American comedian and actor Bob Newhart dies at 94

Bob Newhart, the American comedian and actor who became one of the greatest television stars of his time, died on Thursday at the age of 94, according to AFP and BBC News.

Newhart is known for his dry sense of humor. He began as a stand-up comedian before transitioning to television and film acting. He has won numerous awards, including three Grammys, an Emmy, a Golden Globe and the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.

Newhart was born on September 5, 1929, in suburban Chicago, Illinois. He studied business administration and then was drafted into the U.S. Army and served in the Korean War.

He eventually signed with Warner Bros. Records, and his album The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart (1960) became the first comedy album to top the sales charts.

He starred in two sitcoms in the 1970s and 1980s, and continued to guest on various shows until his later years. He played the character of Professor Proton in several episodes of the popular sitcoms The Big Bang Theory and Young Sheldon.

During his career, he appeared in about 20 films, including Hlava-22 (1970), Upside Down Wedding (1997) and Christmas Elf (2003), mostly in comedic roles.