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R.I.P. Jack Riley of 'The Bob Newhart Show' and 'Rugrats'

He was a client of Dr. Hartley and a cartoon dad.

August 19, 2016, 4:05PM By MeTV Staff

It took more than the genius of Bob Newhart to make The Bob Newhart Show so brilliant. In making its lead character a psychologist, the 1970s series tackled series issues of mental illness in an era of progressive television. One of Dr. Robert Hartley's most memorable patients was real estate man Elliot Carlin, played to perfection by Jack Riley.

On Friday, August 19, Riley passed away at the age of 80, according to The Los Angeles Times and a representative of the actor.

Nineties kids will also fondly remember the performer as the voice of purple-haired dad Stu Pickles on Nickelodeon's Rugrats.

Long before that, Riley was appearing in a slew of MeTV shows such as Hogan's Heroes, M*A*S*H, Mary Tyler Moore, Columbo, Happy Days, The Rockford Files and more. In his half a century of work, the actor also took small roles in the Mel Brooks films History of the World: Part I, High Anxiety and Spaceballs.

People we have lost in 2016

GARRY MARSHALL

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Top image: AP Photo / Nick Ut

PATTY DUKE

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BETH HOWLAND FROM 'ALICE'

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MIKE MINOR OF 'PETTICOAT JUNCTION'

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WILLIAM SCHALLERT OF 'THE PATTY DUKE SHOW'

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ROBERT HORTON OF 'WAGON TRAIN'

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MICHU MESZAROS OF 'ALF'

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ANN MORGAN GUILBERT OF 'THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW'

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Image: The Everett Collection

RONNIE CLAIRE EDWARDS OF 'THE WALTONS'

Ronnie Claire Edwards, best known as Corabeth Walton on The Waltons, died at the age of 83. READ MORE

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THERESA SALDANA FROM 'THE COMMISH'

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FRANK SINATRA, JR.

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EARL HAMNER, JR., CREATOR OF 'THE WALTONS' AND 'FALCON CREST'

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Image: The Everett Collection

BUCK KARTALIAN FROM 'PLANET OF THE APES'

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Images: 20th Century Fox, MGM

JOE SANTOS OF 'THE ROCKFORD FILES'

Joe Santos, best known as Sergeant Dennis Becker on the drama series The Rockford Files, passed away at the age of 84. READ MORE

DORIS ROBERTS, 'RAYMOND' MOM AND 'REMINGTON STEELE' STAR

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JANET WALDO, VOICE OF JUDY JETSON ON 'THE JETSONS'

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Images: center, the Everett Collection; animation, Hanna-Barbera

PETER BROWN, STAR OF 'LAWMAN,' 'LAREDO' AND SOAPS

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MADELEINE SHERWOOD, MOTHER SUPERIOR ON 'THE FLYING NUN'

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Image: Sony Pictures Television

GEORGE KENNEDY, STAR OF 'COOL HAND LUKE,' 'AIRPORT' AND 'THE NAKED GUN'

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MARTIN E. BROOKS OF 'THE SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN' AND 'HUNTER'

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SYLVIA ANDERSON, CO-CREATOR OF 'THUNDERBIRDS' AND 'SPACE: 1999'

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RICHARD DAVALOS OF 'EAST OF EDEN'

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Image: The Everett Collection

GEORGE GAYNES OF 'POLICE ACADEMY' AND 'PUNKY BREWSTER'

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Image: Warner Bros. Pictures

GARRY SHANDLING, COMIC AND STAR OF 'THE LARRY SANDERS SHOW'

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RET TURNER, EMMY-WINNING COSTUME DESIGNER FOR CAROL BURNETT AND CHER

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JOE ALASKEY, VOICE OF BUGS BUNNY AND DAFFY DUCK

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PAT HARRINGTON, JR. OF 'ONE DAY AT A TIME'

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Image: Sony Pictures Television