Quotes by Bob Newhart

About Bob Newhart:

George Robert is an American stand-up comedian and actor. Noted for his deadpan and slightly stammering delivery, Newhart came to prominence in the 1960s when his album of comedic monologues The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart was a worldwide bestseller and reached number one on the Billboard pop album chart—it remains the 20th best-selling comedy album in history. The follow-up album, The Button-Down Mind Strikes Back! was also a massive success, and the two albums held the Billboard number one and number two spots simultaneously.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

I was an accountant in Chicago, and a friend of mine, Ed Gallagher, was in advertising. At 4:30 every day I'd be bored, and I would call him. He'd interview me.

Bob Newhart

Stand-up is different from television. In stand-up, you've got to be in control.

Bob Newhart

No matter what hyenas sound like, they are not actually laughing.

Bob Newhart

I have an aversion to laugh tracks - the moment I hear a laugh track, I go to another channel.

Bob Newhart

The greatest comedian I've ever seen is Jack Benny. He wasn't afraid of the silences.

Bob Newhart

The only thing I have never done is a Broadway play. I'm not sure I have the discipline necessary to do a Broadway play. I know it holds a fascination for certain actors.

Bob Newhart

I was not influenced by Jack Benny, and people have remarked on my timing and Jack's timing, but I don't think you can teach timing. It's something you hear in your head.

Bob Newhart

People are meant to be certain places, and I think I'm meant to be on a sound stage doing situation comedy.

Bob Newhart

The acting is better when you know your material is being judged.

Bob Newhart

I always stayed away from political commentary. First of all, I didn't feel entitled. What I may feel about a candidate, I'm a comedian. I mean, if people like my comedy, that doesn't mean they should vote for the person I like. That's why I always k...

Bob Newhart

The highest of highs is to have a new routine that you're just breaking in and that's working, and that's - you're one step removed doing a situation comedy because you have a live audience there.

Bob Newhart

I think there's a part, just a part of comedians, that is still childlike.

Bob Newhart

I don't think of myself as an American Master. I've just been making a living.

Bob Newhart

I was very political when JFK ran.

Bob Newhart

Dick Martin, if you put a gun to his forehead, he couldn't tell you a joke.

Bob Newhart

I can't do a one-camera show. I don't know how to do that kind of show where you count in your head and then you do the next line.

Bob Newhart

I made people laugh as a kid, but that's not how you make a living.

Bob Newhart

There are some actresses that can't do comedy; it's too heavy-handed.

Bob Newhart

It's kind of hard coming from 'Saturday Night Live,' which is a sketch-driven show, to a movie.

Bob Newhart

I made a record album in 1960 and it exploded, and I got all these offers for TV.

Bob Newhart

When I was off TV, people would ask me to please come back, which I think was their way of saying, 'There's nothing out there for us.'

Bob Newhart

Author Bio

  • NameBob Newhart
  • DescriptionAmerican stand-up comedian and actor
  • AliasesGeorge Robert Newhart
  • BornSeptember 5, 1929
  • CountryUnited States Of America
  • ProfessionActor; Comedian
  • AwardsPrimetime Emmy Award; Grammy Award For Best New Artist