The Great Bob Newhart Has Passed

[ZiprHead]

George Robert Newhart (September 5, 1929 – July 18, 2024) was an American comedian and actor. He was known for his deadpan and stammering delivery style. Beginning as a stand-up comedian, he transitioned his career to acting in television. He received numerous accolades, including three Grammy Awards, an Emmy Award, and a Golden Globe Award. He received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2002.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Newhart#cite_note-WaPo-3">[3]</a>

Newhart came to prominence in 1960 when his record album of comedic monologues, The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart, became a bestseller and reached number one on the Billboard pop album chart.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Newhart#cite_note-4">[4]</a> His follow-up album, The Button-Down Mind Strikes Back!, was also a success, and the two albums held the Billboard number one and number two spots simultaneously.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Newhart#cite_note-autobio-5">[5]</a>

 

[ideologyhunter]

Besides all the classic roles he played on TV and in films, there's a little-seen sketch he did for Mad TV, a two-character piece where he was teamed with the great Mo Collins. It's called Stop It! and you can see it on YouTube. It's 6 minutes of comic brilliance -- the writers really earned their pay, and Bob & Mo are comic wonders. Too bad they didn't (so far as I know) have more moments together.

 

[thebeave]

Dang. The movie and TV icons from my youth are dying off. Not too many left. William Shatner, Clint Eastwood, Abe Vigoda, Barbara Eden, Tina Louise, June Lockhart are among the few that are still hanging on. This is all making me feel old, now!

I have a friend who, in her younger days, was a caterer in the LA area, and got to know several local celebrities, among them Bob Newhart. She said he was a really nice man, and remembered her name despite long gaps in time between their encounters.

 

[hurtinbuckaroo]

Dang. The movie and TV icons from my youth are dying off. Not too many left. William Shatner, Clint Eastwood, Abe Vigoda, Barbara Eden, Tina Louise, June Lockhart are among the few that are still hanging on. This is all making me feel old, now!

I have a friend who, in her younger days, was a caterer in the LA area, and got to know several local celebrities, among them Bob Newhart. She said he was a really nice man, and remembered her name despite long gaps in time between their encounters.

Abe Vigoda finally lost his battle to outrun the frequent false reports of his death in 2016.