Newhart Cast: The Only Major Actors Still Alive Today
When Bob Newhart passed away in 2024 at the age of 94, it marked the definitive end of an era for one of television’s most enduring sitcoms. The CBS series Newhart, which entertained audiences for eight seasons between 1982 and 1990, had already seen several of its core ensemble depart over the preceding decades. Today, only four major stars from the fictional Stratford Inn remain to carry the show’s comedic legacy into the modern era.
The series followed Dick Loudon, a New York author who relocated to Vermont with his wife Joanna to run a historic inn, surrounded by an eccentric staff and oddball locals. While Bob Newhart anchored the show as Dick, the ensemble cast created one of the most memorable environments in sitcom history. With the recent passing of the legendary comedian, fans are looking back at the surviving cast members who helped make the Stratford Inn a household name.
The Stratford Inn Legacy
Newhart arrived in 1982 following the conclusion of Bob Newhart’s first sitcom, The Bob Newhart Show. According to the comedian’s own recollections from a 2018 panel, inspiration struck while staying in a hotel lobby, where he recognized the potential for a new series that mirrored his previous work—substituting inn guests for therapy patients. The premise proved successful, running for eight seasons and concluding with one of television’s most famous finales, revealing the entire series to have been a dream of Newhart’s previous character, psychologist Bob Hartley.
The passage of time has taken a significant toll on the ensemble. Beyond Newhart himself, the series has lost several key players:
- Mary Frann (Joanna Loudon): Passed away in 1998
- Tom Poston (George Utley, the handyman): Died in 2007
- Peter Scolari (Michael Harris, the TV producer): Died in 2021
This leaves only four principal performers from the series still living, each having carved distinct career paths since the Stratford Inn closed its doors.
William Sanderson: The Speaking Brother
At 82 years old, William Sanderson remains the most recognizable surviving cast member, having established himself as one of television’s most prolific character actors. Sanderson portrayed Larry, the only member of the infamous trio Larry, Darryl, and Darryl who actually spoke, delivering the iconic introduction: “Hello, my name is Larry. This is my brother Darryl and my other brother Darryl.”
Sanderson’s career extends far beyond the Vermont inn. The same year Newhart debuted, he appeared in Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner as J.F. Sebastian, the Tyrell Corporation genetic designer who meets a grim fate at the hands of Roy Batty. His filmography spans critically acclaimed television and cinema, including the groundbreaking Western miniseries Lonesome Dove, Clint Eastwood’s City Heat, and the legal thriller The Client.
Modern audiences likely recognize Sanderson from his later television work, particularly his roles as Sheriff Bud Dearborne on HBO’s True Blood and E.B. Farnum on HBO’s Deadwood. He reprised the latter role in 2019’s Deadwood: The Movie, which stands as his final screen credit following his announced retirement from acting in 2020. Sanderson also chronicled his extensive career in a 2019 autobiography titled Yes, I’m That Guy: The Rough-and-Tumble Life of a Character Actor.
Tony Papenfuss and John Voldstad: The Silent Darryls
While Sanderson’s Larry did the talking, brothers Darryl (played by Tony Papenfuss and John Voldstad) communicated only through silent camaraderie and physical comedy. Both actors, now 76 and 75 respectively, have maintained connections to the entertainment industry while pursuing markedly different paths in recent years.
Tony Papenfuss, now 76, brought an understated presence to the role of one Darryl, appearing in 91 episodes across the series’ run. Prior to joining the show, Papenfuss had already appeared in high-profile productions including John Carpenter’s Escape from New York (1981) and Clint Eastwood’s Cold War thriller Firefox (1982). Following Newhart’s conclusion, he secured guest spots on major 1990s series including Seinfeld, Murphy Brown, and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. He reunited with his on-screen brothers for a 1997 episode of Coach and appeared in the 2021 television movie Breakdowns.
John Voldstad, the other Darryl at age 75, similarly enjoyed the long-running gig despite the character’s silence. Before Newhart, he appeared in Ivan Reitman’s military comedy Stripes (1981) alongside Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, and John Candy, and starred alongside Gregory Peck in the 1982 CBS miniseries The Blue and the Gray. Post-Newhart, his credits included guest appearances on Home Improvement and small but notable film roles in Forrest Gump and the 1993 horror-comedy Leprechaun.
In a surprising career pivot, Voldstad relocated to Alabama in the early 2010s and took up part-time work at the NASCAR Hall of Fame as part of the visitor services staff. As recently as 2024, he remained employed at the museum, where colleagues occasionally introduce him to tours as “the other brother Darryl.” Despite this detour from acting, Voldstad has indicated openness to returning to screen work should opportunities arise.
Julia Duffy: From Replacement Sitcom Star to Modern Renaissance
Julia Duffy, now 74, joined the cast in the second season as Stephanie Vanderkellen, the vain heiress-turned-maid who replaced her cousin Leslie (Jennifer Holmes). At the time of her casting, Duffy was starring in the medieval comedy series Wizards and Warriors, but she transitioned to Newhart full-time after that show’s cancellation, remaining with the series through its 1990 conclusion.
Duffy’s post-Newhart career maintained steady momentum through the 1990s and beyond. She joined Designing Women for its sixth season as Allison Sugarbaker before departing, and appeared in 28 episodes of the NBC sitcom The Mommies. Her guest credits read like a catalog of 1990s television staples, including Grace Under Fire, Drake & Josh, and Sabrina the Teenage Witch.
Film work also dotted her resume, with appearances in the Coen Brothers’ Intolerable Cruelty and the prequel Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd. More recently, she appeared in Showtime’s Shameless and published a memoir in 2018 titled Bad Auditions, recounting her experiences navigating the casting process.
Currently, Duffy enjoys a career resurgence in the streaming era. She appeared in the 2024 Night Court revival on NBC and starred in Apple TV+‘s Palm Royale alongside Kristen Wiig and Allison Janney, though that series concluded after two seasons. Most significantly, she currently holds a main role in Peacock’s The ‘Burbs, starring opposite Jack Whitehall and Keke Palmer, which has already secured a second season renewal.
Honoring the Memories
While the surviving cast members continue their respective journeys, the legacy of Newhart remains indelibly linked to those who have passed. Bob Newhart’s death in 2024 closed the final chapter on the show’s original creative force, while the earlier losses of Mary Frann, Tom Poston, and Peter Scolari left voids that cannot be filled. The series finale remains a touchstone of television history, and the Stratford Inn stands as a testament to ensemble comedy done right.
For fans seeking to revisit the series or explore the filmographies of these surviving actors, the work remains readily available across various platforms, ensuring that the peculiar charm of Larry, Darryl, Darryl, Stephanie, and the rest of the gang endures for new generations.
What’s After the Movie?
If you’re looking to explore classic television series like Newhart or discover where to stream your favorite sitcoms, What’s After the Movie offers comprehensive guides to filmographies, box office histories, and industry news. Check out our movie database for detailed information on these actors’ extensive film credits, or visit our blog for the latest updates on television revivals and cast reunions.
