“The Big Bang Theory”, a story about a group of nerds who are closest friends, had a successful run of 12 seasons and went off the air in 2019. The show was not just about science, it was a story about friendship and their funny dynamics with each other. First aired in 2007, the show received high viewership throughout its run so much so that the characters became a household name worldwide.
From the original pilot of the show getting rejected to successfully completing 12 seasons, The Big Bang Theory proved that the group of socially awkward geeks can not only be hilarious but also win 10 Primetime Emmys. It was shot in front of a live audience. The show went on to become an important part of pop culture history. The immense amount of love for the show resulted in “Young Sheldon”, a spinoff prequel based on the life of the popular character, Sheldon.
It’s been 17 years since The Big Bang Theory first aired, so let’s take a look at what the cast of the super hit show is up to now:
Sheldon Cooper played by Jim Parsons
Jim Parsons played the role of Sheldon Cooper, a Caltech physicist who is a prodigy. Sheldon is a socially awkward person who is smart, witty, and sarcastic. He often comes out as a rude person but he genuinely cared for and loved his friends and family. Parsons went on to receive Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series four times.
During the span of the show, Jim Parsons took part in other projects like The Big Year (2011), The Muppets (2011), A Kid Like Jake (2018), and Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile (2019). He also worked as a voice artist and made many special appearances in TV shows like Family Guy (2009), iCarly (2011), Elf: Buddy's Musical Christmas (2014), and so on.
Parsons also has an illustrated career in theater, he has been performing since 1993. Notably, he starred in The Boys in the Band which received a Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play. It was later adapted as a feature film for Netflix in 2020. He also went on to be the executive producer and narrator of the show Young Sheldon. In 2020 he received another Primetime Emmy nomination for his acting in the Netflix series, Hollywood.
Parsons came out as gay in 2012 in an interview with The New York Times. He got married to his boyfriend, art director Todd Spiewak, after being in a relationship for 14 years.
Related: Who is the highest-paid actor in The Big Bang Theory
Leonard Hofstadter played by Johnny Galecki
Johnny Galecki played the role of Leonard Hofstadter, a Caltech physicist who, unlike the rest of his friends, was friendly and had comparatively better communication skills. Leonard’s love interest was Penny, his neighbor who he ended up getting married to in the show. The actors dated each other in real life for two years from 2008 to 2010. After the split, they remained close friends.
For his role in The Big Bang Theory, he received several nominations for Primetime Emmy, People’s Choice Award, and Screen Actors Guild Awards. Other than The Big Bang Theory, he did several projects like I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997), Hancock (2008), In Time (2011), Rings (2017), and so on. He made many TV appearances in shows like Family Guy (2009), Entourage (2011), Lip Sync Battle (2016), etc.
Johnny Galecki started dating Alaina Meyer in 2018 and they welcomed a son in 2019 but in 2020, the couple called it quits. He got married to Morgan in 2024 and they welcomed a daughter.
Penny played by Kaley Cuoco
Kaley Cuoco played the role of Penny, a free-spirited waitress and an aspiring actress. She was the neighbor of Leonard and Sheldon. Unlike the rest of the characters, Penny didn’t come from a science background. She was an extrovert who made her way into the group of four socially awkward nerds. She got married to Leonard in the show. She won the People's Choice Award and Critics' Choice Television Award for her role in The Big Bang Theory.
During The Big Bang Theory, she took on other projects also like The Penthouse (2010), The Wedding Ringer (2015), Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip (2015), and so on. After the show ended, in 2019 she became part of the DC universe by giving her voice to the main character, Harley Quinn, in the animated series by the same name. She was also the executive producer of the show. In 2020, she starred in the show The Flight Attendant as the lead character for which she received many nominations including at the Primetime Emmys, Golden Globe Awards, and Screen Actors Guild Awards. Recently she starred in the films Meet Cute (2022) and Role Play (2024).
In 2011 she got engaged to Josh Resnik, an addiction specialist, but they parted ways in March 2012. Shortly after that, she got engaged to a professional tennis player, Ryan Sweeting, in 2013 after dating for three months. They got married in December 2013, but their relationship was short-lived as they got divorced in 2016. After her divorce, in late 2016, she started dating equestrian Karl Cook. The couple got married in 2018 but after two years announced their separation and got divorced in 2022.
In May 2022, Cuoco confirmed her relationship with actor Tom Pelphrey. The couple announced that they are expecting their first child together five months later. Their daughter Matilda was born in 2023. They got engaged in 2024.
Howard Wolowitz played by Simon Helberg
Simon Helberg played the role of Howard Wolowitz, an aerospace engineer who is funny, over the top, and has a weird fashion sense. He was a wannabe flirt who lacked communication skills. He had a dominating mother growing up in a Jewish household and got married to Bernadette Rostenkowski, who possessed similar personality traits to his mother. He won the Critics' Choice Award for his role in The Big Bang Theory.
Apart from The Big Bang Theory, he was a part of the highly acclaimed film, A Serious Man (2009), directed by the Coen Brothers, and starred in the film Florence Foster Jenkins (2016), alongside Meryl Streep, for which he got nominated for the Golden Globe Award. After Big Bang Theory, he starred in films like Annette (2021), As They Made Us (2022), and Space Oddity (2022).
He got married to the actress Jocelyn Towne in 2007. The couple have two kids together- a son and a daughter.
Raj Koothrappali played by Kunal Nayyar
Kunal Nayyar played the role of Raj Koothrappali, an astrophysicist who comes from a rich Indian family. He had social anxiety and selective mutism as he couldn’t talk in front of women in the initial part of the series. He had a feminine side to him which he embraced confidently and helped him bond with the girls in the show. He was Howard’s best friend.
Apart from the Big Bang Theory, he took part in several projects as a voice artist like in Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012), Sanjay and Craig (2013-2016), and the Trolls film series including Trolls World Tour (2020), Trolls Band Together (2023), etc. After The Big Bang Theory, he starred in Criminal: UK (2020) for which he was nominated for the British Academy Television Awards. In 2024, he was in a teen rom-com film, How to Date Billy Walsh.
In 2011, he got married to Neha Kapur, a model and former Femina Miss India 2006.
Bernadette Rostenkowski played by Melissa Rauch
Melissa Rauch played the role of Bernadette Rostenkowski, a microbiologist who is an intelligent, sweet, and ambitious woman. She always makes sure that things go her way. She got married to Howard Wolowitz, who always listened to her; she was the dominant one in the relationship. In 2013, for her role in this show, she was nominated for a Critics Choice Television Award.
Apart from The Big Bang Theory, she took part in several projects as a voice artist like in Scooby-Doo! and the Beach Beastie (2015), Star vs. the Forces of Evil (2017), Marvel's Ant-Man (2017), Batman and Harley Quinn (2017), and so on. She also ventured as a producer in projects like The Bronze (2015) and Night Court (2024).
She got married to writer Winston Beigel and the couple have two children - a daughter and a son.
Amy Farrah Fowler played by Mayim Bialik
Mayim Bialik played the role of Amy Farrah Fowler, a neurobiologist who is a sweet, shy, and caring person. She is a strong-minded, determined woman whenever it is needed. She was the love interest of Sheldon and eventually got married to him. Due to Sheldon’s reserved behavior, their relationship faced several ups and downs. For her role in The Big Bang Theory, she was nominated for Primetime Emmy Awards four times and won two Critics' Choice Television Awards.
Just like her character, Mayim Bialik also has a PhD in Neuroscience. She is multi-talented as she is an actor, producer, and author. She has hosted many shows like Celebrity Show-Off (2020) and Jeopardy! (2021-2023). She starred in Call Me Kat from 2021 to 2023, and she was also producing that show alongside Jim Parsons.
She married Michael Stone in 2003, and the couple share two sons. They got divorced in 2013. She is currently dating Jonathan Cohen, who is a writer and producer. They host a podcast together.
Read more about The Big Bang theory:
Who is the highest paid actor in the big bang theory
FAQs about The Big Bang Theory Cast
A. Mayim Bialik has a PhD in Neuroscience.
A. Sheldon Cooper is married to Amy Farrah Fowler.
A. Bernadette ends up with Howard Wolowitz.
