Who did Bob Newhart play in NCIS? Character explored as renowned veteran actor and comedian passes away

Well-known actor and comedian Bob Newhart, 94, unexpectedly passed away on July 18, 2024. He was battling some short illnesses and was at his residence in Los Angeles at the time of death. Bob had several films and TV shows in his credits, including NCIS, where he portrayed Doctor Walter Magnus.

The actor's death was confirmed by his publicist Jerry Digney. A post was also shared through Bob's official Facebook page, which included a picture with a statement saying that he was surrounded by his family members and continued:

"We feel blessed that he is reunited with our mom and all of his friends waiting for him. Thank you for all of your well wishes. He was deeply loved by all, but especially by his children and grandchildren. Love to all, The Newhart Family."

Bob Newhart's family shared another post, adding a screenshot of a tribute by President Joe Biden and wrote that the "message" took them by surprise. They even thanked everyone for the love and support they have received until now.

Various popular personalities including Jane Fonda took to social media platforms to express their grief over Bob's sudden demise. Fonda shared on Facebook that Newhart was her close friend for around eight years and that they were neighbors at the time.

Jane recalled Newhart's work by writing that his real-life personality resembled how he appeared on screen. She said:

"As I'm the oldest one around here these days, Bob liked to have me come over to reminisce with him about the old timers, Red Skelton, Ed Sullivan, my dad. We'd have a beer and I'd leave when one of his children would signal that he was tired."

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Bob Newhart accumulated a huge fanbase with his minor role in NCIS

Also known as George Robert Newhart, the actor impressed everyone with his flawless work on screen. He was featured in many popular projects throughout his career and even portrayed minor roles in TV shows such as NCIS, where he appeared in an episode.

As mentioned, Bob Newhart played Doctor Walter Magnus, who was previously a Medical Examiner for the NCIS Headquarters at the Navy Yard in Washington D.C. Walter. He moved to South Carolina with his wife, Elisabeth, after his retirement in 1992.

Walter's role was previously served by Medical Examiner Dr. Donald Mallard. He was married to Elisabeth for around 47 years, and they were the parents of a daughter named Jenny. However, the father-daughter duo failed to maintain contact with each other following Elisabeth's death.

The Hot in Cleveland star was cast in the show in 2011, and Newhart's character appeared in the eighth season. In this season, the NCIS team investigates the death of US Navy recruiter Simon Craig, and Walter then meets Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard, considering he was a mentor to the latter in the past.

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Bob Newhart's career in brief

The Murphy Brown star's father, George, was a plumber. He also had three siblings. George enrolled at Loyola University and joined the U.S. Army in 1950 to serve in the Korean War.

Before his successful career in acting and comedy, Bob Newhart did different jobs, including as an accountant. He developed an interest in comedy while conversing with one of his friends at an office. He began writing funny routines, which soon grabbed the attention of radio personality Dan Sorkin.

Bob slowly started working in a few radio shows, and it later expanded into performances at various locations. He even released comedy albums such as The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart, which grabbed the top spot on the charts.

The Oak Park, Illinois, native then made his acting debut during the 1960s, starting with Hell Is for Heroes. He also lent his voice to comedy films like The Rescuers and Once Upon a Studio and was cast in popular TV shows such as George and Leo, The Big Bang Theory, and Young Sheldon.

Bob's survivors include his four children, Robert, Timothy, Jennifer, and Courtney, alongside ten grandchildren.