Tommy Gallagher was a successful comedian and actor, best known for his role as Emily Hartley’s husband on the popular sitcom The Bob Newhart Show. He was married to Suzanne Pleshette, another talented actress who starred as Emily on the show. The couple had a happy and loving marriage, until tragedy struck in 2000. What was the cause of death of Tommy Gallagher, and how did it affect his wife and co-star? Here is the story of their relationship and their final days.
A Hollywood Romance
Tommy Gallagher and Suzanne Pleshette met in 1968, when they were both working on Broadway. They had a whirlwind romance and got married in December of that year, after only six weeks of dating. They moved to Los Angeles, where they both pursued their careers in television and film. They appeared together in several projects, such as the comedy film If It’s Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium (1969), the drama series The Contenders (1970), and the TV movie The Last Survivors (1975).
However, their most famous collaboration was The Bob Newhart Show, which ran from 1972 to 1978. The show featured Bob Newhart as Bob Hartley, a psychologist who dealt with his quirky patients and his personal life. Suzanne Pleshette played his wife Emily, a schoolteacher who was smart, witty, and supportive of her husband. Tommy Gallagher played Howard Borden, a divorced airline navigator who lived across the hall from the Hartleys and often barged into their apartment uninvited. He was a lovable goofball who provided comic relief and became Bob’s best friend.
The show was a hit with critics and audiences alike, earning several Emmy nominations and becoming one of the most beloved sitcoms of all time. The chemistry between the cast members was evident, especially between Newhart and Pleshette, who had a natural rapport and a believable marriage. Gallagher also added to the humor and charm of the show, with his goofy expressions and hilarious delivery.
A Tragic Loss
Tommy Gallagher and Suzanne Pleshette had a strong and lasting marriage, despite the challenges of working in Hollywood. They supported each other’s careers and shared a passion for animals, especially dogs. They had no children of their own, but they were close to their nieces and nephews. They also remained friends with their co-stars from The Bob Newhart Show, often attending reunions and events together.
However, their happiness was shattered in 2000, when Tommy Gallagher was diagnosed with lung cancer. He underwent chemotherapy and radiation treatments, but his condition worsened. He died on January 21, 2000, at the age of 64. His death devastated his wife, who was by his side until the end. She later said that he was “the love of my life” and that she missed him every day.
Suzanne Pleshette tried to cope with her grief by continuing to work and staying close to her friends and family. She also found comfort in her dogs, who helped her deal with her loneliness. She said that they were “the reason I get up in the morning” and that they gave her “unconditional love”. She also remarried in 2001, to Tom Poston, another actor who had appeared on The Bob Newhart Show as Bob’s college friend Cliff Murdock. Poston had been widowed in 1998, and he and Pleshette had been friends for decades before they became romantically involved. They had a happy marriage until Poston’s death in 2007.
A Final Farewell
Suzanne Pleshette’s health also declined in the years following her husband’s death. She suffered from respiratory problems and underwent chemotherapy for lung cancer in 2006. She also had surgery to remove part of her lung in 2007. She died on January 19, 2008, at the age of 70, just two days before the eighth anniversary of Tommy Gallagher’s death.
Her death saddened her fans and colleagues, who remembered her as a talented actress and a wonderful person. Bob Newhart said that he was “heartbroken” by her passing and that she was “like a sister” to him. He also said that she was “one of the great comedic actresses of our generation”. Other co-stars from The Bob Newhart Show also paid tribute to her, saying that she was “funny”, “beautiful”, “smart”, “generous”, and “irreplaceable”.
Suzanne Pleshette’s funeral was held on January 24, 2008, at Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery in Culver City, California. She was buried next to Tommy Gallagher, who had been cremated after his death. Their graves are marked by a simple plaque that reads “Together Forever”. The plaque also has a picture of them smiling and holding hands, a testament to their love and happiness.
