Bob Newhart Talks Wife Ginny and If He'll Ever Retire From Comedy

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You’ve lost some close friends, like Don Rickles, Mike Connors and Tim Conway in recent years. How did their deaths affect you?

That’s what made me feel the way I do about spending time with my family and what friends I have left. It just puts things in perspective.

One of your sisters, Mary Joan, passed away last year as well.

She was a nun, and she was hoping she’d make 90. She just missed it by a couple of days, so I’m making it to 90 for her. When she had a blood disease, I said to her, “If you don’t make it, none of us have a chance.”

What was it like when you made the transition from being an accountant to a stand-up comic?

It’s a tough business when you’re coming into it, because nobody knows who you are, and you just have to walk out there with all the bravado you can muster. If an audience gets the feeling you’re not sure of yourself, you’re dead meat.

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How did you master comedy?

You’ve got to learn your craft. It means a lot of nights of people just staring at you and not laughing. That’s the business, but it’s worth it.

Is it terrifying to be up onstage all by yourself?

I was playing golf one time with Andy Williams in Vegas on a Sunday. I was playing the Desert Inn, and he was at Caesars Palace. I said, “I hate Sunday nights. Everybody’s out of town, and it’s hard to get anything going. Andy, do you feel the same way?” And he said, “Well, I’ve got a 32-piece big band behind me.” And I thought to myself, “Yeah, I don’t have that.” But when you survive that, the gratification is so worth it.

Do you have any regrets?

If I could’ve afforded it, I would’ve gotten married earlier. When my first record came out and hit number one, I didn’t really have anyone to share it with. It would’ve been great if Ginny and I could’ve shared that, but I couldn’t afford to get married.

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Is it true Buddy Hackett introduced you to Ginny when she was his kids’ babysitter?

Yes. We had been on The David Susskind Show together in 1960, and I talked about having a degree in accounting. Buddy said to me, “You mean, you don’t have to do comedy?” And I said, “No, Buddy, I have to do this.” I ran into him later, and he said, “I’ve got a nice Catholic girl for you.” So he set us up on a blind date, and then we started dating, and we ended up getting married in 1963.

Did you know pretty quickly that she was the one?

Yeah, she was everything. We had the same values, and we enjoyed being with each other. She had a great sense of humor, so she had all the things I was looking for.

How have you and Ginny stayed happily married for 56 years?

She brings me down to Earth if I get too full of myself. Several years ago, Ginny asked me to take out the recyclables. I was feeling full of myself , so I said, “Do you think Angelina Jolie makes Brad Pitt take out the recyclables?” And she said, “If you were Brad Pitt, I wouldn’t ask you to take out the recyclables!”

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How have you two maintained that grounded perspective?

She was an extra in movies, so we know the other side of show business. We didn’t go to all the A-list parties. That isn’t the way we wanted to live. It looks glamorous, but when you’re going to perform and you have to walk through the kitchen and somebody says, “Don’t step on that lettuce over there,” it brings you back down to Earth.

What were some highlights of your life that you shared with her?

There were so many. Meeting Jack Benny and George Burns and so many giant stars who became good friends. Ginny and I went to London when I was invited by a British college. It was Lord Louis Mountbatten’s favorite charity, and Prince Charles was there. Farrah Fawcett and Cary Grant were also on the plane on the way home.

Did you get to meet Cary?

Yes. When we were at Heathrow, Ginny and I were in the lounge, and Cary Grant was there. Ginny said, “Oh, Bob, would you watch the luggage? I want to run to the gift shop and get some gifts for the kids.” Cary said, “Go ahead, Ginny — Bob and I will watch the luggage.” I thought to myself, Cary Grant just called me Bob! So of all the awards, I guess the top one would be Cary Grant calling me Bob.

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Have any of your kids or grandkids ever tried comedy?

My grandson, who’s 12, did stand-up the other day. I asked him what it was like. He said he told one joke and it worked, then he told another that didn’t work, but he went right ahead. I said, “That’s the secret. You’ve got to keep going and put one foot in front of the other.”

Do you ever think of retiring?

I always say, “What are you going to tell people: ‘I’m really tired of making people laugh?’” It’s a wonderful thing to be able to do. You go out and do a good show, and you and the audience are happy for an hour or so. People forget their troubles, pick themselves up and dust themselves off. How could you hate that? I don’t think I’ll ever stop performing. It’s in my blood.

What’s left on your bucket list?

It’s weird, but I don’t think I have a bucket list. I’ve done just about everything I’ve ever thought or even didn’t think I would do. Making people laugh is all I care about.
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