Casey Sander (as Mike Rostenkowski)
Bernadette’s dad Mike Rostenkowki (Casey Sander) is a hard-nosed retired police officer who doesn’t care much for Howard at first. But in the season six episode “The Fish Guts Displacement,” two bond when their wives force them to go on a fishing trip. Neither of them wants to hang out with the other, so they ditch fishing and go to the casino to play craps instead.
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Sandler has been a longtime actor within the industry. He’s one of those elusive actors where you’ve probably seen him in something — yet his name escapes you. The Seattle native interestingly enough was actually a minor league baseball player before entering the world of acting. More of a guest star rather than a series regular, we’ve seen Sandler in The Ranch, Malcolm in the Middle, Home Improvement, Mad Men, and Silicon Valley (among other projects).
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Raymond Teller (as Larry Fowler)
Larry Fowler — played by Teller of the legendary magic duo Penn & Teller — is Amy’s mild tempered and somewhat aloof dad. He’s constantly on the run from Mrs. Fowler, who’s always telling him what to do, how to act, and what (or what not) to say. He’s terrified of her — which makes for some great comedic moments.
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You’ve seen this guy before. Teller is one-half of the famed magic duo Penn & Teller. The smaller member of the group, Teller is the silent one — using facial expressions over actual dialogue. It adds to the mystique of his performances. In all actuality, the comedic Teller was raised in Philadelphia. Before becoming famous, he worked as a high school teacher in nearby New Jersey. The famed magicians are among the most famous and successful members of the craft in the world today.
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Joshua Malina (as President Siebert)
President Siebert (Joshua Malina) is the president of the California Institute of Technology. He’s not on the show frequently, but he’s showed up a couple of times in Season 12. In the episode “The Grant Allocation Derivation,” he passed off the responsibility of allocating extra grant money to Leonard in order to wipe his own hands clean.
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New York native Josh Malina was destined to be a performer. His father was a producer on Broadway — which ultimately led to Malina getting a theater degree from Yale. Due to a connection with family friend Aaron Sorkin, Malina, began in Broadway before breaking out into television. Since 1992, he’s been in dozens of very popular projects (including among them, This is Us, CSI: Miami, Shameless, Scandal).
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Brian Posehn (as Bert Kibbler)
Bert (played by comedian Bria Posehn) is a highly decorated scientist at the CalTech. Naturally, he was a competitor of Sheldon and the gang. When Posehn’s character won a grant, Sheldon was far from pleased. Staying true to his real-life persona, Bert is a lovable guy with an even-keeled attitude.
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California native Brian Posehn has been a performer on the comedy circuit for decades. His deadpanned approach to joke-telling made him an instant hit in his mid-20’s. Television came calling, and Posehn appeared initially in both Friends and Seinfeld. From there, you saw him involved in virtually every comedy special in which an ensemble was included. Aside from his involvement in comedy, acting, and writing, Posehn is said to be a very gifted musician.
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Bob Newhart (as Arthur ‘Professor Proton’ Jeffries)
It’s one of the biggest casting coups that a successful modern sitcom has pulled off. When TBBT started, there’s no way that they could ever have possibly imagined the likes of Bob Newhart appearing on the series once, never mind multiple times. However, that’s exactly what happened. Newhart appeared in the key role of Arthur Jeffries (also known as Professor Proton). He’s a TV scientist along the lines of Bill Nye the Science Guy. Coincidentally, this character helped to inspire Sheldon’s early love of science.
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Newhart broke out with his 1960’s album, “The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart.” Not only did this put him on the map, but it also resulted in a Grammy win for best album. It was only a matter of time before Newhart transitioned to television where he could fully tap into the popularity he cultivated. The Bob Newhart Show was a massive hit, and he guest hosted nearly 90 times in place of Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show. He’s steadily acted for over half a century, which included an Emmy win for his spot on TBBT.
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Lauren Lapkus (as Denise)
Denise is ultimately brought on by Stuart once his store needed more help. Without a doubt, Sheldon was a bit skeptical over Denise and what she brought to the table. However, all of that changed when he learned that Denise knew a ton about comic books. For a brief spell, Denise and Stuart are an item. Lapkus herself was on the show for eight episodes.
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Chicago native Lauren Lapkus has comedy in her blood. From a young age, she enjoyed making people laugh with a myriad of impressions and funny voices. Ultimately, she crushed it as an improv actor in her native Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles. This then led to a number of acting opportunities. Orange is the New Black was her breakout role — though Lapkus also saw time on Good Girls, Hot in Cleveland, Crashing, and Star Trek: Lower Decks. Currently, she’s involved in podcasting with fellow funny person Nicole Byer.
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Aarti Mann (as Priya Koothrappali)
Priya (Aarti Mann) is the character we soon learn to be Raj’s baby sister. For one full season of the show (Season 4), one could make the argument that Priya was the most unlikable character on the show during that time. Even then, Penny views Priya as Leonard’s most legitimate girlfriend. Though Priya is often bothered, she does offer some great comedic timing.
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Aarti Mann graduated from NYU, and then decided to enter the world of acting. Once she participated in various acting classes, Mann enjoyed some real success. She booked some commercials before landing a role on Heroes. From there, Mann participated in both film and television. However, without a doubt, her most high-profile gig to date has been on TBBT.
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Kathy Bates (as Mrs. Fowler)
Amy’s mother Mrs. Fowler, played by the chameleon Kathy Bates, is both terrifying and hilarious. With her mother being a strict woman, Amy had a seemingly endless supply of restrictions placed on her as a child. This included not being allowed to watch Grease for fear that she would want to be in a gang, to Mrs. Fowler being adamant Amy never miss school because that would lead to a life of drugs. Even with all her rules, Mrs. Fowler is the reason Amy and Sheldon ended up together!
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We love Kathy Bates. The veteran actress is a chameleon — having the ability to play virtually any type of role. Not only does she have that ability, but she’s proven it at a very impressive level. We’ve seen her in big budget films (Titanic), thrillers (Misery), indie hits (Angus), slapstick comedies (The Waterboy) and everything in-between. Simply put, Bates is a titan within the industry.
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Brian George (as V.M. Koothrappali)
Brian George has had a lengthy career full of playing quirky characters. Prior to TBBT, he was undoubtedly best recognized for his turn as Babu Bhatt, the hapless restaurant owner on Seinfeld. On TBBT, George turns in yet another stellar performance as V.M. Koothrappali, the often disapproving but highly entertaining father of Raj. He brings just the right amount of seriousness and levity to the role, and his line delivery is always verging on tough as nails or incredibly cheesy.
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Brian George was born in Israel, lived in England, cut his comedy teeth in Canada, and made his career in Hollywood. Over the past 25 years, the veteran character actor has been a go-to guy to play roles of people who are of Indian or Pakistani decent (despite the fact that he’s a native of Jerusalem). Other TV credits include Once Upon a Time in Wonderland and Elementary.
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Laura Spencer (as Emily Sweeney)
Emily was introduced back in Season 7, where she met Raj via online dating. She added a new layer of depth to Raj’s story line in the series, which was solely focusing on his difficulty speaking to women. However, during Season 8, the relationship hit a few bumps after Raj realized that they had vastly different tastes. He soon then broke off their relationship.
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In 2012, Oklahoma native Laura Spencer got the role of Jane Bennet in the web series The Lizzie Bennet Diaries. It became the first to win an Emmy award for Outstanding Creative Achievement In Interactive Media. Spencer is mainly known for her recurring role on Bones as Jessica Warren. She has also made guest appearances on shows including Switched at Birth, Sleepy Hollow, and 2 Broke Girls. Most recently, she went back to her home state to film a guest spot on the quirky comedy Reservation Dogs.
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Brian Thomas Smith (as Zack Johnson)
Zack Johnson is an on-and-off boyfriend of Penny. Whenever the show brings back cute but oh-so-dumb Zack, it’s a real treat. We were worried we’d seen the last of Penny’s ex after the Thanksgiving episode where she forces him to get their quickie Vegas marriage annulled. Though usually a friendly, outgoing person, Zack is extremely dimwitted and displays even less understanding of sarcasm than Sheldon does. Despite his stupidity, he is quite interested in science.
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Missouri actor Brian Thomas Smith has been involved in the industry dating back to 2001 (where he had a small part on an episode of Friends). Though Smith has featured extensively on television and in film, he’s made a considerable amount of money in commercial work. Based on his work on TBBT, he teamed up again with Chuck Lorre to be a regular on the recent CBS sitcom United States of Al. However, the show was cancelled after two seasons.
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Christine Baranski (as Dr. Beverly Hofstadter)
Christine Baranski is so amazing at playing Leonard’s cold, cruel psychiatrist mother Beverly that we actually cringe a little when she appears on-screen. Dr. Hofstadter had very strong opinions on how to raise her little boy. These tendencies definitely played into his modern-day personality. She frightens us…and her son.
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Christine Baranski is what we’d call a working actress. You’ve seen her in film, on television, and on stage for decades. She brings a real sense of elegance and professionalism to seemingly every role she sinks her teeth into. Like Bates, Baranski has a ridiculous range — where she can play virtually any sort of character. As a part-time character, she garnered for Emmy nominations for TBBT. Most recently, she’s been starring in The Good Fight.
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Sara Gilbert (as Leslie Winkle)
Oh how we loved when Sara Gilbert made an appearance as Leslie Winkle and reunited with her former Roseanne costar Johnny Galecki. But, more importantly, Leslie is a fantastic foe for Sheldon. She can deal out zingers even faster than the genius can spurt out facts about string theory. Their banter is fun and clever. Plus, it’s always fun to see Sheldon squirm.
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Sara Gilbert really became famous as the morose daughter in Roseanne. After a spell as a talk show host, Gilbert reinvented her past character of Darlene as more of a matriarchal figure in the Roseanne spin-off The Conners. Taking the role as the leading lady from her television mom Roseanne Barr, Gilbert has her fingerprints all over the reboot — which includes her acting in the project as well as producing.
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John Ross Bowie (as Barry Kripke)
Oh, Kripke…always a thorn in the side of his colleagues. Barry Kripke is another character whom we haven’t laid eyes on in a while, but it’s fun to watch him throw a wrench into Sheldon and Leonard’s plans. Sometimes annoying, sometimes too clever for his own good, Kripke is an exceptional nemesis for the boys.
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New York native John Ross Bowie has been a fixture in a plethora of sitcoms — whether guest starring or being a regular. Film wise, we saw him in both The Heat and Jumanji: The Next Level. He starred with Minnie Driver and Cedric Yarbrough on the sentimental ABC comedy Speechless. Since then, Bowie became a regular on the Netflix rom-com series Feel Good, and he also appeared most recently in an episode of The Rookie.
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Carol Ann Susi (as Mrs. Wolowitz)
Mrs. Wolowitz’s shtick was that we only heard her distinctive, booming voice and never had the opportunity to see her face. Even then, her presence was still a powerful one. Sadly Howard’s mom passed in 2014 (coinciding with death of the actress who portrayed her, Carol Ann Susi). We’ll never forget the scene where the gang honors her life by gathering in the Wolowitz home to feast on the freezer full of food she left behind.
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Brooklyn native Carol Ann Susi enjoyed a fantastically long career in the industry which spanned from 1974-2014. Trained in New York City, the Italian-American actress eventually made her way to Hollywood — where she had no problem in picking up roles. Throughout the ’90’s and 2000’s, there’s a very high probability that Susi appeared in practically every hit show from this era. Looking at her filmography, Susi clearly made a huge impact with casting directors. Sadly, she passed in 2014 at the age of 62.
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Kevin Sussman (as Stuart Bloom)
Who knew that comic book store owner Stuart would become an integral part of the gang when the show originally started airing? Sweet, confused, and trying to find his place in this world, this guy comes through for his friends. The character definitely deserves more of his own story lines. After all, he’s part of the Wolowitz family now.
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Sussman is ‘one of those faces’ you surely know. While never really a lead in anything of consequence, he has accumulated a very impressive number of project participations to date. He’s mostly a bit character in television. However, Sussman does have some roles in a number of very acclaimed films (Almost Famous, Burn After Reading, Sweet Home Alabama, Wet Hot American Summer) under his belt. As of 2022, Sussman has enjoyed a recurring role in Hulu’s The Dropout starring Amanda Seyfried and Naveen Andrews.
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Laurie Metcalf (as Mary Cooper)
Mary Cooper is the polar opposite type of mother to Sheldon as Beverly Hofstadter is to Leonard. Calm, caring, and deeply religious, Mary isn’t as naïve as she may initially look. She has her son’s number and knows exactly how to get him to fall in line (in a thick southern accent, of course).
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Laurie Metcalf is a giant within the industry. Early in her career, the theater-based actress dabbled in both television and film. Roseanne was the big show she was known for (as the sister to the titular character). Metcalf has steadily worked throughout her career. Recently, she’s enjoyed a bit of a renaissance — starring in Hacks, The Dropout, Q-Force, Lady Bird and in The Conner’s.
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Wil Wheaton (as Wil Wheaton)
Oh how I miss the days when Wil Wheaton (playing himself) was a formidable foe for Sheldon, wielding his Star Trek fame around to get the upper hand in nerdy situations. But, really, it’s just as much fun to watch him pal around with the gang as a friend. Wil playing an exaggerated version of himself is such a perfect fit for the series — and the actor pulls it off flawlessly.
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Wheaton is a major longtime fan of the Los Angeles Kings ice hockey team, and can often be found at the Staples Center at both regular season and playoff games. He lives with generalized anxiety disorder and chronic depression. As such, he supports mental health nonprofit organizations in raising awareness for these conditions. Most recently, Wheaton has appeared in S.W.A.T and Star Trek: Picard.
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Melissa Rauch (as Bernadette Rostenkowski)
When Bernadette debuted on TBBT, she somehow managed to effortlessly blend in with the core five characters and normalize Howard (well, as much as one person can). Neither one of these things is an easy feat. We love how she can be sweet and supportive, hyper-competitive, and a total boss babe in a single episode.
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After becoming a series regular in Season Four, Melissa Rauch saw her career really take off. She starred in Steven Soderbergh’s The Laundromat alongside iconic figure Meryl Streep. Additionally, the New Jersey native has been heavily involved in voice-over acting (including Ice Age: Collision Course and Batman and Harley Quinn). Now married, Rauch is the mother to two young children.
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Mayim Bialik (as Amy Farrah Fowler)
Amy Farrah Fowler has evolved so much since she came on the scene in 2010. Once a lonely, awkward scientist desperate for human connection, Amy quickly found friendship with the gang and proved herself to be the perfect match for Sheldon. Amy is integral to the show by the unique way in which she sees the world and relationships.
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Mayim Bialik is an impressive person. After her Blossom fandom, Bialik attended UCLA (the No. 1 ranked public university in the United States) where she achieved a Bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience and a Doctorate of Philosophy in Neuroscience (with a focus on various mental disorders). At the time, she was married and raising two kids. Despite juggling a number of responsibilities, a guest spot on TBBT turned into a lengthy run. Now back in the limelight, Bialik has been guest hosting Jeopardy! in addition to starring on her own show entitled Call Me Kat.
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Kunal Nayyar (as Raj Koothrappali)
Much like his group of friends, we became very protective of Raj. We’re ready for this insecure softy to find true love already. Sure, he gets a little crazy when he drinks (remember when that was literally the only way he could talk to women?) However one day, Raj is going to make a girl very happy.
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The British actor banked a ton of money from not only this show, but also the other projects which resulted due to his popularity on TBBT. Now fully established as a star, Nayyar has taken to participate in things away from the screen — yet still close to the action. Most recently, it was announced that he will be an executive producer on an animated original entitled Diya.
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Simon Helberg (as Howard Wolowitz)
If you had told us wannabe lothario Howard Wolowitz would be the first character married off with a kid after the pilot episode, we never would have believed it. Our astronaut evolved in a major way. Even though he still makes us roll our eyes at some of his comments, we love him anyway.
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LA native Simon Helberg grew up in the industry. His mother was a casting director, and his dad Sandy was an actor. After attending NYU, Simon got into sketch comedy. This led to a number of roles as complementary characters in films primarily (such as Old School and Van Wilder). Once he landed the gig on TBBT, Simon’s career exploded. Married with two children, Simon most recently starred in the film entitled As They Made Us (ironically directed/written by co-star Mayim Bialik).
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Johnny Galecki (as Leonard Hofstadter)
Leonard has had a lot to overcome over the years, not the least of which includes being raised by a mom that was more about psychiatry than offering up the warm fuzzies. His relationship with wife Penny has provided him with confidence and love, helping him to grow into a fully fleshed-out character. The way in which he’s always there for Sheldon (even when he really doesn’t want to be) makes Leonard one of the most endearing characters on the show.
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Galecki’s enjoyed a very long career which began as a child. Roseanne was his big break, and then he enjoyed a second major sitcom role on TBBT. Most recently, we’ve see Galecki guest as David on The Conners. He hasn’t really needed to act post-TBBT due to the fact he was once one of the highest-paid television actors in the world. As of right now, Galecki is enjoying his expansive property in Southern California, along with raising his now three-year-old son.
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Kaley Cuoco (as Penny)
Penny is probably our spirit TV character. Rarely without a glass of wine in her hand, she seems like she would totally get us. Penny proved herself to be a heck of a go-getter when Bernadette helped her snag the pharmaceutical sales job. Nothing made us happier than when she and Leonard got hitched.
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Kaley Cuoco has probably been the biggest star coming from this show since it stopped shooting. The California native is currently starring in The Flight Attendant — a show which has become super popular across virtually all platforms. Cuoco filmed an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm, and is in the midst of shooting a film entitled The Man From Toronto (featuring Kevin Hart and Woody Harrelson).
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Jim Parsons (as Sheldon Cooper)
Sheldon is rigid, ridiculous, and awfully self-centered. With all of that said, there’s a kind heart buried under all of the scientific jargon. We love the risks he’s taken to keep his relationship with Amy afloat, and how he has managed to maintain strong friendships with the gang despite his often crazy demands.
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Jim Parsons nabbed four Primetime Emmy awards for starring as Sheldon Cooper. He was essentially the heart and soul of the show. As such, CBS decided to create a prequel show focusing solely on Parsons’ character (Young Sheldon). Unsurprisingly, it’s a massive hit. He was a lead on the period piece show Hollywood, and currently functions as a producer for Call Me Kat.
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