Iain Armitage, Judd Apatow and Other Stars Mourn Bob Newhart After His Death: ‘Heaven Just Got a Whole Lot Funnier’

After the legendary TV star died at his Los Angeles home on July 18 at age 94, celebrities across Hollywood paid tribute to his life and legacy

Bob Newhart on September 10, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. . PHOTO: 

JON KOPALOFF/FILMMAGIC

Celebrities across Hollywood are paying tribute to Bob Newhart after his death.

The Bob Newhart Show star died at age 94 on Thursday, July 18, his publicist Jerry Digney confirmed to PEOPLE. Newhart died at his Los Angeles home after a series of short illnesses.

Following the news, a series of tributes were shared with PEOPLE and across social media, honoring Newhart, his deadpan comedy skills and his legendary mark on Hollywood.

The Big Bang Theory’s Mayim Bialik mourned Newhart, who guest starred as Professor Proton on the popular CBS sitcom from 2013 to 2018, in an exclusive statement to PEOPLE.

“As a child, the Bob Newhart Show provided countless hours of enjoyment for me – it constituted some of my earliest training in the art of sitcom. When I got to work with alongside him on TBBT, it was absolutely a dream come true,” she said. “He was effortlessly professional, poised, hilarious and incredibly approachable. Working with Bob was working in the presence of a true comedy legend – the likes of whom we simple don’t see anymore. How he will be missed!”

Young Sheldon star Iain Armitage also remembered Newhart’s turn as Professor Proton on the CBS sitcom spinoff in a statement to PEOPLE. “Bob’s Professor Proton was inspiring to Sheldon, and his career as an actor was inspiring to me. He was loved and will be missed,” Armitage, 16, said.

Bob Newhart, Beloved Comedian, Actor and Newhart Star, Dies at 94

Desperate Housewives star Lesley Ann Warren, who played Newhart’s wife on the series, told PEOPLE that he was a “complete joy” to work with.

“I had the pleasure of working with the lovely gentleman and brilliant comic actor that was the inimitable Bob Newhart,” she said in her statement. “His delivery was always uniquely his, understated and sublimely intelligent. A complete joy!”

Judd Apatow, who produced the Bob and Don: A Love Story documentary about Newhart and late comic Don Rickles, shared a heartfelt statement with PEOPLE.

“When I was a little kid, I watched an enormous amount of episodes of The Bob Newhart Show. It made me want to write comedy,” Apatow, 56, recalls. “I was lucky enough to spend time with Bob after he asked me to make a documentary about his friendship with his late friend Don Rickles. He said he didn’t want the world to forget about him. I will never forget Bob. He was the sweetest, funniest man I ever met.”

Apatow also posted a tribute to the late comedian on X (formerly Twitter). “Bob Newhart was the kindest, most hilarious man,” he wrote. “He asked me to make a documentary about his friendship with Don Rickles. I was so lucky to get to spend that time with my hero. His brilliant comedy and gentle spirit made everyone he encountered so happy.”

Noah Wyle, who costarred in The Librarian: Quest for the Spear with Newhart, remembered the memories he shared with the legendary comedian in a statement to PEOPLE.

“Heroes frequently disappoint when you meet them. Bob didn’t. I will be forever grateful for the time I got to spend with him – laughing, globetrotting, telling stories and trying to save the world. I join the multitudes in mourning his passing,” Wyle said. “Heaven just got a whole lot funnier.”

Zooey Deschanel, who co-starred in Elf with Newhart, told PEOPLE: “Bob Newhart was an absolute genius and the sweetest and kindest man. He will truly be missed.” Legally Blonde‘s Luke Wilson also told PEOPLE: “Bob was a kind and funny man…a legend like Richard Pryor and John Cleese.”

Big Bang Theory star Kaley Cuoco shared a sweet message to the late actor on her Instagram Stories.

“What a dream it was to witness the genius that was Bob Newhart. He was classy, kind, generous and absolutely hilarious. Every take – every time. Icon forever 💔,” Cuoco wrote in one Story, adding in another post, “I will never forget you, Bob! Thank you for making our dreams come true!”

Remembering Bob Newhart’s Life in Photos

The Big Bang Theory’s co-creator Bill Prady also shared his message to the late icon on X: “Hard to explain how important Bob Newhart was to every comedian and comedy writer who came after him,” adding, “Working with him ever so briefly was one of the greatest joys and honors of my life.”

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Paul Feig mourned the comic on X: “And we lose another comedy legend. I had the honor of doing a guest role on Newhart & got to spend the week listening to the great Bob Newhart making us all laugh. A brilliant standup & comedic actor, he was truly one of a kind. His legacy will live on.”

Alec Baldwin shared a short and sweet message to the late comedian: “Au revoir to the great Bob Newhart…,” he wrote on Instagram.

Jamie Lee Curtis also posted on Instagram, writing: “They will be laughing wherever people go when they leave us. God, he was funny! Bob Newhart. You will be missed!”

Former senator and SNL alum Al Franken wrote on X: “Bob Newhart was a giant, a genius, and a great guy. I’ll always remember when he hosted SNL and did a stellar show. He was, as you might expect, a joy to work with. May his memory be a blessing.”

In a tweet of his own, fellow comedian Dane Cook wrote, “Mr. Bob Newhart passed away today. His album The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart impacted my career intensely. He was and is one of the best comedians to ever deliver and man he delivered. Always funny. Always from the heart. Always a reminder to me of why I started in stand up. Legend Bob Newhart you are forever funny.

Even the official X account for the Empire State Building in New York City honored Newhart, making a nod to Elf with their tribute. “We will miss you Papa. Buddy is always welcome at the Empire State Building,” it read.

With more than six decades in show business, the beloved entertainer was most remembered for his roles in the CBS series The Bob Newhart Show, which ran from 1972 to 1978, and Newhart, which ran from 1982 to 1990.

He was also known for his deadpan humor, standup comedy and roles in Legally Blonde 2, Elf, The Big Bang Theory, ER and the TNT movie The Librarian: The Curse of the Judas Chalice.

Newhart is survived by his four children, sons Robert and Timothy, and daughters Jennifer and Courtney, as well as 10 grandchildren. His wife Ginnie, whom he wed in 1963, died in April 2023.