Career Timeline of Bob Newhart: Major Achievements and Milestones

How Bob Newhart built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

Bob Newhart is an American comedian and actor celebrated for his deadpan delivery and slight stammer. Starting as a stand-up comedian, he successfully transitioned into television acting. Newhart's work has garnered significant recognition, including three Grammy Awards, an Emmy Award, and a Golden Globe Award. He was also honored with the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2002, solidifying his legacy as a major figure in American comedy.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements

1958: Advertising Copywriter

In 1958, Bob Newhart became an advertising copywriter for Fred A. Niles in Chicago.

1959: Film Debut in Hell Is for Heroes

In 1959, Bob Newhart appeared in "Hell Is for Heroes", marking his debut in films, where he performed his signature one-sided telephone act in a bunker.

1959: Signed by Warner Bros. Records

In 1959, Bob Newhart was signed by Warner Bros. Records after being introduced to the head of talent. This was a year after the label was created.

1960: Rise to Prominence with "The Button-Down Mind"

In 1960, Bob Newhart gained prominence when his comedy album, "The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart", became a bestseller, reaching number one on Billboard and winning two Grammy Awards. He also released "The Button-Down Mind Strikes Back!" that year.

1960: Release of "The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart"

In 1960, Bob Newhart released his comedy album "The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart", which became a number-one hit and won two Grammy Awards.

1961: Hosts The Bob Newhart Show

In 1961, Bob Newhart hosted a short-lived NBC variety show called "The Bob Newhart Show".

1961: Release of Behind the Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart

In 1961, Bob Newhart released the comedy album Behind the Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart.

1962: Acts in Hell Is for Heroes

In 1962, Bob Newhart acted in the film "Hell Is for Heroes".

1962: Films An Evening with Bob Newhart

In 1962, Bob Newhart filmed "An Evening with Bob Newhart", considered to be the first pay-per-view television special for Canadian-based Telemeter.

1962: Release of The Button-Down Mind on TV

In 1962, Bob Newhart released the comedy album The Button-Down Mind on TV.

1963: Appears on The Alfred Hitchcock Hour

In 1963, Bob Newhart appeared in an episode of "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour" titled "How to Get Rid of Your Wife".

1964: Co-hosts The Entertainers

In 1964, Bob Newhart co-hosted the variety show "The Entertainers" with Carol Burnett and Caterina Valente.

1964: Release of Bob Newhart Faces Bob Newhart

In 1964, Bob Newhart released the comedy album Bob Newhart Faces Bob Newhart.

1965: Release of The Windmills Are Weakening

In 1965, Bob Newhart released the comedy album The Windmills Are Weakening.

1967: Release of This Is It

In 1967, Bob Newhart released the comedy album This Is It.

1968: Acts in Hot Millions

In 1968, Bob Newhart acted in the film "Hot Millions".

1970: Acts in On a Clear Day You Can See Forever

In 1970, Bob Newhart acted in Alan Jay Lerner's musical film "On a Clear Day You Can See Forever".

1970: Acts in Catch-22

In 1970, Bob Newhart acted in the film "Catch-22".

1971: Acts in Cold Turkey

In 1971, Bob Newhart acted in Norman Lear's comedy film "Cold Turkey".

1971: Release of Best of Bob Newhart

In 1971, Bob Newhart released the comedy album Best of Bob Newhart.

1972: Stars as Robert Hartley on The Bob Newhart Show

In 1972, Bob Newhart began starring as Chicago psychologist Robert Hartley on "The Bob Newhart Show".

1972: Approached for The Bob Newhart Show

In 1972, after guest-starring on "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour", Bob Newhart was approached to star in "The Bob Newhart Show" by Grant Tinker and Mary Tyler Moore of MTM Enterprises.

1973: Release of Very Funny Bob Newhart

In 1973, Bob Newhart released the comedy album Very Funny Bob Newhart.

1977: Declining Ratings and Show Reworking

By 1977, the show's ratings were declining and Bob Newhart wanted to end it, but was under contract for one more season. He objected to adding a pregnancy storyline to the show.

1977: Newhart purchased Commodore PET

In 1977, Bob Newhart became an early home-computer hobbyist, purchasing the Commodore PET.

1977: Voices Bernard in The Rescuers

In 1977, Bob Newhart voiced Bernard in the Disney animated feature film "The Rescuers".

1978: Series finale of The Bob Newhart Show

In 1978, Bob Newhart discontinued "The Bob Newhart Show" after six seasons and 142 episodes, leading to emotional farewells among the cast and crew.

1980: Hosts Saturday Night Live

In 1980, Bob Newhart hosted "Saturday Night Live" for the first time.

1980: Plays the President in First Family

In 1980, Bob Newhart played the president of the United States in the comedy "First Family".

1982: Stars as Dick Loudon on Newhart

In 1982, Bob Newhart began starring as Vermont innkeeper Dick Loudon on the TV series "Newhart".

1982: Creation of Newhart

In 1982, Bob Newhart, after discussions with Barry Kemp and CBS, created the show "Newhart", where he played Vermont innkeeper Dick Loudon.

1984: Tom Poston's Emmy Nomination

In 1984, Tom Poston received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his role as George Utley in "Newhart".

1986: Tom Poston's Emmy Nomination

In 1986, Tom Poston received another Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his role as George Utley in "Newhart".

1987: Tom Poston's Emmy Nomination

In 1987, Tom Poston received another Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his role as George Utley in "Newhart".

1987: Ratings began to drop

In 1987, the sitcom "Newhart" experienced a decline in ratings.

1990: End of Newhart Series

In 1990, Bob Newhart ended his role as Dick Loudon as the series concluded.

1990: Voices Bernard in The Rescuers Down Under

In 1990, Bob Newhart reprised his role as the voice of Bernard in the animated film "The Rescuers Down Under".

1990: Newhart ended after eight seasons

In 1990, the TV series "Newhart" concluded after eight seasons and 182 episodes, featuring a memorable finale with Suzanne Pleshette.

1992: Release of Bob Newhart Off the Record

In 1992, Bob Newhart released the album Bob Newhart Off the Record.

1992: Newhart returned to TV with Bob

In 1992, Bob Newhart returned to television with the series "Bob," which was cancelled shortly after the start of its second season.

1992: Stars in Bob

In 1992, Bob Newhart starred in the sitcom "Bob".

1993: End of Bob

In 1993, Bob Newhart's role in "Bob" ended as the show concluded.

1994: Reprise of Carol on Murphy Brown

In 1994, Bob Newhart was reunited with Marcia Wallace in a reprise of her role as Carol on Murphy Brown.

1995: Newhart made comedy special Off the Record

In 1995, Bob Newhart created his first comedy special of his 35-year career called, "Off the Record".

1995: Hosts Saturday Night Live

In 1995, Bob Newhart hosted "Saturday Night Live" for the second time.

1995: Newhart invested in Rotijefco and bought KKSB radio station

In 1995, Bob Newhart invested in Rotijefco and bought radio station KKSB in Santa Barbara, changing its call sign to KZBN.

1997: Acts in In & Out

In 1997, Bob Newhart acted in the film "In & Out".

1997: Release of The Button-Down Concert

In 1997, Bob Newhart released the album The Button-Down Concert.

1997: Newhart returned to TV with George & Leo

In 1997, Bob Newhart returned again with George & Leo on CBS with Judd Hirsch and Jason Bateman; the show was cancelled during its first season.

1997: Stars in George and Leo

In 1997, Bob Newhart starred in the sitcom "George and Leo".

1998: End of George and Leo

In 1998, Bob Newhart ended his role as the series concluded.

2001: Release of Something Like This

In 2001, Bob Newhart released "Something Like This", an anthology of his 1960s Warner Bros. albums.

2003: Newhart acted in Elf

In 2003, Bob Newhart acted in the Will Ferrell Christmas comedy film "Elf."

2003: Newhart guest-starred on ER

In 2003, Bob Newhart guest-starred on three episodes of ER in a rare dramatic role that earned him a Primetime Emmy Award nomination.

2005: Newhart appeared in Desperate Housewives

In 2005, Bob Newhart began a recurring role in "Desperate Housewives."

2005: Rotijefco sold KZBN radio station

In 2005, Rotijefco sold the KZBN radio station to Santa Barbara Broadcasting.

August 27, 2006: Newhart at the 58th Primetime Emmy Awards

On August 27, 2006, Bob Newhart was part of a comedic gag at the 58th Primetime Emmy Awards, hosted by Conan O'Brien.

September 20, 2006: Newhart's book I Shouldn't Even Be Doing This released

On September 20, 2006, Bob Newhart's first book, "I Shouldn't Even Be Doing This," was released.

2009: Newhart received Primetime Emmy Nomination for The Librarian

In 2009, Bob Newhart received another Primetime Emmy nomination for reprising his role as Judson in "The Librarian: Curse of the Judas Chalice."

2011: Newhart appeared in Five

In 2011, Bob Newhart appeared in Lifetime's anthology film on breast cancer, "Five."

2011: Newhart made cameo appearance in Horrible Bosses

In 2011, Bob Newhart made a cameo appearance as a sadistic but appreciative CEO in the comedy "Horrible Bosses."

2012: Shelley Berman accused Newhart of plagiarizing telephone routine style

In 2012, comedian Shelley Berman accused Bob Newhart of plagiarizing his improvisational telephone routine style.

2013: Newhart appeared in The Big Bang Theory

In 2013, Bob Newhart appeared in an episode of "The Big Bang Theory" playing Professor Proton, for which he won a Primetime Emmy Award, his first Emmy.

2013: Plays Professor Proton on The Big Bang Theory

In 2013, Bob Newhart began playing the role of Professor Proton on the CBS sitcom "The Big Bang Theory".

December 19, 2014: Newhart appeared on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson

On December 19, 2014, Bob Newhart made a surprise appearance on the final episode of "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson."

June 2015: Newhart appeared on Hot in Cleveland series finale

In June 2015, Bob Newhart appeared on another series finale, that of "Hot in Cleveland," reuniting with Betty White.

2017: Reprises role in Young Sheldon

In 2017, Bob Newhart reprised his role as Professor Proton on the prequel series "Young Sheldon".

2018: End of role in The Big Bang Theory

In 2018, Bob Newhart ended his role as Professor Proton in the show "The Big Bang Theory".

2020: End of role in Young Sheldon

In 2020, Bob Newhart ended his role as Professor Proton in the show "Young Sheldon".

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