**A Tribute to Bob Newhart: The Master of Deadpan Comedy**
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Bob Newhart, the deadpan accountant-turned-comedian who became one of the most popular TV stars of his time after striking gold with a classic comedy album, has died at 94. His publicist, Jerry Digney, confirmed that Newhart passed away on Thursday in Los Angeles after a series of short illnesses. Bob Newhart was a unique figure in the world of comedy. Launching his career as a stand-up comic in the late 1950s, he gained nationwide fame with his groundbreaking 1960 comedy album, “The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart.” This album, which captured the essence of his routine, won a Grammy Award for Album of the Year, cementing his place in the annals of comedy history. What set Newhart apart from his contemporaries—such as Lenny Bruce, Mort Sahl, Alan King, and the duo of Mike Nichols and Elaine May—was his distinctive comedic style. While others employed aggressive attacks on modern mores, Newhart’s approach was subtle, hesitant, and almost stammering. His calm, un...
