BOB NEWHART 1929-2024 : Farewell to a Comedy Legend

AFTER SOARING TO STARDOM IN THE 1960s, THE FAMILY MAN KNOWN FOR HIS GENTLE WIT AND STAMMERING DELIVERY ENJOYED MAKING PEOPLE LAUGH FOR THE NEXT 60 YEARS

- SCOTT HUVER and COLLEEN KRATOFIL

When Bob Newhart was filming his eponymous sitcom in the 1970s, a producer asked if he could tighten up his deadpan delivery. Newhart recalled his refusal in his 2006 memoir: "This stammer bought me a house in Beverly Hills." Indeed, Newhart's signature speech pattern-frequent, uncertain pauses while attempting to rationally navigate outrageous situations-was what struck a chord with audiences and propelled him to stardom. He became a celebrity nearly overnight in 1960 when his first record shot to the top of the charts. "I marvel at it daily," he said of his rapid rise.

Throughout his success in TV and film, he remained a down-toearth family man-a father of four and husband of 60 years-and worked steadily until his death on July 18 at age 94 after a series of short illnesses. "Comedy has given me a wonderful life," he said.

Born George Robert Newhart in 1929 in Oak Park, Ill., he graduated from Loyola University with a degree in business management. After serving two years in the Army during the Korean War, he worked as an accountant and later an advertising copywriter. To ease his boredom, he exchanged phone calls with a coworker improvising absurd scenarios; he later developed the concept into comedy routines.

In 1959 Newhart gave himself one year to make it in show business."It was back to accounting if comedy didn't work out," he said.Newhart's tapes caught the ear of an executive at Warner Bros.