Bob Newhart

Born: September 5 1929
Where: Oak Park, Illinois, USA

The legendary American comedian and TV star has also enjoyed a secondary career as an actor in films ranging from Catch-22 to Legally Blonde 2.

Nominated nine times for a Golden Globe, the former accountant and copywriter first came to prominence on radio.

His one-way telephone conversations were a massive hit with listeners and the success led to his own Bob Newhart Show on prime time television.

After minor roles in the movies Hell is for Heroes and Hot Millions, he landed a bigger part opposite Barbra Streisand in On A Clear Day You Can See For Ever in 1970.

He followed this with the role of Major Major Major in the anti-war movie Catch-22 with Alan Arkin and Art Garfunkel.

Roles followed in Little Miss Marker, with Walther Matthau, and First Family with Gilda Radner.

He provided the voice of Bernard for The Rescuers Down Under and appeared in the Frank Oz 1997 comedy In & Out opposite Kevin Kline.

However, television remains his real domain, racking up 87 appearances on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show.

Recent work has included the part of doorman Sid Post opposite Reese Witherspoon in Legally Blonde 2 and he can next be seen in the Jon Favreau comedy Elf.