Bob Newhart, a comedy star renowned for his deadpan humor, passed away at the age of 94 on Thursday morning at his home in Los Angeles. His publicist, Jerry Digney, said Newhart died after "a series of short illnesses."
Initially an accountant, the Illinois native transitioned to comedy at 30 years old. In 1960, the release of The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart, which skyrocketed to the top stop on the Billboard charts as the first comedy album to do so, kicked off his comedy career.
He was the star in two highly successful CBS sitcoms where he became well-known for his distinctive humor and delivery: The Bob Newhart Show in 1972 and Newhart a decade later.
Newhart's life has made a significant impact on comedians and the entertainment industry, which was seen by the numerous tributes posted on social media by famous fans.
Stand-up comedian and actor Dane Cook called Newhart "THE comedy icon," in an Instagram Threads post.
"The man made me believe in standup as a job and one you need to hone. What a legend. What a career," Cook added. "We love you Bob Newhart. You're forever funny."
Comedian, actor and filmmaker Billy Crystal posted on X, formerly Twitter, that Newhart was a "great comedian, a gentle wonderful man," who was "loved by everyone who knew him. He was a great one."
Crystal also noted the successes of Newhart's album and television shows, calling his sitcom "perfection."
Judd Apatow, known for his direction of popular comedy films like The 40-Year-Old Virgin, said on Threads: "Bob Newhart was as kind as he was riotously funny."
Apatow, who collaborated with Newhart on a short documentary about comedian Don Rickles, continued: "I treasured every moment I spent with him making this short doc about his love for his friend Don Rickles. A huge loss but he gave us so much joy."
Actress and film producer Jamie Lee Curtis posted a tribute to Newhart on Threads, writing, "They will be laughing wherever people go when they leave us. God, he was funny! Bob Newhart. You will be missed!"
"From his groundbreaking stand-up to his two classic sitcoms he gave us a lifetime of laughter," Mark Hamill, perhaps best known for playing Luke Skywalker in Star Wars, posted on X. "Truly one-of-a-kind. Thank you Bob Newhart!"
Newhart died a year after his wife, Virginia "Ginnie," passed away at 82 years old. The couple was married for 60 years and have four children.
Updated 7/18/24 at 5:17 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
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