A number of Hollywood stars took to social media to pay tribute to comedian Bob Newhart after his death at the age of 94 was announced on Thursday.
Newhart’s publicist Jerry Digney confirmed the death of the actor in Los Angeles Thursday after he had suffered a brief series of illnesses.
Among those paying tribute to Newhart were major cast members of The Big Bang Theory and Young Sheldon, after Newhart made guest appearances on the original series and its prequel show.
Iain Armitage, 16, who played the eponymous character on Young Sheldon, honored the ground-breaking comic in a statement to People.
‘Bob’s Professor Proton was inspiring to Sheldon, and his career as an actor was inspiring to me. He was loved and will be missed,’ Armitage said.
He also included kind words for Newhart in his Instagram Stories.
‘Thanks for being such an inspiring Professor Proton and such an incredible human being,’ he wrote over a photo of Newhart as Professor Proton, his guest character. ‘Thinking of you and all who loved you today.’
The Big Bang Theory cast member Mayim Bialik also shared a statement about Newhart’s death to People.
‘As a child, the Bob Newhart Show provided countless hours of enjoyment for me — it constituted some of my earliest training in the art of sitcom. When I got to work with alongside him on TBBT, it was absolutely a dream come true,’ she said. ‘He was effortlessly professional, poised, hilarious and incredibly approachable. Working with Bob was working in the presence of a true comedy legend — the likes of whom we simple don’t see anymore. How he will be missed!’
Actress Kaley Cuoco, who welcomed Newhart on The Big Bang Theory, took to Instagram Stories with a tribute to the late comedic legend.
Cuoco said: ‘What a dream it was to witness the genius that was Bob Newhart. He was classy, kind, generous and absolutely hilarious. Every take — every time. Icon forever.’
Cuoco also shared a cast shot writing, ‘I will never forget you, Bob! Thank you for making our dreams come true!’
Big Bang Theory actor Kunal Nayyar shared a photo of Newhart, and he wrote, ‘Professor Proton. Our dearest Bob Newhart. RIP. Miss you forever.’
Bill Prady, who co-created The Big Bang Theory with Chuck Lorre, shared an image of himself with the late comedic legend.
‘Hard to explain how important Bob Newhart was to every comedian and comedy writer who came after him,’ Prady said. ‘Working with him ever so briefly was one of the greatest joys and honors of my life.’
Alec Baldwin posted an image of the late star, writing, ‘Au revoir to the great Bob Newhart …’
Star Wars leading man Mark Hamill said: ‘From his groundbreaking stand-up to his two classic sitcoms he gave us a lifetime of laughter. Truly one-of-a-kind. Thank you Bob Newhart! #RIP.’
Abbott Elementary creator Quinta Brunson said ‘What a life lived,’ with the hashtag #goat. Referring to Newhart’s show, she said, ‘Daryl, Daryl and Daryl was one of my “a-ha” moments as a kid.’
Comedy icon Billy Crystal posted a statement following news of Newhart’s passing, calling him ‘a great one.
Said Crystal: ‘@BobNewhart has passed away. A great comedian, a gentle wonderful man. In ‘60 he won 3 Grammy Awards! Best New Artist, ALBUM OF THE YEAR and Best Comedy performance.
Crystal noted how Newhart was the ‘only comedian to win BNA and Album of the year!’ adding that, ‘Amazingly he was an accountant until he was 30 yrs old.
‘His sitcom was perfection. Loved by everyone who knew him. He was a great one.’
Director Judd Apatow said, ‘Bob Newhart was the kindest most hilarious man.
‘He asked me to make a documentary about his friendship with Don Rickles. I was so lucky to get to spend that time with my hero. His brilliant comedy and gentle spirit made everyone he encountered so happy.’
Actress Jamie Lee Curtis said in an Instagram post: ‘They will be laughing wherever people go when they leave us. God, he was funny! Bob Newhart. You will be missed!’
Actor-politician Al Franken called Newhart ‘a giant, a genius, and a great guy,’ adding, ‘I’ll always remember when he hosted SNL and did a stellar show. He was, as you might expect, a joy to work with. May his memory be a blessing.’
Also remembering Newhart was Modern Family actor Eric Stonestreet, who said, ‘No one funnier than Bob Newhart. Rest In Peace, sir.’
Comedian Dane Cook said that Newhart was hugely influential in his career as a comic and entertainer.
‘Mr. Bob Newhart passed away today,’ Cook said. ‘His album The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart impacted my career intensely. ‘He was and is one of the best comedians to ever deliver and man he delivered.’
Cook added: ‘Always funny. Always from the heart. Always a reminder to me of why I started in stand up. Legend Bob Newhart you are forever funny.’
Director Paul Feig called Newhart ‘another comedy legend’ in a social media post, recalling a time he had collaborated with the late star.
‘I had the honor of doing a guest role on Newhart & got to spend the week listening to the great Bob Newhart making us all laugh,’ Feig said. ‘A brilliant standup & comedic actor, he was truly one of a kind. His legacy will live on.’
Film critic Richard Roeper recalled of the late entertainer, ‘Every time I met Bob Newhart, he was EXACTLY Bob Newhart: witty, graceful, low-key, and friendly.
‘We often talk about how someone lights up a room when they enter, but Bob Newhart had an essence that was equally impressive: when he exited a room, he left everyone smiling.’
Comedy writer Alan Zweibel said: ‘I started off as your fan, then I became your writer, then I became your friend. But all the time I remained your fan. R.I.P. #BobNewhart.’
Comic and radio personality Jim Norton called Newhart ‘one of the naturally funniest people to ever live,’ adding, ‘I was lucky enough to get to talk to him a few times. And the last “Newhart” is the best series finale in history.’
Newhart was a mainstay in comedy for more than 60 years, best known for TV shows The Bob Newhart Show, which aired on CBS from 1972 to 1978.
His series Newhart aired from 1982-1990 on CBS, and is acclaimed for one of the most innovative endings to a TV show, involving a reference to his former program on the network.
In recent years, he played the role of Papa Elf in the 2003 Will Ferrell holiday hit Elf, and made appearances on the CBS comedies The Big Bang Theory and Young Sheldon.
