After 51 Years, Comedy Legend Bob Newhart Finally Wins An Emmy

Bob Newhart was moved to tears by his first Emmy win on Sunday; it was the seventh nomination for the 84-year-old comedy legend, who had two hit sitcoms in the '70s and '80s. He accepted his award for his guest spot as "Professor Proton" on The Big Bang Theory to a standing ovation.

Today's event was the Creative Arts Emmys where awards like Guest Actor are handed out; the Primetime Emmys will be held next Sunday with Neil Patrick Harris hosting.

The famously deadpan comic warned producer Spike Jones he would not comply with the 45-second acceptance rule, Deadline Hollywood reports. "Spike, I'm gonna need a little more time with this," he said. "This is my seventh shot at this."

Newhart thanked his wife of 50 years and his children and how he worked for 14 years "at a wonderful place called MTM [Mary Tyler Moore's company.] And now I'm working at a wonderful place called Big Bang Theory. "

He thanked the cast of the CBS show, saying, "they really threw themselves on the sword for me." Big Bang star Kaley Cuoco was among those tweeting congratulations to Newhart.

Backstage, he told the press that he'd love to return as Professor Proton.

After a losing streak, Newhart had actually removed his series from Emmy consideration to avoid disappointment, according to Deadline. He said of finally winning, "Well, this is from your peers. When they say you're good, it means something special."

He added that he was "totally unprepared" for the standing ovation. "I had come to feel that the kind of stuff I do just doesn't win awards. I just figured that every year, there were better people than me in the category."

Chuck Lorre had been wooing Newhart to guest star on one of his shows and finally suggested, 'How about Big Bang Theory?'" Newhart recalled. "I said great, it's the best-written show on television."

Newhart's recent roles include guest spots on Desperate Housewives as Morty, the stepfather of Teri Hatcher's character and NCIS. He was also in Horrible Bosses and played the principal in In &Out.

The comedian is famous for his phone routines, one of which was even incorporated into the otherwise dead serious Steve McQueen WWII film Hell Is For Heroes.

The finale to his show Newhart, which included a hilarious nod to his previous series, The Bob Newhart Show, is widely considered one of the best series endings of all time.