Since Bob Newhart’s family announced his death, many are still processing the sad news. Fans who saw recent footage of him noted how sickly he looked before he passed. The late actor often shared his reflections on life after turning 90.
Hollywood legend Bob Newhart sadly passed away yesterday, July 18, at the age of 94. Fans are now revisiting an old interview of the beloved actor and comedian where they noticed some concerning details about his appearance.
Bob Newhart at the Paley Honors: A Special Tribute To Television’s Comedy Legends event in Beverly Hills, California on November 21, 2019 | Source: Getty Images
Newhart’s family took to Facebook to break the sad news of his demise. Posting the message alongside a beautiful picture of him laughing with loved ones, they began, “Our father passed away this morning surrounded by all our family. We feel blessed that he is reunited with our mom and all of his friends waiting for him.”
Continuing, they expressed, “Thank you for all of your well wishes. He was deeply loved by all, but especially by his children and grandchildren. Love to all, The Newhart Family.”
While the statement makes no mention of how the beloved star died, a past video from three years ago (2021) shows how frail he had looked.
Bob Newhart during day 2 of the Backstage Creations Giving Suite At The Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, California on September 22, 2019 | Source: Getty Images
On February 16, 2021, Newhart had a virtual chat with Conan O’Brien about his life, career, and friendship with Frank Sinatra. Watching the footage, fans couldn’t help but notice his gaunt face, sunken eyes, and tired expression.
Conan O’Brien and Bob Newhart speaking in a past interview, posted on February 16, 2021 | Source: YouTube/Team Coco
Fans who saw the interview took to the comment section of the YouTube post to express their concern about Newhart’s appearance. Some even said he looked like he was on the verge of death three years before he passed.
Bob Newhart speaking in a past interview, posted on February 16, 2021 | Source: YouTube/Team Coco
“He looks like death,” wrote a spectator while another echoed, “Wow! [As] death looms.” A social media user commented, “He’s so skinny.” “He doesn’t look well,” someone else chimed in.
Bob Newhart at the series finale party for “The Big Bang Theory” in Pasadena, California on May 1, 2019 | Source: Getty Images
Another person asserted, “[Expletive], he looks like a skeleton. It’s getting to the point where my folks will be on the decline soon. I’m not looking forward to it.” However, they also noted, “Glad to see Bob’s mind is still sharp.”
Bob Newhart speaking at the An Evening With Bob Newhart event in Los Angeles, California on February 12, 2019 | Source: Getty Images
Meanwhile, an admirer praised, “Bob Newhart is an amazing actor. Hope he lives a few more years.” Lo and behold, Bob Newhart did end up living for a few more years before meeting his demise this year (2024).
When the late icon turned 90 in 2019, he sat down for an interview in which he reflected on his life and how it felt to have reached such a milestone age. He also spoke about what it felt like to be married for so long to his beloved late wife, Ginnie Newhart, whom he wed in 1963.
Bob and Ginnie Newhart at the An Evening with Bob Newhart: A “Newhart” Celebration in 2018. | Source: Getty Images
When asked how he felt about turning 90, the “Elf” star said he was glad for everything he experienced, like having the first number-one comedy record, two self-titled TV shows, and all the amazing people he met.
However, he admitted he never expected to make it to 90. Newhart shared that his father died in his late 80s and his mother in her early 90s, so he felt he got their longevity genes.
Bob Newhart at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California on February 10, 2019 | Source: Getty Images
While he’s grateful for his long life and the friends he’s made, the actor has also lost many dear friends in recent years and shared how tough that has been.
Newhart said losing friends like Don Rickles, Mike Conners, and Tim Conway put everything into perspective. He started prioritizing family time and seeing close friends more often.
That group of loved ones includes his children and grandchildren, whom he adored and who adored him in return. Interestingly, comedy runs in the family. While not all of them have tried comedy, his grandson did stand-up when he was just twelve.
After his performance, Newhart asked his grandson if he enjoyed it. His grandson said some jokes worked and some didn’t, but he pushed through. Newhart encouraged him, saying, “That’s the secret. You’ve got to keep going and put one foot in front of the other.”
In the time leading up to his death, Newhart spent a lot of time with his family and frequently posted about his late wife on social media. In January 2023, he shared photos of them over the years, marking the anniversary of their first date.
