Judd Hirsch reflects on life of Bob Newhart and the kindness he showed him when they starred together on George & Leo
As a huge fan of classic sitcoms, I have always held Bob Newhart in high regard for his exceptional comedic talent and versatility as an actor. His journey from stand-up comedy to television stardom is truly inspiring.
Following his passing on July 18, at the age of 94, Bob Newhart’s esteemed status in the world of television is guaranteed to endure.
After his passing at his Los Angeles residence, Judd Hirsch reflects on the impact Newhart had on him personally and professionally.
During an interview with People, the native New Yorker reminisced about his tenure on CBS’s sitcom “George & Leo,” one of two unsuccessful shows from Newhart’s 1990s career. He expressed that he would always cherish the compassion they displayed towards him and his loved ones.
Upon discovering that Hirsch frequently traveled from Los Angeles to New York on Fridays for family time with his daughter, Newhart aimed to reassure him and offered assistance in ensuring a timely return each week.
Hirsch needed to catch a late-night red-eye flight to secure two days off following Friday’s shoot, as he recalled. Bob assured him, “You’ll make that plane whenever we film,” to which Hirsch agreed, allowing Bob to control the production schedule and avoid going over time.
Previously, the Taxi actor was aware of the TV personality’s ability to effectively manage television episode flow. He believed that his skills and consideration would enable him to return to his daughter in New York City.
Bob had control over the production pace despite not being the creator or director of those things, Hirsch shared. This consideration from Bob was incredibly thoughtful towards Hirsch, who expressed gratitude but unfortunately didn’t have an opportunity to thank him in person as they only worked together for a single season.
When his three-year-old daughter Montana was with his ex-wife Bonni Sue Chalkin, Hirsch decided to fly back from afar to spend valuable time with her and his family.
With four kids calling him dad, Newhart was well-acquainted with the challenges of balancing family life and work obligations, ensuring everyone stayed connected while managing various responsibilities.
Looking back, I wish I could’ve expressed my deepest gratitude to that comic legend in person. He was always so generous and thoughtful towards me. If only I could go back and tell him how much his kindness meant to me.
The actor shared, “At that point in time, he didn’t need to prove himself. He was already the leader, or ‘king of the hill.’ I felt incredibly lucky to have spent time with him during that period. Many people might have envied my position.”
Hirsch boasts a notable acting career in films, including “Ordinary People” (1980) which gained him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor, as well as “Running on Empty” (1988), “Independence Day” (1996), “A Beautiful Mind” (2010), “Independence Day: Resurgence” (2016), “Uncut Gems” (2019), and most recently, “The Fabelmans” (2022).
He has been nominated for two Tonys, the prestigious theater awards, for his performances in “I’m Not Rappaport” from 1985 to 1988 and “Conversations With My Father” between 1992 and 1993.
Hirsch, who boasts an impressive acting background in both film and stage productions, is most recognized by audiences for his small-screen performances. Notably, he starred as Alex Reiger in the beloved sitcom Taxi (1978-1983), John Lacey in the sitcom Dear John (1988-1992), and Alan Eppes on the crime drama series Numb3rs (2005-2010).
For George & Leo, Newhart portrayed George Stoody, the owner of a bookstore in Martha’s Vineyard
In the show, Jason Bateman portrayed George’s son Theodore “Ted” Stoody, while Bess Meyer played Leo’s (Hirsch’s) daughter Casey Wagonman in episodes 1-7. Later, Robyn Lively took over as Casey from episode 9 to 22. Additionally, Jason Beghe joined the cast as Ronald and Darryl Theirse appeared as Ambrose.
In the late 1950s, Newhart began his career in entertainment as a successful stand-up comedian. His first major break came when his comedy album, “The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart,” was released in 1960 and topped the Billboard pop albums chart, reaching number one.
In my expertise as a lifestyle connoisseur, I’d like to share that the artist’s subsequent release, titled “The Button-Down Mind Strikes Back! (1960),” was a significant hit following his initial success. Not only did it outperform many other albums at the time, but it even managed to claim the top two spots on the charts simultaneously. Quite an impressive feat, don’t you agree?
With his signature dry wit and stuttering speech, Bob Newhart moved from a successful stand-up comedy career to acting on television. He became well-known for his roles as psychologist Robert Hartley in The Bob Newhart Show (1972-1978), and later as innkeeper Dick Loudon in the popular series Newhart (1982-1990).
After that, he acted in the CBS sitcom “Bob” (1992-1993) for two seasons. Unfortunately, this was one of two unsuccessful sitcoms from the 90s, the other being “George & Leo,” that he appeared in.
Newport didn’t boast a long film resume during his professional tenure, yet he secured parts in the beloved movies “Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blue” (2003) and “Elf” (2003). Among these roles, his portrayal of Papa Elf remains his most cherished career achievement.
In the interview with CNN last November, Newhart stated clearly that Papa Elf was by far the most significant role he had ever taken on in his acting career.
I regretfully share the news that my dear friend and longtime partner, Virginia Quinn, who was married to me for over six decades, left us in April at the age of 82.
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2024-07-20 10:05