George Robert Newhart (September 5, 1929 – July 18, 2024), known professionally as Bob Newhart, was an American stand-up comedian and actor. Noted for his deadpan and slightly stammering delivery, Newhart came to prominence in the 1960s when his album of comedic monologues The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart was a worldwide bestseller and reached #1 on the Billboard pop music charts—it remains the 20th best-selling album in history. The follow-up album, The Button-Down Mind Strikes Again! was also a massive success, and both albums held the Billboard #1 and #2 spots simultaneously, a feat unequaled until the 1991 release of Use Your Illusion I and Use Your Illusion II by hard rock band Guns N' Roses.
Newhart later went into acting, starring in two long-running and prize-winning situation comedies, first as psychologist Dr. Robert "Bob" Hartley on the 1970s sitcom The Bob Newhart Show and then as innkeeper Dick Loudon on the 1980s sitcom Newhart. He also had a third sitcom that was short-lived and initially successful but was soon canceled, named Bob. Newhart also appeared in film roles such as Major Major in Catch-22, and Papa Elf in Elf. He provided the voice of Bernard in the Walt Disney animated films The Rescuers and The Rescuers Down Under. One of his most recent roles is the library head Judson in The Librarian.
Bob Newhart: A Legacy of Laughter
Self (archive footage)
2024
Bob and Don: A Love Story
Self
2023
Once Upon a Studio
Bernard (voice) (archive footage)
2023
Dean Martin: King of Cool
Self
2021
The Holiday Movies That Made Us
Self (archive footage) · (1 episode)
2020
Young Sheldon
Professor Proton · (3 episodes)
2017
Must See TV: An All Star Tribute to James Burrows
Self
2016
The Librarians
Judson · (3 episodes)
2014
Don Rickles: One Night Only
Self
2014
Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic
Self
2013
Excavating the 2000 Year Old Man
Self
2012
Inside Comedy
Self · (1 episode)
2012
Five
Dr. Roth
2011
Horrible Bosses
Lou Sherman
2011
Conan
Self · (1 episode)
2010
Hot in Cleveland
Bob Sr. · (2 episodes)
2010
The Librarian: The Curse of the Judas Chalice
Judson
2008
Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project
Self
2007
The Big Bang Theory
Arthur Jeffries · (6 episodes)
2007
Cutting Edge Comedians of the '60s & '70s
Self (archive footage)
2007
The Librarian: Return to King Solomon's Mines
Judson
2006
Sit Down Comedy with David Steinberg
(1 episode)
2005
Bob Newhart: Unbuttoned
2005
Committed
Blinky · (1 episode)
2005
Desperate Housewives
Morty Flickman · (3 episodes)
2004
The Librarian: Quest for the Spear
Judson
2004
Elf
Papa Elf
2003
NCIS
Walter Magnus · (1 episode)
2003
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Self · (2 episodes)
2003
Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde
Sid Post
2003
NBC 75th Anniversary Special
Self
2002
Added Attractions: The Hollywood Shorts Story
Self (uncredited)
2002
The Sports Pages
Doc Waddems
2001
Yesterday's Tomorrows
Self
1999
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Movie
Leonard (voice)
1998
George & Leo
George Stoody · (22 episodes)
1997
In & Out
Tom Halliwell
1997
The View
Self · (1 episode)
1997
The Daily Show
Self · (2 episodes)
1996
MADtv
Self - Special Guest · (1 episode)
1995
ER
Ben Hollander · (3 episodes)
1994
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
1993
Holiday Greetings from 'The Ed Sullivan Show'
Self - Host
1992
Bob
Bob McKay · (33 episodes)
1992
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
Self · (1 episode)
1992
Bob Newhart: Button-Down Concert
Self
1992
Bob Newhart: Off the Record
1992
The Bob Newhart Show 19th Anniversary Special
Bob Hartley
1991
The Entertainers
Todd Wilson
1991
The Rescuers Down Under
Bernard (voice)
1990
The Simpsons
Bob Newhart (voice) · (1 episode)
1989
Murphy Brown
Dr. Bob Hartley · (1 episode)
1988
Rickles... On the Loose
Self
1986
TV's Funniest Comedians - 14 Stars Do Classic Routines
Self
1986
Night of 100 Stars II
Self
1985
All-Star Party for Frank Sinatra
Self
1983
George Burns Celebrates 80 Years in Show Business
Self
1983
Newhart
Dick Loudon · (184 episodes)
1982
Late Night with David Letterman
Self · (1 episode)
1982
This Week
(1 episode)
1981
First Family
President Manfred Link
1980
Little Miss Marker
Regret
1980
Marathon
Walter Burton
1980
The Rescuers
Bernard (voice)
1977
Disney's Greatest Villains
Bernard (voice) (archive footage)
1977
Saturday Night Live
Self - Host · (2 episodes)
1975
Dinah!
Self · (1 episode)
1974
Thursday's Game
Marvin Ellison
1974
Don Rickles: Alive And Kicking
Self
1972
The Bob Newhart Show
Robert Hartley · (142 episodes)
1972
The Don Rickles Show
Brother-in-law · (8 episodes)
1972
Decisions! Decisions!
John Hobson
1971
Cold Turkey
Merwin Wren
1971
The Don Knotts Show
Self · (1 episode)
1970
Catch-22
Maj. Major Major
1970
On a Clear Day You Can See Forever
Dr. Mason Hume
1970
The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour
Self · (3 episodes)
1969
Playboy After Dark
(1 episode)
1969
The Dean Martin Christmas Show
Self
1968
Hot Millions
Willard C. Gnatpole
1968
The Dick Cavett Show
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
1968
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Self (uncredited) · (3 episodes)
1968
The Carol Burnett Show
Self · (1 episode)
1967
The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
Self - Cameo · (1 episode)
1967
The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
Self · (1 episode)
1967
Captain Nice
Lloyd Larchmont · (1 episode)
1967
Christmas with Crosby & Kate
Himself
1966
Salute to Stan Laurel
Self
1965
The Hollywood Palace
Self - Comedian · (3 episodes)
1964
The Judy Garland Show
Self · (1 episode)
1963
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
Charles Fenton · (1 episode)
1963
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self · (29 episodes)
1962
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self - Guest Host · (97 episodes)
1962
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour
Gerald Swinney · (1 episode)
1962
Hell Is for Heroes
Pvt. James E. Driscoll
1962
The Mike Douglas Show
Self - Co-Host · (4 episodes)
1961
The Mike Douglas Show
Self · (3 episodes)
1961
The Bob Newhart Show
Self - Host · (34 episodes)
1961
The Grammys
Self · (1 episode)
1959
Playboy's Penthouse
Self · (1 episode)
1959
Tonight Starring Jack Paar
Self · (6 episodes)
1957
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
Self · (1 episode)
1956
The Bob Hope Show
Self · (1 episode)
1950
What's My Line?
Self - Mystery Guest · (1 episode)
1950
The Emmy Awards
Self · (1 episode)
1949
The Ed Sullivan Show
Self · (5 episodes)
1948
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Nominee · (1 episode)
1944