Comedy legend Bob Newhart, a master of deadpan delivery, died on Thursday. Newhart was 94.
Newhart initially gained fame with his comedy album “The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart,” released in 1960. It was a runaway success, becoming the first comedy album to reach number one on the Billboard charts and earning him a Grammy Award for Album of the Year.
He later starred in two highly successful and beloved TV sitcoms. The first, “The Bob Newhart Show” (1972-1978), featured him as a Chicago psychologist. The second, “Newhart” (1982-1990), had him playing an innkeeper in a small Vermont town. Both were critically acclaimed and popular with audiences, solidifying his status as a television icon.
Off of the small screen, Newhart’s stand-up routines, characterized by one-sided telephone conversations, became signature pieces that showcased his observational humor and iconic delivery.
Many notable comedians cite Newhart as an influence, including Jerry Seinfeld, Ellen DeGeneres, Jim Gaffigan, Conan O’Brien, Ray Romano and Tina Fey.
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