Comedian Bob Newhart, deadpan master of sitcoms and telephone monologues, dies at 94

LOS ANGELES -- Bob Newhart, the deadpan accountant-turned-comedian who became 1 of the astir fashionable TV stars of his clip aft striking golden with a classical drama album, has died astatine 94.

Jerry Digney, Newhart's publicist, says the histrion died Thursday successful Los Angeles aft a bid of abbreviated illnesses.

Newhart, champion remembered present arsenic the prima of 2 deed tv shows of the 1970s and 1980s, launched his vocation arsenic a standup comic successful the precocious 1950s. He gained nationwide fame erstwhile his regular was captured connected vinyl successful 1960 arsenic "The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart," which went connected to triumph a Grammy Award arsenic medium of the year.

While different comedians of the time, including Lenny Bruce, Mort Sahl, Alan King, and Mike Nichols and Elaine May, often got laughs with their assertive attacks connected modern mores, Newhart was an anomaly. His outlook was modern, but helium seldom raised his dependable supra a hesitant, astir stammering delivery. His lone prop was a telephone, utilized to unreal to clasp a speech with idiosyncratic connected the different extremity of the line.

In 1 memorable skit, helium portrayed a Madison Avenue image-maker trying to instruct Abraham Lincoln connected however to amended the Gettysburg Address: "Say 87 years agone alternatively of fourscore and seven," helium advised.

Another favourite was "Merchandising the Wright Brothers," successful which helium tried to transportation the aviation pioneers to commencement an airline, though helium acknowledged the region of their maiden formation could bounds them.

"Well, see, that's going to wounded our clip to the Coast if we've got to onshore each 105 feet."

Newhart was initially wary of signing connected to a play TV series, fearing it would overexpose his material. Nevertheless, helium accepted an charismatic connection from NBC, and "The Bob Newhart Show" premiered connected Oct. 11, 1961. Despite Emmy and Peabody awards, the half-hour assortment amusement was canceled aft 1 season, a root for jokes by Newhart for decades after.

He waited 10 years earlier undertaking different "Bob Newhart Show" successful 1972. This 1 was a concern drama with Newhart playing a Chicago scientist surviving successful a penthouse with his schoolteacher wife, Suzanne Pleshette. Their neighbors and his patients, notably Bill Daily arsenic an hose navigator, were a wacky, neurotic clump who provided an perfect counterpoint to Newhart's deadpan commentary.

The series, 1 of the astir acclaimed of the 1970s, ran done 1978.

Four years later, the comedian launched different show, simply called "Newhart." This clip helium was a palmy New York writer who decides to reopen a long-closed Vermont inn. Again Newhart was the calm, tenable antheral surrounded by a radical of eccentric locals. Again the amusement was a immense hit, lasting 8 seasons connected CBS.

It bowed retired successful memorable benignant successful 1990 with Newhart - successful his aged Chicago scientist quality - waking up successful furniture with Pleshette, cringing arsenic helium tells her astir the unusual imagination helium had: "I was an innkeeper successful this brainsick small municipality successful Vermont. ... The handyman kept missing the constituent of things, and past determination were these 3 woodsmen, but lone 1 of them talked!"

The stunt parodied a "Dallas" occurrence wherever a cardinal quality was killed off, past revived erstwhile the decease was revealed to person been successful a dream.

Two aboriginal bid were comparative duds: "Bob," successful 1992-93, and "George & Leo," 1997-98. Though nominated respective times, helium ne'er won an Emmy for his sitcom work. "I conjecture they deliberation I'm not acting. That it's conscionable Bob being Bob," helium sighed.

Over the years, Newhart besides appeared successful respective movies, usually successful comedic roles. Among them: "Catch 22," "In and Out," "Legally Blonde 2" and "Elf," arsenic the diminutive dada of adopted full-size lad Will Ferrell. More caller enactment included "Horrible Bosses" and the TV bid "The Librarians," "The Big Bang Theory" and "Young Sheldon.