She died after a long battle with illness, according to her family.
TV Legend Bob Newhart and his family is mourning the loss of his beloved wife, Ginnie who died following an illness. She was 82 years old. Publicist Jerry Digney confirmed her tragic passing in a statement to PEOPLE. "Ginnie Newhart, 82, beloved wife of 60 years to comedy legend Bob Newhart, passed away Sunday, April 23rd, after a long illness," Digney said. The Newhart family also released a statement saying, "We lost our beloved Ginnie Quinn Newhart - Wife, Mother, and Grandmother on April 23rd, 2023 after a long battle with illness. She was our rock and we miss her terribly. - The Newhart Family."
Her death comes three months after she and her husband Bob Newhart celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in January. At the time Bob tweeted, "Sixty years ago today, after being set up on a blind date by Buddy Hackett, Bob Newhart married Virginia Quinn on January 12, 1963. In honor of this amazing milestone, we wanted to share some of our favorite photos." With over six decades of his career to boast of, Bob recently turned 93 years old in September. Through the years he's had his wife by his side and the two of them have one of the longest marriages in Hollywood. Newhart wed his wife, Ginny, in 1963.
Sixty years ago today, after being set up on a blind date by Buddy Hackett, Bob Newhart married Virginia Quinn on January 12, 1963. In honor of this amazing milestone, we wanted to share some of our favorite photos. pic.twitter.com/geomPt4s7K
— Bob Newhart (@BobNewhart) January 13, 2023
In a 2019 interview with PEOPLE, Bob recalled how a blind date arranged by their mutual friend, actor Buddy Hackett, turned out to be one of the best moments in his life. "Buddy said, 'I've got a girl for you,'" Bob recalled. "'She's going with another guy, but I don't think he's right for her, so I'm going to fix you up on a blind date. You'll meet her and you'll date and you'll get married. Then you'll have kids and you'll call one of the kids Buddy.' Which we did."
Funny, candid, huge heart. Gave me the best advice in everything from decorating to childbirth and children and yes, husbands. I loved her. RIP Ginnie Newhart.💔 pic.twitter.com/Ao5snudd7D
— julia duffy (@mybadauditions) April 24, 2023
The couple went on to welcome four children and 10 grandkids. They credited the success of their long and happy marriage to laughter. "The marriages of comedians, no matter how stormy, seem to last a long time, and I attribute it to laughter," Bob said in a 2022 interview with Parade. "No matter how intense the argument you're having, you can find a line, and then you both look at each other and start laughing. It's over, you know? I think that sense of humor is very important to the longevity of a marriage." Ginnie echoed the sentiment in her 2005 interview with PBS for Bob Newhart: Unbuttoned. "Comedians are just fun to be with. They seem to have longevity in their marriages."
Ginnie Newhart, Wife of Bob Newhart, Dies at 82 https://t.co/NPuih0Isr8
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) April 24, 2023
References:
https://people.com/tv/ginnie-newhart-wife-of-bob-newhart-dead-at-82/
https://parade.com/celebrities/bob-newhart-comedy-legacy
https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/archive/interview/ginny-newhart/
Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Jason Kempin
