Bob Newhart turns 94: Actor had storybook romance with wife Virginia 'Ginnie' Quinn for 60 years before her death at 82

LOS ANGLES, CALIFORNIA: It was on this day in history, September 5, 1929, that the legendary actor and comedian Bob Newhart was born. Newhart, well known for his album of humorous monologues and 'The Bob Newhart Show,' was married to Virginia "Ginnie" Newhart nee Quinn for 60 long years.

Ginnie sadly died after a long, protracted illness at the age of 82 on Sunday April 23, 2023 in Los Angeles, according to publicist Jerry Digney.

Bob and Ginnie, who spent six decades together as husband and wife, inspired people with their love story because it was like a rom-com film come to life. In fact, Ginnie inspired the legendary ending of Bob's 'Newhart' series.

How did Bob Newhart and Ginny Newhart met?

The comedian met Ginnie (born Virginia Quinn) on a blind date set up by their mutual friend, actor Buddy Hackett, in 1962.

The couple married the following year and had four children. They have two sons, Robert, 55, and Timothy, 52, as well as two daughters, Jennifer, 48, and Courtney, 41. The couple were also blessed with eight grandchildren between them.

On their 60th wedding anniversary, Bob had shared numerous vintage images from their relationship on Twitter, including one from their wedding day and another of the couple posing with Hackett

Bob Newhart's secret to a succesful marriage

In a 2022 interview with Parade, Bob discussed the importance of humor in their relationship. He said, "The marriages of comedians, no matter how stormy, seem to last a long time, and I attribute it to laughter."

He added, "No matter how intense the argument you're having, you can find a line, and then you both look at each other and start laughing. It's over, you know? I think that sense of humor is very important to the longevity of a marriage."

Bob Newhart says that Ginnie was his 'support system'

Bob told CBS Sunday Morning in 2020 that Ginnie was always there for him, through his successes and tribulations.

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

Ginnie had recalled in the same interview that her husband's first ten years in show business were difficult because he was "terribly shy" when he was off stage.

She said, "And I always thought that maybe he would go into teaching, or do something else." She added, "But then I realized that it was definitely in his blood and he was … starting to enjoy it. I knew that he was hooked."

However, on their wife's death, Bob shared his statement on Twitter, writing, "We lost our beloved Ginnie Quinn Newhart - Wife, Mother and Grandmother after a long battle with illness. She was our rock and we miss her terribly."