Chicago-area native, master of deadpan comedy, Bob Newhart, dies at 94

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Chicago accountant-turned-entertainment legend Bob Newhart has died at 94, his longtime publicist said Thursday.

Newhart died at his Los Angeles home after a series of short illnesses.

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He was born in Oak Park.

He worked in Chicago as an accountant by day and comedian by night before making it big.

Newhart is best known for the "Bob Newhart Show," and continued acting into his 90s.

The iconic 1970s sitcom was set in Chicago, bringing the city into America's living room. Its opening sequence was a postcard and love letter to the city he loved.

His psychologist character lived in an Edgewater high-rise, which is still sits near Sheridan Road and Thorndale Avenue.

"I think it really provided a lot of visibility and, you know, showed that living in the city could be fun and not scary, which, back in the 70s, everyone thought the city was scary," said John Holden, president of the Edgewater Historical Society. "Locating the show here in this building really added a lot of cache to the concept of high-rise living on the lakefront in Chicago."

The St. Ignatius and Loyola University graduate began his career as a Chicago accountant, when he started improvising comedy routines, including at the legendary Mister Kelly's on Rush Street, perfecting his style of wry and stammering humor.

It led to a record contract, and Grammy-winning album, "The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart." TV and movies followed, including the 1980s sitcom, "Newhart."

He was also part of "Catch 22," "In and Out," "Legally Blonde 2" and "Elf." He most recently appeared in "The Big Bang Theory" and "Young Sheldon."

"One of the functions of comedy is to help people get past a difficult time and move on with their life," Newhart once said.

Though he became a Hollywood A-lister, he never forgot Chicago, whether it was waving the "W" flag during the Cubs World Series run, or his frequent appearances.

There's also a statue of Newhart at Navy Pier, and a theater at Loyola University bears his name.

"His relationship to the entertainment industry, his relationship to comedy, and his relationship to the city of Chicago... every student that performs on this stage realizes that they're part of a legacy of that," said April Browning with Loyola University Chicago.

Near the Edgewater high-rise, a sign marks the history of "The Bob Newhart Show."

"I think he really helped humanize Chicago, and I think Chicago was always core to Bob's humor," Holden said.

Newhart died two months shy of his 95th birthday, and plans were in the works to invite him to Chicago for a celebration before he fell ill.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.