Deadpan comic and sitcom star Bob Newhart, 94, died on July 18. An accountant and copywriter turned stand-up comic, Newhart had a hit recording with “The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart” in 1960. He starred in several TV series, but by far the best were The Bob Newhart Show (1972-78, as Chicago psychiatrist Bob Hartley) and Newhart (1982-90, as Vermont innkeeper Dick Louden). Newhart wisely was the befuddled center to his increasingly insane cast of supporting characters on both shows; his “takes” and stammering replies were the heart of his act. “It worked for Jack Benny,” he said. “He certainly had the secret for career longevity: surround yourself with funny people.” Newhart appeared on other shows and in occasional movies (Hell is for Heroes, Catch-22, Cold Turkey, First Family, In & Out, Elf, and as Bernard’s voice in The Rescuers films).
Related Posts
