[April Bradford]

Bob Newhart Lives A Life Of Laughter: ‘93 Is the New 39’​

We here at the SDC are firm believers that you're never too old to have a good time. Life is too short to not enjoy yourself, after all!

And if there's anyone who embodies this philosophy, it's Bob Newhart. The beloved 93-year-old actor, comedian and all-around nice guy celebrated his birthday on September 6th – and he shows no signs of slowing down any time soon.

When asked by a fan on Twitter what his secret to longevity is, Newhart had the perfect reply: '93 is the new 39.' We couldn't agree more!

Fans replied with messages of love and appreciation for all the joy that Newhart has brought them over the years. One wrote: 'Thank you for all the joy you have brought—and continue to bring!' It's safe to say that this elf has made a huge impact on his fans' lives.

The Newhart Show was a fan favourite. Image Credit: Wikipedia​

But why exactly is laughter so important? Well, scientists have found that laughing has some pretty amazing benefits – both physically and mentally. Laughter strengthens your immune system, boosts your mood, diminishes pain (both physical and emotional), protects your heart health, and relaxes your muscles.

In fact, one study published in the Journal of Epidemiology looked at 20,934 elderly men and women to observe any associations between laughter and instances of stroke or heart disease. The results showed that those participants who hardly ever laughed were 1.21 times more likely to suffer from heart disease than those who enjoyed a good chuckle now and then. They were also 1.6 times more likely to experience a stroke than their jovial counterparts!

And it's not just our physical health that benefits from some belly laughs – research published in Alternative Therapies in Health & Medicine shows us that there are plenty of psychological benefits too. These include increased self-esteem, decreased stress hormones, more endorphins (those feel-good chemicals), increased resilience, and improved sleep quality… Shall we go on?

Bob Newhart is someone who knows just how important laughter is – he’s made it his life’s work!

Newhart was born on September 5th 1929 and actually started out on a very different path at Loyola University Chicago. Majoring in business management, the giver of laughs worked as an accountant before pursuing his life in comedy according to The CPA Journal.

The comedian became popular in 1960 with his best-selling album entitled The Button-Down Mind Of Bob Newhart which is filled with the star's comical monologues.

'It just took off beyond anyone's especially my expectations', Newhart told NPR.

He went on to star alongside Carol Burnett, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Danny Thomas, Johnny Carson, Betty White, Ben Stiller and Jim Parsons, and the iconic role of Papa Elf in Christmas favourite Elf alongside Will Farrell.

One of his best-known roles is certainly Elf. Image Credit: THR News​

He has also been married for over 58 years to Ginny Newhart and they have four lovely children together. When asked by CBS what was his secret to his long-lasting marriage, he replied: 'There's something about laughter and the longevity of a marriage.’

Newheart also placed much love into his friendship with one of his closest friends, legendary comic Don Rickles. The pair even shared holidays together with their families.

He is also a philanthropist, having raised $350,000 for the National Children's Cancer Society.

Bob Newhart is one of those people who just oozes positivity and good vibes, no matter what the situation. Even at 93 years old, he's still got that same boyish charm and sense of humour that made him so popular in the first place.

What’s your favourite work by Bob Newhart? We love Elf but can’t go past The Bob Newhart Show.

Want to revisit his work? Newhart is on Youtube for free! You can find episode one below:

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