‘How He Will Be Missed!’: Big Bang Theory and Young Sheldon Stars Pay Tribute to Bob Newhart

Some of the shows that Bob Newhart starred in include “Young Sheldon” and “The Big Bang Theory (TBBT).” After his publicist, Jerry Digney, confirmed the news of his death on July 18, 2024, his former co-stars on the two series mourned him.

Mayim Bialik, who starred alongside Newhart on TBBT, gave a touching statement to a publication in tribute to him. She revealed that she had “countless hours of enjoyment” watching “The Bob Newhart Show” as a child.

Bialik said watching the children’s show “constituted some of my earliest training in the art of sitcom.” Working alongside the late star on TBBT was “absolutely a dream come true” for the actress.

She recalled how the actor, who died at age 94, was “effortlessly professional, poised, hilarious, and incredibly approachable.” Bialik felt working with Newhart was akin to being “in the presence of a true comedy legend – the likes of whom we simple (sic) don’t see anymore. How he will be missed!”

“Young Sheldon’s” Iain Armitage also shared his statement about the late celebrity with the same publication. He revealed that Newhart’s Professor Proton served as an inspiration “to Sheldon, and his career as an actor” inspired Armitage.

The actor noted how loved the star was and that he “will be missed.” Armitage is the actor who plays the role of the main character, Sheldon Cooper. On the same day Newhart died, Armitage uploaded an Instagram Story photo of the late star dressed in a laboratory coat on the show.

Over the image, he wrote, “Thanks for being such an inspiring Professor Proton and such an incredible human being.” The post, which included a string of red broken heart emoticons, also had the words, “Thinking of you and all who loved you today.”

TBBT’s Kunal Nayyar also posted his tribute on his Instagram Story on the same day. The star, who played Rajesh “Raj” Ramayan Koothrappali, wrote his message over a throwback picture of Newhart. He said, “Professor Proton. Our dearest Bob Newhart. RIP. Miss you forever.”

Bill Prady, TBBT’s co-creator, honored the late actor with a photo of them posing together on X. In the post’s caption, he noted how difficult it was to explain Newhart’s importance to all the comedy writers and comedians “who came after him.”

Continuing his tribute to the celebrity who died after a series of short illnesses, Prady stated, “Working with him ever so briefly was one of the greatest joys and honors of my life.” TBBT’s other co-creator, Chuck Lorre, also released a statement while grieving the late actor.

Lorre revealed that he’d begged Newhart for years to star in one of his shows, but he always refused. Yet, Newhart ended up falling in love with TBBT and agreed to appear in it if two of his expectations were met.

The first provision was that his character’s arc had to span over several episodes. The second thing was that Newhart wanted to win an Emmy Award for his role, and both expectations were met. Lorre said, “I got to work with a comedy legend.”

He continued his tribute by calling the late celebrity “a master of the craft, and a kind and gentle man,” and said, “I even got to call him a friend. How lucky am I?” Newhart’s former co-stars weren’t the only ones who honored him on X after his passing.

Netizens were heartbroken by the loss, with one sharing a short clip of Newhart on TBBT. The fan wrote, “I simply *loved* Bob Newhart as Professor Proton in ‘The Big Bang Theory,” adding, “Nobody could have played that part better.”

Replying to the previous person’s post, someone else stated, “I’m grateful my children had the chance to appreciate his genius via the #BigBangTheory.” Responding to the first fan’s post, another netizen said, “He was great in the part.”

Sharing a still photo from the same scene, an X user grieved, writing, “Rest in peace to #BobNewhart, who’s had a storied career with numerous roles. I’m fond, however, of his recurring roles in the #BigBangTheory. #RIPBobNewhart.”

A fan of the “Legally Blonde 2: Red White & Blonde” star uploaded an emotional emoticon and revealed, “I’m so sad that Professor Proton has died #BobNewhart #BigBangTheory.”

In 2013, Newhart, who appeared in six episodes of TBBT from 2013 to 2018, was asked why he chose to do the show. His role on TBBT marked his first half-hour comedy appearance in a while. The actor explained that he’d gotten offers to star in other project pilots, but it was too much for him.

He explained that emotionally, he couldn’t feature in another “pilot to series” as it took too much out of him and suited younger people better. Newhart said when he looked at a show, he focused on its writing.

The actor stated, “I’ve said all along that I stumbled on the formula of an incredible cast and great writing, and then take all the credit myself — it’s worked in three different permutations.” Speaking of Lorre, he said he knew him personally and was familiar with his work, including “Cybill” and “Roseanne.”

He said he chose TBBT because it was well-written, had an amazing cast, and “it’s intelligent, which is a vanishing commodity.” One of the other reasons he took the job on the show was because they set up jokes on repeat, which was different from the actor’s past work.

The star recalled how when working on “Newhart” and “The Bob Newhart Show,” they took a minute to “set up a joke, but it paid off because the reaction was huge.” He noted how current sitcoms appeared to have a repetitive rhythm.

This format meant the viewers didn’t know what the joke was but knew it was coming because that’s how it always went. The actor was asked how the guest role came about since Lorre had been pursuing him for a long time.

Newhart, who starred in three episodes of “Young Sheldon” from 2017 to 2020, revealed Lorre was on the lot when they shot “The Bob Newhart Show.” TBBT’s co-creator would go to their stage and sit there during lunch.

Lorre asked Newhart what it would take for him to do one of his shows, and the star demanded that his scenes be taped live. After going back and forth about what the actor could star in, they finally agreed on TBBT.

Contradicting Lorre’s recollection, Newhart said he didn’t want any pre-taping where a laugh track was added afterward because he felt “you lose something.” A live audience was present when he shot shows like “Honeymooners,” “All in the Family,” “Mary Tyler Moore,” and more.

Bob Newhart always felt having a live audience gave the show adrenaline, and that was the only way he functioned. His other condition was that he wanted a semi-recurring role, and that’s how he got to star as Professor Proton.

The celebrity said during his time, Professor Proton was Don Herbert, who was known as Mr. Wizard. Herbert did all sorts of experiments for children using common items found in the house.

Ironically, TBBT characters, Cooper (played by Jim Parsons) and Leonard Hofstadter (played by Johnny Galecki), grew up watching Herbert’s shows. This led them to want to be scientists. When they discovered the professor worked in the same genre, they hired him.

Proton thought they hired him to do a children’s show but later found out that it was for the two grown men. Newhart recalled how enthusiastic Cooper and Hofstadter were while Penny (played by Kaley Cuoco) “is amazed by one of the things he does.”