When Bob Newhart first walked onto The Big Bang Theory set as Professor Proton, the reaction was electric. In Jessica Radloff’s book, cast and crew recall how the audience “went nuts,” giving him a two-minute standing ovation that left him misty-eyed. Jim Parsons said, “It literally stopped the show… I couldn’t believe I was in the same room with him.”
Newhart’s charm and impeccable timing didn’t just win over the live audience—it earned him something he’d never received in his decades-long career: an Emmy Award. On September 15, 2013, he won for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series. Chuck Lorre called it “a promise delivered,” saying Newhart had wanted a role with enough weight to be Emmy-worthy.
At the Primetime Emmys, Newhart and Parsons walked onstage together and were met with another standing ovation. Parsons admits he had to tell himself, “This is Bob’s moment. Do not cry.”
After the ceremony, Newhart joked that his wife didn’t want the Emmy hidden in the attic. “The Emmy goes in a very prominent place in our house,” he said. One guest role, two standing ovations, and a moment of history—Professor Proton truly lived on.
