-22,” “Cold Turkey,” “First Family,” and “Elf.” Nevertheless, Newhart considered his film career to be unremarkable.

He shared with Entertainment Weekly in 1997 that he’d always found it difficult to be patient with such things. Instead, he preferred the energy and interaction of a live crowd.

As I watched him bring the house down with his stand-up comedy routines in Las Vegas and across the country even past the turn of the millennium, it was his work on series television that left an indelible mark on me and audiences everywhere.

The shocking finale of “Newhart”‘s last episode, according to TV Guide and Entertainment Weekly, ranks among the most hilarious moments in television: In this twist, Dick Louden, the New England innkeeper portrayed by Bob Newhart, is hit on the head by a golf ball and later wakes up in bed on the set of his old TV show.

“Honey, honey, wake up,” he says. “You won’t believe the dream I just had.”

Upon flipping on the light switch, Emily Hartley (played by Pleshette) looks at Bob and asks, “Alright, Bob, what’s the matter?”

“I was an innkeeper in this crazy little town in Vermont … “

Reflecting on that fateful night years ago, I can’t help but recall the overwhelming response of over 17 million viewers to the controversial finale of “Newhart.” Some fans felt betrayed by the unexpected twist in the story, despite the massive viewership.

“They devoted eight years of their life and it turns out none of them existed,” he said.

During his time on “Newhart,” Newhart earned three Emmy nominations for Best Actor in a Comedy Series. He attributed his long-lasting success in television to a straightforward explanation.

In interviews, including one with the Rocky Mountain News in 2000, he acknowledged that people have commented on how much I resemble my on-screen persona. To some extent, this is accurate as I frequently portray a character who believes himself to be the last rational person in the world. And this approach has been successful for me.

Born on September 5, 1929, in Oak Park, Illinois, George Robert Newhart was the second-born child in a middle-class Catholic family. He was surrounded by three sisters, one of whom chose to join a convent later in life. Growing up, he resided in the Austin district on the western side of Chicago.

At the age of ten, Bob Newhart, who went by that name at home to distinguish himself from his dad, George, who was a plumbing and heating contractor, discovered his knack for making people laugh.

Playing a parlor game, he drew a card that asked, “Do you think you have an artistic temperament?”

To which he responded: “I can’t even draw.”

He shared with the Chicago Tribune in 2002 that it may not seem amusing now, but everyone laughed, and that moment left him smitten with the sound of merriment.

After obtaining a bachelor’s degree in management from Loyola University, he decided to attend Loyola’s law school. However, he only stayed for a year and a half before leaving. In his spare time, he performed with a local theater group, the Oak Park Players. As he wrote in his 2006 memoir titled “I Shouldn’t Even Be Doing This!”: “I had to make a choice, and it was between law school and the theater.”

In 1952, he was conscripted into the military and served for two years. During this time, he was stationed on the West Coast with a personnel management unit. Once his military service was completed, he went back to Chicago and secured a job as a bookkeeper.

During the boreing afternoons when I managed the petty cash, I filled the hours by sharing amusing and implausible tales over the phone with my buddy Ed Gallagher, who was employed in advertising.

In simpler terms, Newhart could introduce himself as the yardmanager at a yeast manufacturing facility, contacting Gallagher to relay the news of a fire on site.

As a seasoned customer service representative with years of experience under my belt, I can tell you that multitasking is a crucial part of our job. Holding on for just a moment, sir, while I attend to another matter is not uncommon. In this instance, I must rush to the next floor to check on something important – in my case, the rising yeast in our bakery section. But rest assured, I’ll be right back to give you my full attention and help resolve any issues or answer your questions. So please bear with me for a brief moment, sir. And when we connect again, I will eagerly ask, “Sir, are you still there?”

Instead of this: Newhart and Gallagher produced longer versions of their comedy phone calls and sent demonstration tapes to various radio stations nationwide. However, they gave up on this costly endeavor once they secured agreements with merely three radio stations.

Newhart continued residing with his parents and held part-time positions, harboring no dreams of a career as a stand-up comedian. However, he expressed curiosity about earning an income through his humor.

Newhart’s big chance came about when his friend Dan Sorkin, a well-known Chicago DJ, organized for him to showcase his comedy recordings to executives from Warner Bros. Records who were in town.

I clearly saw his uniqueness and exceptional talent while he was still working on the Abraham Lincoln project. Jim Conkling, president of Warner Bros. Records, shared this observation in Jeff Sorensen’s 1988 biography about Bob Newhart.

According to Nachman’s writing, Newhart rose to fame in a short period of time, being the first comedian produced primarily from vinyl records.

In 1961, Buddy Hackett, a comedian friend of Newhart’s, arranged a blind date for him with Ginnie Quinn, the college-aged daughter of character actor Bill Quinn. At that time, Bill was working as an extra at Paramount. Newhart and Ginnie got married two years later.

Late in life, Newhart returned to stand-up and found it life-renewing.

He shared with The New York Times in 2019, “I’ve come to realize: I have an affinity for risk.” Or, “The thing I long thought I despised has become my passion. At the show’s 8 p.m. start time, if it’s only 6, what would I be doing? Anticipating. Even after six decades, still in anticipation.”

Four children, including Jennifer, Courtney, Timothy, and Robert, as well as many grandchildren, remain with surviving memories of Newhart. His devoted wife of six decades, Ginnie Newhart, passed away in the year 2023.

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2024-07-18 23:33

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