Tributes paid to comedy legend Bob Newhart, who has died aged 94

nme.com:

CNN. Newhart died at home in Los Angeles yesterday (July 18) after a series of short illnesses.A comedian best known for his deadpan and endearingly stammered delivery, Newhart spent decades in entertainment as a presence on television and film after first launching his career as a stand-up comic.He made his debut with the comedy album ‘The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart’ at age 30.

It went on to become the first comedy album to reach Number One on the Billboard charts – an especially notable feat for the relatively inexperienced Newhart, who had been an accountant prior to his stand-up career.The comedian was later a mainstay on television for decades – from 1972 to 1978, Newhart hosted The Bob Newhart Show before starring in Newhart from 1982 to 1990 and Bob from 1992 to 1993.

He released eight comedy albums, his last being ‘Button-Down Concert’ in 1997.Through his career, he also appeared in films – from the 1972 adaptation of Catch-22 to 2003’s Elf as Papa Elf, the adoptive father of Will Ferrell’s Buddy – along with guest appearances in The Simpsons, The Big Bang Theory and its spin-off Young Sheldon.

Despite his long and illustrious career, Newhart did not win an Emmy until 2013 for his role on The Big Bang Theory.Conan O’Brien wrote in a tweet today (July 19) that Newhart’s passing is “an immeasurable loss”.