Judd Hirsch Recalls Bob Newhart's 'Act of Absolute Kindness' Towards Him on “George & Leo ”(Exclusive)

Hirsch also tells PEOPLE working with the comic legend on the short-lived sitcom was an "old dream" of his

As Judd Hirsch reflects on working with Bob Newhart on the sitcom George & Leo, it’s with fondness for the comic legend's kindness.

In an interview with PEOPLE on July 19, Hirsch, 89, discusses his experiences with his former costar on George & Leo, which ran for one season from 1997 and 1998. Hirsch portrayed the magician Leo, while Newhart played bookstore owner George.

During the early stages of production on the CBS sitcom, Hirsch explained to Newhart how he needed to fly back to New York City every Friday evening to spend time with his “little girl,” Montana Eve Hirsch, who was 2 or 3 years old at the time.

“To get those two days off after the shoot on Friday night, I had to take a red eye,” Hirsch recalls. “[Bob] said, ‘Hey, listen to me.’ … ‘You will make that plane every time we shoot.’ And I said, ‘Okay.’ In other words, he could pace the show and know that we won't go over."

"These things are produced and directed by other people, but [Bob] was the master of pace,” Hirsch continues, adding, “So when he said that, it was an absolute kindness to me. And for that, I just wanted to thank him, but I didn’t get a chance, because we didn’t any more than one season.”

Related: Remembering Bob Newhart's Life in Photos

Newhart died at his Los Angeles home on Thursday, July 18, following a series of short illnesses.

With a career spanning more than six decades, the award-winning entertainer was most remembered for his roles in the CBS series The Bob Newhart Show, which ran from 1972 to 1978, and Newhart, which ran from 1982 to 1990.

Newhart made history in 1959, with The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart, his debut comedy album which became the first comedy record to top Billboard's album chart. Newhart earned two Grammy Awards for Album of the Year and Best New Artist.

Following The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart, he began a 12-year career in stand-up before landing The Bob Newhart Show, which ran for six seasons from 1972 to 1978, The show later earned Newhart multiple Emmy and Golden Globe nominations.

In later years, Newhart starred in Newhart from 1982 to 1990 and George and Leo from 1997 to 1998 before appearing in films like Legally Blonde 2 and Elf.

Related: Bob Newhart's 4 Children: All About Robert, Timothy, Jennifer and Courtney

Newhart received seven Emmys nominations through his decades-long career, beginning with a 1962 nod for writing The Bob Newhart Show and for Newhart. He won his first Emmy in 2013 for his recurring guest role on The Big Bang Theory, nabbing two more nominations in 2014 and 2016. His guest actor work on ER and the TNT movie The Librarian: The Curse of the Judas Chalice, meanwhile, also earned him the Emmys' recognition.

The performer's death comes after the death of his wife Ginnie, whom he wed in 1963 and who died in April 2023 after a long illness. The two had four children — sons Robert and Timothy, and daughters Jennifer and Courtney — as well as 10 grandchildren.

If Hirsch had the chance to speak with Newhart today, he’d properly thank the “comic talent” for being so “kind” and “considerate” during their time together on George & Leo.

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“He didn't have to be [kind and considerate]. He was king of the hill at that time,” the actor says, adding, “I was just really fortunate to have had that time with that guy, who probably a lot of people would've loved to have been in my shoes.”

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Read the original article on People.