There’s no denying Bob Newhart's legendary status in the entertainment world. With an Emmy win for The Big Bang Theory and countless other accolades, Bob made a name for himself as one of the greatest comedians of all time. But beyond his stellar career, Bob was also a devoted family man. Alongside his late wife, Ginnie Newhart, he raised four amazing kids—Robert, Timothy, Jennifer, and Courtney. Their journey together, spanning over six decades, was nothing short of heartwarming.
Unfortunately, Bob passed away on July 18, 2024, in Los Angeles after battling a series of illnesses. He was 94. The news of his passing sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry, with fans and colleagues alike paying tribute to the man who brought joy to so many for over 60 years. His legacy lives on through his incredible body of work and, of course, his beloved family.
Bob Newhart's Kids: A Family Built on Love and Laughter
Bob and Ginnie's story began in 1962 when they were set up on a blind date by none other than Buddy Hackett. It’s a story that sounds almost too good to be true, but as Bob recounted in a 2019 interview with People, Buddy was nothing if not confident in his matchmaking abilities. "Buddy said, 'I’ve got a girl for you. She’s going with another guy, but I don’t think he’s right for her, so I’m going to fix you up on a blind date,'" Bob recalled. "He told me, 'You’ll meet her, and you’ll date, and you’ll get married. Then you’ll have kids, and you’ll call one of the kids Buddy.'"
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Ginnie, too, remembered Buddy's enthusiastic approach. As she told City & Shore Magazine in 2013, "Buddy came back one day and said in his own unique way, 'I met this young guy, and his name is Bobby Newhart, and he’s a comic and he’s Catholic and you’re Catholic.' He thought maybe we should marry each other." And marry they did, just a short while after their first date in 1963.
Their first child, Robert, was born in November 1963, followed by Timothy in 1966, Jennifer in 1970, and finally Courtney in December 1977. While Bob was busy building his career on shows like Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In, The Bob Newhart Show, and Newhart, he always made time for his family. His kids occasionally joined him at red carpet events, including the Mark Twain Prize for Humor Award ceremony in 2002 and the 3rd Annual TV Land Awards in 2005.
Although none of Bob’s children pursued full-time careers in Hollywood, they all dipped their toes into the entertainment world at some point. Robert appeared in the 1993 film Heart and Souls, while Timothy worked on several projects during the early '90s, including Get a Life, Ferris Bueller, and Newhart. Youngest daughter Courtney even acted in an episode of Newhart in 1986 and worked as a production assistant on George & Leo in 1997.
Bob and Ginnie celebrated 60 years of marriage before Ginnie passed away in April 2023 at the age of 82. Publicist Jerry Digney shared the news with People, saying, "Ginnie Newhart, 82, beloved wife of 60 years to comedy legend Bob Newhart, passed away Sunday, April 23, after a long illness."
Does Bob Newhart Have Grandchildren?
Of course, Bob's family story doesn’t end with his four children. In fact, Bob was incredibly proud of his role as a grandfather. According to reports, the Golden Globe winner had at least 10 grandchildren through his wonderful kids. In a heartfelt interview with Closer in August 2019, Bob opened up about his life as a grandpa and shared some advice he gave to his grandson about pursuing comedy.
"My grandson did stand-up the other day," Bob recounted. "I asked him what it was like. He said he told one joke and it worked, then he told another that didn’t work, but he went right ahead. I said, 'That’s the secret. You’ve got to keep going and put one foot in front of the other.'"
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