Bob Newhart’s Personal Life, Siblings, Parents, Wife, Girlfriend, Kids, Other Family and Dating History

Bob Newhart’s Personal Life, Siblings, Parents, Wife, Girlfriend, Kids, Other Family and Dating History

Siblings

Bob Newhart had three sisters: Virginia, Mary Joan, and Pauline. He was the only son in the family.

Parents

Bob Newhart was born to Julia Pauline (née Burns), a housewife, and George David Newhart, a part-owner of a plumbing and heating-supply business¹. His parents were supportive of his early interests in comedy and entertainment.

Wife

Bob Newhart was married to Virginia “Ginnie” Quinn, the daughter of actor Bill Quinn. They were introduced by comedian Buddy Hackett and married in January 1963. Ginnie also passed away in April 2023 after a long illness².

Girlfriend and Dating History

Before marrying Ginnie, there is no widely known information about Bob Newhart’s dating history. His relationship with Ginnie was a significant part of his life, and they were married for six decades².

Kids

Bob and Ginnie Newhart had four children:

• Robert William Newhart: Their first child, born in November 1963².
• Timothy Newhart: Their second son, born in 1966².
• Also Jennifer Newhart: Their first daughter, born in 1970².
• Courtney Newhart: Their youngest daughter².

Other Family

Bob Newhart was also a proud grandfather to several grandchildren. He often spoke about the joy his family brought him and prioritized family life throughout his career.

Personal Life

George Robert Newhart, known as Bob Newhart, was born on September 5, 1929, in Oak Park, Illinois. He was the son of Julia Pauline (née Burns), a housewife, and George David Newhart, a part-owner of a plumbing and heating-supply business. Newhart was raised in a Roman Catholic family and attended St. Ignatius College Prep. He later studied at Loyola University Chicago, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business management in 1952.

Early Career

After graduating, Newhart was drafted into the United States Army and served during the Korean War. Upon his return, he worked as an accountant for United States Gypsum and later as an advertising copywriter. It was during his time in advertising that Newhart began to develop his comedic skills, creating humorous monologues to entertain his colleagues.

Breakthrough in Comedy

Bob Newhart’s big break came in 1960 with the release of his comedy album, “The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart.” The album featured Newhart’s unique style of deadpan delivery and stammering, which quickly resonated with audiences. The album became a massive success, also reaching number one on the Billboard pop album chart and earning Newhart three Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year and Best New Artist.

Television Success

Following the success of his comedy albums, Newhart transitioned to television. In 1961, he starred in “The Bob Newhart Show,” a variety show that showcased his comedic talents.

In 1972, Newhart starred in the sitcom “The Bob Newhart Show,” where he played Dr. Robert Hartley, a psychologist. The show was a critical and commercial success, also running for six seasons and earning Newhart a Golden Globe Award. His portrayal of the mild-mannered psychologist became one of his most beloved roles.

In 1982, Newhart returned to television with another hit sitcom, “Newhart,” in which he played Dick Loudon, an innkeeper in Vermont. The show ran for eight seasons and is remembered for its iconic series finale, which revealed that the entire series was a dream of Newhart’s character from “The Bob Newhart Show.”

Film and Voice Work

Bob Newhart also enjoyed success in film and voice acting. He appeared in movies such as “Catch-22” (1970), “Elf” (2003), and “Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde” (2003). Additionally, he provided the voice for Bernard in Disney’s animated films “The Rescuers” (1977) and “The Rescuers Down Under” (1990).

Later Career and Legacy

In his later years, Newhart continued to make guest appearances on television shows, including a recurring role as Professor Proton on “The Big Bang Theory,” for which he won a Primetime Emmy Award. He also made appearances on “ER,” “Desperate Housewives,” and “Hot in Cleveland.”

Newhart’s contributions to comedy and television have been widely recognized. In 2002, he was awarded the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, and he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.