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Meet Bob Newhart's 4 Beautiful Kids with Wife of 59 Years Who Gave up Her Career after They Married

Gracious Egedegbe
Apr 08, 2022
04:30 P.M.

Bob Newhart has a movie-worthy romance with Virginia "Ginnie" Quinn, his wife of almost six decades. The woman made enormous sacrifices for their family, but it was a gamble that has so far paid off because it doesn't seem like they'll be parting anytime soon.

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Bob Newhart and his wife, Virginia, have been in a relationship for 59 wonderful years, making theirs one of the longest-running unions in Hollywood.

This is a remarkable feat because, in the United States, roughly 50% of marriages end up in divorce. Among celebrities, marriages have been known to last as little as weeks, but for some reason, Bob and his wife have remained together as they promised, through thick and thin.

[Left] Picture of Bob Newhart and his wife Ginny; [Right] Picture of Bob Newhart, his wife, Ginny, and their kids, Tim and Jennifer | Source: Getty Images || Facebook.com/Bob Newhart

[Left] Picture of Bob Newhart and his wife Ginny; [Right] Picture of Bob Newhart, his wife, Ginny, and their kids, Tim and Jennifer | Source: Getty Images || Facebook.com/Bob Newhart

Bob's marriage to Virginia has lasted 59 years and produced four children and at least ten grandkids. Here are details about his funny marriage with his beautiful wife and their children & grandchildren.

HOW BOB MET THE LOVE OF HIS LIFE

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Bob Newhart and Ginny Newhart at the "Backstage At The Geffen" Gala on March 22, 2014 | Source: Getty Images

Bob Newhart and Ginny Newhart at the "Backstage At The Geffen" Gala on March 22, 2014 | Source: Getty Images

Bob met the woman who became the love of his life because one of his friends, Buddy Hackett, decided that the man Virginia, who had been his babysitter, had been going out with, was not a good fit for her.

The late comedian must have believed Bob was perfect, so he told him that he would fix them up on a blind date. "Well, we're both Catholic. She's three-quarters Irish. I'm three-quarters Irish," Bob said before revealing that Buddy told him:

"'I've got a girl for you. 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.'"

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Bob Newhart poses with his wife Ginny outside Mr. Chows restaurant March 26, 2002 | Source: Getty Images

Bob Newhart poses with his wife Ginny outside Mr. Chows restaurant March 26, 2002 | Source: Getty Images

"Which we did — one of our daughters, we called her Buddy," Bob added. Like Bob, Virginia was also into showbiz; Her father was Bill Quinn, who played Mary Tyler Moore's dad on the MTM show, so she was not lacking in talent.

Before her marriage to Bob, she had a small role in a Jerry Lewis film; however, she gave up acting after the wedding in 1963. She and Bob dated for a year before they tied the knot.

However, at the very beginning of their relationship, she was not very enthusiastic about "marrying an actor who didn't get a paycheck every week." Still, the man had always known that she would be the only flower that would bloom in the garden that was his heart.

Bob Newhart and wife Ginny arrive at the 2005 TV Land Awards on March 13, 2005 | Source: Getty Images

Bob Newhart and wife Ginny arrive at the 2005 TV Land Awards on March 13, 2005 | Source: Getty Images

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"Yeah, she was everything. We had the same values, and we enjoyed being with each other. She had a great sense of humor, so she had all the things I was looking for," he said.

The feeling was mutual, even though her father did not exactly jump for joy at the thought of them together.

BOB AND GINNIE'S FUNNY LIFE AS A COUPLE

Bob Newhart with his wife, Ginny pose for photographers outside Spago restaurant July 25, 2000 | Source: Getty Images

Bob Newhart with his wife, Ginny pose for photographers outside Spago restaurant July 25, 2000 | Source: Getty Images

Over the years, Virginia has been her husband's best friend and loyal supporter while he has been her Prince charming and knight in shining armor. There was a time he had to rush to her rescue earlier in their marital life.

At the time, she had been pregnant with their first child, and rather than let her go through the stress of going to get it, so he decided to help. Fortunately, Virginia called the store ahead to let the woman working the register know he was coming for a bra.

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The cashier said, "Bless his heart, when he came in the door, he looked very uncomfortable in his own skin, tugging at the collar of his striped, short-sleeved shirt. His cheeks were bright red when I approached him with a reassuring smile.

"If Ginny wasn't pregnant and I didn't love her, I wouldn't be doing this," he said. Their conversation led to other things, and at some point, the comedian said, "Well, I think I'm lucky that she's pregnant. She didn't order anything."

The cashier never forgot that interaction, and when she spoke about the couple, she praised them for being "down-to-earth." They were a lovely couple, both great with "regular people," the woman said.

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Bob Newhart, Ginny Newhart and family during Bob Newhart with Family at Easter Sunday Brunch - April 11, 1982 at Beverly Hill Hotel in Beverly Hills, California | Source: Getty Images

Bob Newhart, Ginny Newhart and family during Bob Newhart with Family at Easter Sunday Brunch - April 11, 1982 at Beverly Hill Hotel in Beverly Hills, California | Source: Getty Images

Indeed, anyone who sees the couple might confuse them for a random pair because of how normal they can seem. Virginia, the doting wife, has been present for all of her hubby's big wins ever since they got together. According to the stand-up comedian, she has only missed some occasionally. He recalled:

"She'd be in the dressing room. She'd say, 'Something's wrong with the sound system. I couldn't hear anything. I said, 'Honey, nothing was wrong with the sound system. They didn't laugh!'"

The pair have had a blissful marriage, and their home has been said to be children-oriented. Their daily life is no longer as boisterous as it used to be; Bob, who loved golfing, has had to give it up for regular walks with his wife.

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When they are not out walking, the two can be found attending a smattering of Hollywood events where they get to interact with Dick and Dolly Martin and Don and Barbara Rickles. "Somebody has to be Don's friend," Bob once joked.

With such a strong and close-knit support system, it's no wonder the comedian has gained a lot of confidence in his ability to make people laugh even though he has reached an age where no one will blame him for retiring.

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"I know," he says, "that I can always write something funny. A dancer can break a leg. A singer can lose his voice. But life will always be funny and I'll always be able to write comedy, and lean back and say, 'Yeah, I still got it.'"

Such a long-running marriage has naturally drawn the curiosity of many who want to know how the two manage to keep everything running smoothly.

One of the many reasons they've stayed happy is because she knows how to keep him grounded, and they were able to maintain that dynamic.

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He said, "We didn't go to all the A-list parties. That isn't the way we wanted to live. It looks glamorous, but when you're going to perform, and you have to walk through the kitchen, and somebody says, 'Don't step on that lettuce over there,' it brings you back down to Earth."

When Turner Classic Movies host Ben Mankiewicz asked Bob why he thought his relationship with Virginia had lasted so long, he said, "Laughter. There's Something about laughter and the longevity of a marriage."

 Actor Bob Newhart, son and daughter attend Party Honoring Quncy Jones on March 6, 1983 at Chasen's Restaurant in Beverly Hills, California | Source: Getty Images

Actor Bob Newhart, son and daughter attend Party Honoring Quncy Jones on March 6, 1983 at Chasen's Restaurant in Beverly Hills, California | Source: Getty Images

That only seems fair given his status as a comedian, but fans will be pleased to know that Virginia has been the driving force behind some of the incredible feats he is known for.

A good example was the indelible end to the "Newhart" show which began in the 80s and ran for eight seasons.

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Bob Newhart with his wife Ginny and family at the 5th Annual Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize on October 29, 2002 | Source: Getty Images

Bob Newhart with his wife Ginny and family at the 5th Annual Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize on October 29, 2002 | Source: Getty Images

The classic ending revealed that the whole show had been a dream Bob, who played the innkeeper, had been having, and he wakes up in bed with his first on-screen wife, Pleshette.

Mankiewicz asked him if that had always been the plan, but Bob had credited his wife for the scene."No, it was my wife's idea," Newhart said. "The audience went nuts."

MEET BOB NEWHART'S CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN

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Bob and Virginia share four children, Robert, Timothy, Jennifer, and Courtney together, and ten grandchildren! Their first child,

Robert was born on November 4, 1963, and even though he was once featured in a 1993 movie titled "Hearts and Souls," he has mostly lived a private life. Timothy, his brother, and their second child was born in 1969.

Like his brother, he has also dabbled in showbiz, with credits for being a production assistant on his father's show "Newhart" and on "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" under his belt. The talent may have been present, but Timothy did not further his career in that aspect.

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Their third child, daughter Jennifer, was born in 1970, but unlike her elder brothers, she did not try her hand at her father's profession. She has been pictured with her family on the red carpet now and then, but otherwise, not much is seen of her.

Courtney, their fourth child, arrived on Earth in 1977, and she is also known for being a production assistant on "George & Leo" in 1997. Her delve into showbiz didn't go deeper than that before she gave it up to focus on raising her family.

Bob and Virginia have devoted parents to their children, and that did not change when they became grandparents. The two enjoy hanging out with their grandkids, and Bob may be indirectly passing on some of his knowledge to his grandkids.

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He once said: "My grandson did stand-up the other day. I asked him what it was like. He said he told one joke, and it worked, then he told another that didn't work, but he went right ahead," Bob shared. "I said, 'That's the secret. You've got to keep going and put one foot in front of the other.'"

Indeed, Bob and Virginia have lived full lives; When he was asked if he had anything still left on his bucket list, the comedian said:

"It's weird, but I don't think I have a bucket list. I've done just about everything I've ever thought or even didn't think I would do. Making people laugh is all I care about."

Fortunately for his fans, Bob has said he has no plans of ever retiring, which is great news.

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