Bob Newhart appeared on The Big Bang Theory around six times after his debut in season six as Professor Proton. His appearances become a fan favourite instantly, the standing ovation he got at the live tapping was just the beginning. He also went on to win the first Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series. Newhart had previously been nominated for seven Emmys but had astonishingly never won until the evening of September 15, 2013, when Newhart’s name was called as the winner, and he received a standing ovation. Backstage, he said, “I was totally unprepared for that.”
However, behind the scenes with the late comedy legend were just as magical. Professor Proton also went through his own major after only in the six appeared on the show. He first appeared as in season six episode twenty two titled The Proton Resurgence. He was presented as Sheldon’s childhood icon, Professor Proton aka Arthur Jeffries. All characters in Big Bang Theory are seen interacting with Professor Proton during that episode, and hence forth he became an important father figure for Sheldon even in his adulthood.
Why Professor Proton Was Killed Off In The Big Bang Theory
It was only during the third appearance on the show and after his first Emmy Win, his character was killed off on the series. Bob Newhart recalled Chuck sharing the news with his wife Ginny, when she asked him why, Chuck said, “Well, I can have him back more often.”
Steve Molaro revealed how they planned on bringing him back more often. He said, “We came up with the whole episode of Professor Proton dying and Sheldon not wanting to go to the funeral because it was Star Wars Day. Really, it was just an excuse because Sheldon didn’t want to deal with the loss. We thought it would be super cool if Arthur came back to him as a Jedi in a dream and talks to him.”
How Makers Planned On Bringing Bob Newhart Back
He added that Bob at the time did not have any idea about Star Wars and they basically explained it to him by saying, “Listen, the bad news is your character is going to die, the good news is he’s going to come back as a Jedi ghost in Sheldon’s dreams for as many times as we want.’ I think I said, “Do you know what a Jedi is?” and he said “No,” and I said, “All right, this is going to take some explaining.” [Laughs] So I tried to give Bob the most boiled-down explana- tion of Obi-Wan to Luke. And then of course, he didn’t feel comfortable in that costume. No one said being a Jedi is easy.”
It was in season sever, episode twenty two — The Proton Transmogrification that Professor Proton died unexpectedly. Sheldon ended up not going to funeral as he feels sad that he was struck down in the prime of his own life. However, the grief showup in other forms for Sheldon. Hence forth in the show, Professor Proton was seen appearing in Sheldon’s dreams and imaginations as a Jedi master to advice him on life and other matters.
Bob Newhart Hated The Iconic Obi Wan Kenobi Costume
While, Bob Newhart’s appearance as a Jedi Master is one of favourite moments for fans, the comedian was not happy with the costume. In the book The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit, Jim Parsons revealed, “Oh, he hated that outfit! It was just such a struggle to wear that thing! He was uncomfortable, and then he couldn’t get his line right because he was thinking about being uncomfortable, and then he’d have to wear it even longer. But it was so perfect, because you wanted that charac- ter to be uncomfortable. And, the genius of the whole thing was that Sheldon had “dressed” him like that.”
Bob Newhart opened up about the costume saying, “I hated putting that robe on! They wanted to be authentic and make it exactly the way Obi Kenobi would wear it, and uh, I mean, I was happy about the fact that it brought me back as a character, but it was kind of a pain to put on the outfit. [Laughs] It was heavy and kind of restrictive as far as moving. It would take maybe ten minutes whenever I’d have to put on the outfit, because they wanted it to exactly mirror the way Obi Kenobi looked.”
Bob Newhart’s First Scene As Sheldon’s Yedi Master
One of the first scenes had Sheldon and Arthur on Dagobah, the swamp- covered planet from The Empire Strikes Back. Newhart was in his Obi-Wan robe, and this time they were sitting on a log. Recalling the same he said, “It was very damp, as I remember.” To which Jim Parsons added, “It was very damp.[Laughs] I’m telling you, not his favorite scene to do on Big Bang, without a doubt. But Bob miserable is very fun to watch! It’s good TV!”
Mary T. Quigley, revealed that the costume was build “to look exactly like the real one. It was two or three pieces of robing,” and it always took a while to put it on. She recalled Newhart hating the costume and complaining. “He was hilarious and lovely, but yeah, he didn’t like it. [Laughs] I said, “Complain to the writers! They wrote it! Obi-Wan isn’t even my costume design!” He said, “That’s a good point!” It was a lot of draping, poor guy. Such a nice man.”
Chuck Lorre’s reaction to Newhart in a Star Wars costume was just as funny, “Boy, was he adorable in it, though! And he didn’t know anything about Star Wars, but he was game.”
How Bob Newhart Became A Star Wars Fan
Bob Newhart eventually became a fan of Star Wars. He said while he didn’t know anything about it at the time, “I became a fan of Star Wars just from being on the show. I had to become famil- iar with what they were talking about, and their adoration for Star Wars.”
Mark Hamill was also quoted in the book reacting to Newhart becoming a fan. He said, “well, that doesn’t surprise me that Bob didn’t exactly know. He’s not exactly in the demo- graphic, but I adore Bob Newhart. I mean, both The Bob Newhart Show and Newhart. He’s a comedic, national treasure.”
While talking about Professor Proton returning as a Jedi Master, Chuck Lorre said, “It was a great transition, the character becoming Sheldon’s unconscious mind/his inner wisdom that he’s able to personify as Obi-Wan. And it allowed endless opportunities to keep working with Bob. Arthur Jeffries became part of Sheldon in a way. Because even when you lose someone you love, they’re still in your life. There are still con- versations that are had, and they’re speaking to you if you’re willing to listen. So Professor Proton being Sheldon’s better self in a way, was wonderful.”
Bob Newhart Loved Watching Re-runs of The Big Bang Theory
Bob Newhart had a successful six decades long career in show business. The comedian was best known for his appearances in the CBS shows The Bob Newhart Show (1972-1978) and Newhart (1982-1990), along with The Big Bang Theory. He passed away at the age of 94 in 2024. The late actor enjoyed watching re-runs of show and said, “I was amazed by its popularity. I still get letters from Singapore. I even got a letter from Russia because of The Big Bang Theory. Oh, it’s huge. It was just, it was a very wonderful time in my life to be back doing what I do, uh, and then to get the Emmy and recognition. That was something very special. Getting to do the show with just wonderful people, you know, was a very important time in my life. It was a magical time in television. To have a show last twelve years-a comedy to last twelve years-is so rare.”
