George Robert "Bob" Newhart (born September 5, 1929) is an American stand-up comedian and actor.
The Bob Newhart Show is the name of two different television series, both starring comedian Bob Newhart. The better-known is a situation comedy produced by MTM Enterprises, which aired on CBS from September 16, 1972 to April 1, 1978. Newhart portrayed a psychologist having to deal with his patients and fellow office workers. (The other Bob Newhart Show was an NBC variety show which aired during the 1961–1962 season.)
Bob is a successful Chicago psychologist who shares secretary Carol with Dentist Jerry. Part of the show revolves around his (usually comic) dealings with his patients. The rest involves his school teacher wife Emily and others in their apartment building. Written by Ed Stephan
Newhart insisted that there be no children for his character to be the father of in each of his television series. "I told the creators I didn't want any children, because I didn't want it to be a show about "How stupid Daddy is, but we love him so much, let's get him out of the trouble he's gotten himself into"" In the sixth year of Newhart's successful 1972 CBS series, "Bob Newhart Show, The" (1972), the writers wrote a script in which Emily Hartley was pregnant. When Newhart was asked his opinion of the script, he said, "It's very funny. Who are you going to get to play 'Bob'?"
Prior to hitting his success on the comedy circuits in the 1960s, Bob worked as a book-keeper for a Chicago firm and hated every minute of it.
His 1960 comedy album "The Button Down Mind of Bob Newhart" went to #1 on the charts, beating out Elvis Presley and Sound of Music, The (1965) cast album. The album won three Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year for 1960.
Father of Robert William Newhart.
He has a sister (Sister M. Joan Newhart) who is a nun.
His wife came up with the idea for "The Last Newhart" (the last episode of "Newhart" (1982)), in which the entire series "Newhart" (1982) was all a dream of Dr. Bob Hartley of "Bob Newhart Show, The" (1972).
Guest hosted "Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, The" (1962) 87 times.
Appeared on "Dean Martin Show, The" (1965) 24 times.
Appeared on "The Ed Sullivan Show" (a.k.a. "Toast of the Town" (1948)) 8 times.
Son-in-law of actor Bill Quinn (I).
Like Bill Cosby, Newhart has the ability to be funny without resorting to profanity. The closest Newhart comes is in his bit "The Driving Instructor," in which he comments, "...I don't suppose it is so damn funny".
He was awarded the Annual Kennedy Centre Mark Twain Prize for Comedy.
Nominated for a 2007 Grammy Award in the Best Spoken Word Album category for his album "I Shouldn't Even Be Doing This!".
