Bob Newhart joked about wanting Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson to play him in a biopic before his death, humorously claiming he was often mistaken for the action star.
In a January 2021 appearance on Conan, host Conan O'Brien highlighted Newhart's impressive Hollywood career and inquired about his preferred actor for a biopic.
"I think The Rock," Newhart joked. "People often mistake me for him, calling me 'Dwayne.' I always have to correct them. But I bet there would be a lot of competition for the role."
When O'Brien quipped that The Rock could portray Newhart's "early football career," Newhart chuckled and added, "I hear Brad Pitt is also quite interested."
On Thursday, July 18, Newhart's publicist, Jerry Digney, released a statement to PEOPLE announcing that the actor passed away at his Los Angeles home after a series of brief illnesses. He was 94.
In November 2020, Newhart reflected on his remarkable career and lasting legacy, stating, "I believe that when it's all over and you reach heaven, if there's a God, He'll ask what you did. I'll say, 'I made people laugh,' and He'll say, 'Great, join that short line over there.'"
"Comedy has blessed me with a wonderful life. I vividly remember the sound of laughter when I first started in stand-up. It’s one of the greatest sounds in the world," Newhart once shared, as noted in his obituary.
His death follows that of his wife, Ginnie, who passed away in April 2023 after a long illness.
Newhart is survived by his four children—sons Robert and Timothy, daughters Jennifer and Courtney—and ten grandchildren.