ElfstarZooey Deschanelhas paid tribute to the late, great Bob Newhart, who starred alongside Deschanel and Will Ferrell in the 2003 festive favorite.Deschanel, who starred as cynical Gimbels employee Jovie alongside Ferrell’s Buddy Hobbs, praised the late comedic icon while speaking withVariety, calling him “a kind and generous man.”
“I always say the best actors are very generous people. He was really such a kind and generous man and so funny, but not wrapped up in himself or anything. He was just kind, and sweet and wonderful to work with.”
Bob Newhart sadly passed awayfollowing complications of several short illnesses while at his home in Los Angeles on August 14, 2025, at the age of 94. His death was confirmed by his longtime publicist, Jerry Digney, at the time, with many of Hollywood’s biggest names, including Reese Witherspoon, Conan O’Brien, Alec Baldwin, Judd Apatow, Al Franken, Mark Hamill, and Jamie Lee Curtis, as well as President Joe Biden, having since paid tribute.
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Newhart will be fondly remembered by many for his role inElf, in which he played Papa Elf, Buddy’s adoptive father and the movie’s narrator. His deadpan style plays perfectlyalongside Will Ferrell’s childlike energy, with Newhart playing the warm and calm character, who knows that one day he will have to tell his son Buddy that he is really a human and not the Christmas elf he always believed himself to be, with aplomb. No doubt Bob Newhart and Papa Elf will remain a holiday staple for years to come.
The Big Bang Theory Cast Have Paid Tribute to Bob Newhart
As well asElf, Newhart was introduced to a whole new audience thanks to his role as Professor Proton in the hit CBS sitcomThe Big Bang Theory.Several members of the cast and crewhave since paid tribute to Newhart, with Kaley Cuoco, who played Penny throughout the show’s run, saying via her Instagram Story; “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. … I will never forget you, Bob! Thank you for making our dreams come true!”
Her co-star Mayim Bialik, who starred as Amy inThe Big Bang Theory, also reflected fondly on her time working with Newhart on the show, which she called “absolutely a dream come true.”
“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. 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!”
Zooey Deschanel can next be seen starring alongside Zachary Levi in the live-action adaptation ofHarold and the Purple Crayon, which is scheduled to be released in theaters on July 01, 2025.
