Monday, June 1, 2026

RIP Bob Newhart, 94, Comedy Genius, Famous for His Sharp Deadpan Humor, Hit TV Shows

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Bob Newhart couldn’t wait anymore. When the Kennedy Center passed over him yet again, he decided to pack it in.

The beloved comic genius was 94 and leaves behind a huge legacy. Not only did he star in two hit TV comedies, he also had a big career as a stand up comic who made terrific comedy albums.

“The Button Down Mind of Bob Newhart” remains a touchstone in comedy records. But so does the series finale of “Newhart,” his second hit series, in which he wakes up in bed in his first show saying he’s had a bad dream.

It’s the most perfect ending of all TV series.

Now Bob joins his pal Don Rickles in heaven. It’s going to be a wild party. Condolences to his family, friends, and fans.

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Roger Friedman
Roger Friedmanhttps://www.showbiz411.com
Roger Friedman is the founder and editor-in-chief of Showbiz411. He wrote the FOX411 column on FoxNews.com from 1999 to 2009 and previously edited Fame magazine and wrote the "Intelligencer" column at New York magazine. His bylines have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the New York Daily News, the New York Post, Vogue, Details, and the Miami Herald. He is a voting member of the Critics Choice Awards (Film and Television branches), and his movie reviews are tracked by Rotten Tomatoes. is articles have appeared in dozens of publications over the years including New York Magazine, where he wrote the Intelligencer column in the mid 90s and covered the OJ Simpson trial, and Fox News (when it wasn't so crazy) where he covered Michael Jackson. With D.A. Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus, he co-produced the 2002 documentary "Only the Strong Survive," which screened at Directors' Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival.

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