With more than 60 years in the entertainment industry, the late Bob Newhart was known for his iconic film and television roles. Among these include his infamous role as Papa Elf in the 2003 film Elf. Before his death, Newhart expressed appreciation for his role in Elf. He even admitted it was one of his favorite projects he had ever worked on.
In addition to years of stand-up performances, the late comedian was also known for his roles on The Bob Newhart Show, Catch-22, and The Big Bang Theory. He won his first Emmy Award by playing Arthur Jeffires, Ph.D., or Professor Pluton.
The Legacy of ‘Elf’
Elf is a great movie for the holiday season. An iconic Christmas movie, Elf is worth rewatching year after year. Since its release, the Will Ferrell-led comedy has joined Miracle on 34th Street, A Christmas Story, and The Grinch in becoming an all-time iconic holiday movie. The movie’s heartwarming wit and charm will get you in the holiday spirit. So, grab the eggnog and add Elf to your watchlist.
A great gift of Elf is legendary performances from actors like Bob Newhart. Newhart plays lovable Papa Elf opposite Ferrell’s Buddy the Elf. Elf follows Buddy after he discovers he isn’t actually an elf but a human. He then embarks on a journey to New York City in an attempt to find out more about his biological family.
Bob Newhart and His Impact
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Part of the reason Elf is so great is due to Ferrell’s and Newhart’s performances. Watching them on the screen together was equivalent to watching two comedic geniuses at work. There’s no one else audiences can imagine playing either role. So, what were Newhart’s thoughts about it?
Shortly before his death, Newhart expressed his gratitude for his role in Elf, telling CNN, “Without question, the part of Papa Elf outranks, by far, any role I may have ever played.” According to Entertainment Weekly, Newhart later reaffirmed this by saying, “People wanted to believe in it…People need that charming, wonderful thing about the Christmas spirit and its way of powering the sleigh.” When Newhart reportedly told his wife about the film, he described it as “another Miracle on 34th Street, where people watch can it every year.”
Examining The Movie’s Popularity
Elf’s popularity was reflected in the film’s incredible box-office success. According to reports, the film grossed over $220 million worldwide upon its release. It eventually led to a spinoff Broadway show, a TV special, and even a video game. Per Billboard, the Elf soundtrack is the second-highest-selling Christmas soundtrack of all time with 695,000 copies sold. The Polar Express is the only other Christmas movie to achieve such a feat, outranking Elf with 724,000 copies sold.
According to a study by Forbes, Elf was the top Christmas movie airing on TV in 2023. The study, which tracked Christmas movie viewership from Nov. 10 to Dec. 10, found that approximately 9 million people watched Elf this past year. Despite the movie being more than 2 decades old, audiences seem to love this one. It’s safe to say the film stands the test of time.
Elf wouldn’t be the same without its memorable performances and heartwarming comedy. These are qualities that can be attributed in part to Bob Newhart’s presence in the film. The actor, who died on July 18, will always be remembered for what he brought to this role. It was an honor to witness his talents onscreen, and at least audiences can look forward to rewatching some of his work each year. Here’s to Elf.
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