BOB NEWHART, 91 YEARS OLD

A pioneer in the world of observational comedy, 91-year-old Bob Newhart is best known for his slightly stammering and deadpan delivery style. He first came to national recognition when he released his comedic monologue, The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart, in 1960. This became an instant best-seller, giving him a modest income stream. The next album also became another commercial success. However, in 2012, comedian Shelley Berman claimed that Newhart took credit and plagiarized his improvisational telephone routine style, but interviews before and after this claim were made revealed Newhart did no such thing as it was already a predominant technique.

He later ventured into acting. In recent years, many would probably remember him as Professor Proton on The Big Bang Theory. Newhart’s portrayal on the sitcom gained him his first Primetime Emmy Award. Apart from TBBT, he also appeared in The Bob Newhart Show and in the short-lived 1990s sitcoms Bob and George and Leo.