His longtime publicist Jerry Digney said Newhart died after a series of short illnesses.
People had always been saying, Gee, youre funny.
So I just decided I was gonna give it a try and see what happened.
Bob Newhart in 2016Getty Images
Newhart began to tour the national comedy circuit for rapturous crowds.
Newhart scored another Grammy nom nearly a half-century later for his 2006 spoken-work albumI shouldnt Even Be Doing This!
When I first started out in stand-up, I just remember the sound of laughter, he once said.
Its one of the great sounds of the world.
It lasted just one season in 1961-62, earning a Peabody Award.
But he would return to the medium in a huge way a decade later.
SitcomThe Bob Newhart Showdebuted on CBS in September 1972.
Newhart starred as Bob Hartley, a successful psychologist in Chicago whose deadpan delivery drove the series.
The cast also included Penny Marshall.
Newhart scored an Emmy nom for writing during the shows first season it ranked No.
Mary Frann played his wife, but as with Newharts 1970s show his co-stars often stood out.
The series finished its rookie season tied as the No.
12 series in primetime and would remain in the Top 30 for several years.
Newhart would score three consecutive Emmy noms for Lead Actor in a Comedy from 1985-87.
It was nominated for 25Emmysover its eight-season, 184-episode run but it never won a single statuette.
TheNewhartseries finale in May 1990 is widely considered one of TVs greatest.
Announcing he had the weirdest dream, Newhart throws the wholeNewhartshow into a wonderful TV trope.
The show didnt click and aired its final episode in late 1993.
It lasted only one low-rated season.
Newharts elf ears and characteristic deadpan delivery made audiences cheer.
But he might be most recognizable to younger audiences for his recurring role in CBS megahitTheBig Bang Theory.
A longtime friend of Johnny Carson, Newhart substituted as host ofThe Tonight Shownearly 90 times.
He alsohostedSaturday Night Livetwice,in 1980 and 1995; watch his monologue for the latter below.
Newhart is survived by four children Jennifer, Courtney, Timothy and Robert and numerous grandchildren.
His wife of 60 years, Virginia Ginnie Newhart, died last year.
