History of Bob Newhart in Timeline
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.
1901: Birth of Julia Pauline Burns
In 1901, Julia Pauline Burns, Bob Newhart's mother, was born. She was a housewife of Irish descent.
1913: Cohen on the Telephone recording released
In 1913, "Cohen on the Telephone" was recorded, predating the use of telephone routines in comedy acts like Shelley Berman, Nichols and May, and George Jessel.
September 5, 1929: George Robert Newhart's birth
On September 5, 1929, George Robert Newhart was born. He would become an American comedian and actor known for his deadpan delivery.
December 9, 1940: Virginia Lillian Quinn Born
Virginia Lillian "Ginnie" Quinn, who would eventually marry Bob Newhart, was born on December 9, 1940.
1947: Graduation from St. Ignatius College Prep
In 1947, Bob Newhart graduated from St. Ignatius College Prep (high school).
1952: Graduation from Loyola University Chicago
In 1952, Bob Newhart graduated from Loyola University Chicago with a bachelor's degree in business management.
1954: Discharge from U.S. Army
In 1954, Bob Newhart was discharged from the U.S. Army, where he served as a clerk during the Korean War.
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.
January 12, 1963: Bob Newhart married Virginia Lillian "Ginnie" Quinn
On January 12, 1963, Bob Newhart married Virginia Lillian "Ginnie" Quinn.
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.
1967: Timothy Newhart born
In 1967, Timothy Newhart, one of Bob Newhart's four children, was born.
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.
1971: Jennifer Newhart born
In 1971, Jennifer Newhart, one of Bob Newhart's four children, was born.
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".
1977: Courtney Newhart born
In 1977, Courtney Newhart, one of Bob Newhart's four children, was born.
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".
1985: Hospitalization and Smoking Cessation
In 1985, Bob Newhart was hospitalized for secondary polycythemia due to his smoking habit, leading doctors to order him to quit smoking.
1985: Newhart hospitalized for secondary polycythemia
In 1985, Bob Newhart was hospitalized for secondary polycythemia, attributed to his years of heavy smoking.
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: Death of George David Newhart
In 1987, George David Newhart, Bob Newhart's father, passed away. He was a part-owner of a plumbing supply business and of German and Irish descent.
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.
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.
1994: Death of Julia Pauline Burns
In 1994, Julia Pauline Burns, Bob Newhart's mother, passed away.
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.
2001: Newhart discussed his home computer
In 2001, Bob Newhart talked about moving up to the 64 KB model computer.
2002: Newhart Receives Mark Twain Prize
In 2002, Bob Newhart was honored with the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, recognizing his significant contributions to the field of comedy.
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.
January 24, 2005: Newhart and Rickles appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
On January 24, 2005, Bob Newhart and Don Rickles appeared together on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," reminiscing about Johnny Carson.
2005: Newhart appeared in Desperate Housewives
In 2005, Bob Newhart began a recurring role in "Desperate Housewives."
2005: Interview for PBS's American Masters
In 2005, Bob Newhart told an interviewer for PBS's American Masters that his favorite stand-up routine was "Abe Lincoln vs. Madison Avenue".
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.
December 10, 2015: Premiere of Lost Track
On December 10, 2015, a "lost" Bob Newhart track from 1965 about Paul Revere premiered on the Comedy on Vinyl podcast after being revealed by collector Jeff Abraham.
May 2016: Newhart sold his Bel Air mansion
In May 2016, Bob Newhart sold his Bel Air mansion for $14.5 million.
2017: Reprises role in Young Sheldon
In 2017, Bob Newhart reprised his role as Professor Proton on the prequel series "Young Sheldon".
2017: Lot of Newhart's former mansion sold
In 2017, the empty lot where Bob Newhart's former mansion stood was sold for $17.65 million after the house was razed.
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".
April 23, 2023: Ginnie Quinn Newhart died
On April 23, 2023, Bob Newhart's wife, Ginnie Quinn Newhart, died at the age of 82.
2023: Bob & Don: A Love Story documentary released
In 2023, "Bob & Don: A Love Story", a short documentary film by Judd Apatow about the friendship between Bob Newhart and Don Rickles, was released.
July 18, 2024: George Robert Newhart's death
On July 18, 2024, George Robert Newhart, the acclaimed American comedian and actor, passed away.
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