Reese Witherspoon’s heartfelt tribute to Bob Newhart: ‘I’ll miss his humor’

Reese Witherspoon has written a heartfelt tribute to her Legally Blonde co-star Bob Newhart, who passed away at the age of 94 on July 18.

The 48-year-old actress shared two nostalgic photos on Instagram, showing them together in scenes from the film where Bob portrayed Sid Post alongside Reese’s character, Elle Woods.

“To say I was a fan of Bob Newhart was an understatement,” Reese began. “I watched the Newhart show every week and laughed so hard every time Bob gave his signature slow deadpan delivery of his lines.”

She continued, “Even his silence was funny. His reaction said everything the audience was thinking.”

Reese went on, “I will miss his kindness and his humor… and his love for a great comedy bit. I feel so lucky that I got to share the screen with such a legend.”

She concluded, “Rest in Peace Bob. Thank you for making us laugh for so many years.”

Bob’s death was confirmed by his publicist Jerry Digney, who disclosed that the actor had passed away following “a series of short illnesses.”

Bob’s family also announced the sad news on Facebook, mentioning, “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.”

They added, “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.”

Bob Newhart and his wife, Virginia ‘Ginnie’ Newhart, who passed away in 2023 after 60 years of marriage, had four children: Jennifer, Courtney, Timothy, and Robert.

Reese wasn’t the only celebrity to honor Bob’s memory. Ben Stiller expressed his condolences on social media, writing, “Bob Newhart. What a career. An iconic comedic actor. I and so many people grew up watching him.”

Stiller added, “He was so subtle and had a brilliant sense of timing and understatement. And an incredibly kind man. Sending love to his family.”

Kaley Cuoco, who worked with Bob on The Big Bang Theory, shared on Instagram, “What a dream it was to witness the genius that was Bob Newhart.”

She reminisced, “He was classy, kind, generous, and absolutely hilarious. Every take – every time. Icon forever. I will never forget you, Bob! Thank you for making our dreams come true!”

Bob began his career as a stand-up comedian in the late 1950s, with his routine immortalized on a 1960 vinyl recording that won him an Album of the Year award at the Grammys.

In the 1970s, he starred in The Bob Newhart Show, an American sitcom that ran for six years, where he played a psychologist whose interactions with others led to humorous situations.

He also appeared in Elf alongside Will Ferrell and was featured in the Young Sheldon series, a prequel to The Big Bang Theory. Bob earned an Emmy for his portrayal of Professor Proton on the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory.

Source: HELLO! Magazine