Jane Fonda honors friend, neighbor Bob Newhart after comedian’s death

Following news of Hollywood legend Bob Newhart’s death Thursday at age 94, fellow entertainment industry icon Jane Fonda posted a sweet tribute to her late friend honoring his neighborly kindness to her over the years.

In the wake of news that Newhart died at his home in Los Angeles following a series of short illnesses, Fonda shared a photo of him on Instagram, and offered lighter memories of Newhart’s life.

“Bob Newhart has been my neighbor and friend for 8 years. His best friend, Don Rickles also lived here. First Rickles went, then his wife, Barbara. Bob’s wife, Ginnie, passed last year,” Fonda, 86, wrote. “All of us here envision Bob back with his bestie and with Ginnie, his beloved girl. They’re probably doubled over laughing.”

Fonda praised Newhart’s professional accomplishments, and noted that he mirrored his “understated, kind, wry, and very funny” celebrity persona in his personal life, too.

She went on to celebrate his kindness to her during their time together as neighbors, including a sweet moment he and his late wife invited her over for a meal when she was feeling particularly lonely.

“As I’m the oldest one around here these days, Bob liked to have me come over to reminisce with him about the old timers, Red Skelton, Ed Sullivan, my dad. We’d have a beer and I’d leave when one of his children would signal that he was tired,” Fonda recalled. “One Mother’s Day I was alone so Bob and Ginnie invited me to join them and their children and grandchildren for dinner. They were so welcoming. I will miss our times together.”

The Oscar-winning actress ended her note by sending Newhart off with loving words.

“May your beautiful soul rest in peace, dear Bob,” she wrote.

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Across a 60-year career in entertainment, Newhart notably rose to prominence as a comedian on The Ed Sullivan Show, and eventually became a well-known figure to newer audiences thanks to smaller roles and cameos, including in Will Ferrell’s beloved Christmas comedy Elf and as the beloved Professor Proton on Young Sheldon.

In 1972, he scored a major break as an actor, playing psychologist Robert “Bob” Hartley on The Bob Newhart Show across six seasons, for which he eventually earned three Emmy nominations.

In an interview with PEOPLE, fellow comedy titan Jay Leno remembered Newhart as “very kind,” and praised his career accomplishments.

“Never a mean-spirited bone in his body, never had jokes that were based [on] anything unkind,” Leno told the outlet. “You know what I mean? And there was no gimmicks.”