Bob Newhart, born George Robert Newhart on September 5, 1929, is a comedian and actor from the U.S. His delivery style is known for being deadpan and slightly stammering. A collection of his comedic monologues called “The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart” was well-liked and peaked at number one on the “Billboard” pop album chart in 1960. It is still among the best-selling comedy albums in history. The follow-up album, “The Button-Down Mind Strikes Back!” was also a hit, and both albums simultaneously remained at number one and number two on the “Billboard” charts.
Fast Facts
Full Name:
George Robert Newhart
Nickname:
Bob
Birth date:
September 05, 1929
Age:
94 years, 7 months
Zodiac Sign:
Virgo
Height:
5' 7"
Relationship Status:
Married
Net Worth:
$65.0 million
Background
On September 5, 1929, Bob Newhart was born at West Suburban Hospital in Oak Park, Illinois. His parents, Julia Pauline Newhart, a housewife, and George David Newhart, a part-owner of a plumbing and heating supply company, are both of Irish descent, with some German ancestry in his father. His grandmother was originally from St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. Newhart was educated in the Chicago area at Roman Catholic schools, including St. Catherine of Siena Grammar School in Oak Park, and graduated from St. Ignatius College Prep (high school) in 1947.Newhart began acting in “The Bob Newhart Show” in the 1970s as Chicago psychologist “Robert Hartley,” and then in “Newhart” in the 1980s as Vermont innkeeper “Dick Loudon.” In the 1990s, he had two short-lived sitcoms, “Bob and George” and “Leo.” Newhart appeared in films such as “Major Major in Catch-22” and “Papa Elf in Elf.” In the Disney animated films “The Rescuers” and “The Rescuers Down Under,” he voiced Bernard. In 2004, he portrayed library director Judson in “The Librarian,” a role he reprised in 2014 on the TV series “The Librarians.” The first of his six guest performances on “The Big Bang Theory as Professor Proton” earned Newhart his first Primetime Emmy Award on September 15, 2013, and he was awarded five more.Buddy Hackett first introduced Newhart to Virginia “Ginnie” Quinn, the daughter of character actor Bill Quinn. They tied the knot on January 12, 1963. They have four children: Robert, Timothy, Jennifer, and Courtney, and ten grandchildren. They are Roman Catholics who have raised their children to be so. He is a member of the Catholic Motion Picture Guild and the Church of the Good Shepherd in Beverly Hills, California. After years of heavy smoking, Newhart was hospitalized in 1985 with secondary polycythemia. He recovered after a few weeks and has since stopped smoking. In 1995, Newhart invested in Rotijefco (a combination of his children’s names), which purchased Santa Barbara, California radio station KKSB. The format was altered to adult standards, and its call letters were changed to KZBN (his initials). Rotijefco sold the station to Santa Barbara Broadcasting in 2005, and that company changed the station’s call letters to KZSB and its format to news and talk radio.
Career timeline
Newhart becomes a St. Ignatius College Prep graduate.
Newhart starts working as an advertising copywriter for Chicago-based independent film and television producer Fred A. Niles.
Newhart makes his film debut with the war film "Hell Is for Heroes.
Newhart is born at West Suburban Hospital in Oak Park, Illinois, on September 5.
Newhart is hospitalized with secondary polycythemia due to years of heavy smoking.
Newhart's debut novel, "I Shouldn't Even Be Doing This," is published on September 20 by Hyperion Books.
Bob Newhart FAQs
What is Bob Newhart's comedic style?
Newhart’s delivery style is known for being deadpan and slightly stammering.
Is Bob Newhart a practicing Catholic?
Newhart is a practicing Catholic who attended Catholic schools and is an alumnus of the Loyola University of Chicago.
Was Bob Newhart a member of the military?
Newhart was recruited into the U.S. Army, served in the country during the Korean War, and worked as a personnel manager until 1954 when he was discharged.
5 Surprising Facts
-
His real name is not Bob
Newhart’s real name is George, but he changed it to Bob when he was young because of the idiom "Let George do it.
-
The best new artist
He remains the only comic to win the Grammy for ‘Best New Artist’ and ‘Album Of The Year.’
-
Ascending star
His comedy album "The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart" debuted at number one, surpassing Elvis.
-
An Emmy at 84
Newhart’s efforts finally paid off when he won an Emmy at 84, despite being the most recognizable and distinctive comedy star in T.V. history.
-
He is a celebrity's friend
Newhart and actor Don Rickles remained the best of friends till Rickle passed away in 2017.
Why We Love Bob Newhart
-
He has a wonderful sense of humor
Newhart’s humor permeates everything in his vicinity. His ability to make others laugh is unique.” The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart,” his still-funny 1960 record sold over a million copies, peaked at number one on the charts, and defeated Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole to win the Grammy for ‘Best Album.’
-
He is gifted
Newhart has appeared in several films and television shows. He has long demonstrated that he possesses exceptional acting abilities.
-
He's multitalented
Newhart is a gifted actor, television host, and comedian. His talents go beyond delivering jokes making him a versatile performer.
Bob Newhart’s birthday dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | September 5 | Tuesday |
| 2024 | September 5 | Thursday |
| 2025 | September 5 | Friday |
| 2026 | September 5 | Saturday |
| 2027 | September 5 | Sunday |
