Here is the biography of Bob Newhart:
Bob Newhart was born on September 5, 1929, in Oak Park, Illinois, to Roman Catholic parents, George David Newhart and Julia Pauline Burns. He was raised in the vicinity of Chicago and attended a number of local Roman Catholic schools. He graduated from Loyola University Chicago in 1952 with a Bachelor's Degree in business management.
After graduating, Newhart was drafted into the United States Army and served as a personnel manager during the Korean War. He was honorably discharged in 1954 and attempted to continue his studies, but never completed his degree.
Newhart briefly worked as an accountant and then as a clerk for various employers, but found himself struggling financially. In 1958, he was hired as an advertising copywriter and developed a comedy routine based on his experiences. He recorded his routine and sent it to radio stations, which led to him becoming a stand-up comedian.
Newhart's comedy style involved deadpan delivery and comedic monologues. He cited earlier comedians such as George Gobel, Ray Goulding, and Bob Elliott as his main influences. His comedy album "The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart" became the first comedy album to make number one on the Billboard charts and earned him the 1961 Grammy Award for Best New Artist.
Newhart's success in comedy led to opportunities in television and film. He starred in his own variety show, "The Bob Newhart Show," which won the 1962 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series. He also appeared in several films, including "Hell Is for Heroes," "Hot Millions," and "On a Clear Day You Can See Forever."
In the 1970s, Newhart starred in the hit sitcom "The Bob Newhart Show" and later in the animated film "The Rescuers." He also appeared in two live-action films, "Little Miss Marker" and "First Family."
In the 1980s, Newhart starred in a second hit sitcom, "Newhart," which was set in a Vermont inn and featured a famous ending where the entire series is revealed to be a dream of his character from his earlier sitcom. He also appeared in the sequel film "The Rescuers Down Under."
In the 1990s, Newhart starred in three sitcoms, including "Bob," "George & Leo," and "The Librarian" fantasy franchise. He also appeared in several films, including "In & Out," "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Movie," and "Elf."
In the 2000s, Newhart continued to work in television and film, appearing in shows such as "The Big Bang Theory" and "Horrible Bosses." He also starred in three television films as Judson, a mystical librarian, in the "Librarian" franchise.
Newhart received his first Primetime Emmy Award for his recurring role as Arthur Jeffries, aka "Professor Proton," in "The Big Bang Theory." He died in 2024 at the age of 94.
