The Big Bang Theory stars: Where they are now
The Big Bang Theory ran for twelve glorious years between 2007 and 2019. But though its cast may have left behind the world of DNA molecular models, Dungeons and Dragons and – let's be honest – dubious stereotypes, they have been far from idle.
From superhero animations and indie rom-coms to directorial debuts and lawsuits, here's a look at what the stars of America's most unashamedly geekiest sitcom have recently been up to.
Jim Parsons
Of course, Jim Parsons hasn't entirely left TV's most famous socially awkward theoretical physicist behind. He still provides the adult voiceover for the character in Young Sheldon, the prequel that's heading into its seventh season.
But fans have also been able to actually see him on screen too – he portrayed the real-life prosecuting attorney Larry Simpson in Ted Bundy biopic Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile.
He also joined fellow nerd icon, Star Trek's Zachary Quinto, as well as Matt Bomer, Andrew Rannells and Charlie Carver in The Boys in the Band, Ryan Murphy's adaptation of the same-named Broadway play notable for starring an all-openly gay cast.
There was another Murphy project in Hollywood, a Netflix venture intended as "a love letter to the Golden Age of Tinseltown".
You may also have seen him in romcom Spoiler Alert, and in the David Tennant/Michael Sheen lockdown comedy Staged. He also acted as exec producer for Call Me Kat, Mayim Bialik's US translation of Miranda Hart's Miranda.
Johnny Galecki
He may no longer be playing relative straight man Leonard Hofstadter, but Johnny Galecki is still very much a regular face on US primetime TV.
Bringing things full circle, the 44-year-old reprised his career-launching role of David Healy in The Conners, the Roseanne Barr-free spin-off from Roseanne also starring TBBT's Sara Gilbert.
He also played Henry in canine tearjerker A Dog's Journey.
Galecki has also announced some exciting news about his personal life too. In the same month The Big Bang Theory wrapped up, the actor revealed that he and girlfriend Alaina Meyer were expecting their first child, and their son Avery was born in 2019. Sadly the couple were reported to have separated in 2020.
Kaley Cuoco
Kaley Cuoco ensured she didn't have to wait too long for her first post-Penny role by creating not just one but two brand-new shows herself.
The 33-year-old voices the titular anti-heroine in Harley Quinn, the animated series.
She also took centre stage in The Flight Attendant as Cassie Bowden, a cabin crew member who wakes up next to a dead body in Dubai without any recollection of what happened the night before.
After two seasons of that she began Based on a True Story, a comedy thriller about a true-crime enthusiast, and also found the time to star in the romcom Meet Cute with Pete Davidson.
Simon Helberg
The man formerly known as aerospace engineer Howard Wolowitz reunited with one of his Big Bang Theory co-stars in As They Made Us.
Penned and directed by Mayim Bialik, the indie dramedy largely set in the wake of a family bereavement also stars Dustin Hoffman, Dianna Agron and Candice Bergen.
He also played a significant role in the Meryl Streep-starring Florence Foster Jenkins, and was the friendly FBI connection for Nathasha Lyonne in Rian Johnson's light-hearted crime-drama hit Poker Face.
Kunal Nayyar
Just like Galecki, the British Kunal Nayyar, aka particle astrophysicist Rajesh Koothrappali, has also added a canine caper to his post-Big Bang Theory CV, although hopefully one that's less emotionally devastating.
The 38-year-old stars as Mr Mills in Think Like a Dog, a family movie about a 12-year-old child prodigy who develops a telepathic connection with his furry best friend.
Younger fans will also be able to hear Nayyar once again voice the glittery Guy Diamond in animated threequel Trolls Band Together.
He's also slated to appear in Spaceman, a romantic comedy-drama starring Adam Sandler, Carey Mulligan and Paul Dano.
Melissa Rauch
Melissa Rauch has been one of the busier Big Bang Theory stars since bidding farewell to her role as Howard's short-tempered wife Bernadette Rostenkowski-Wolowitz.
The 39-year-old appeared alongside Martin Freeman in indie rom-com Ode to Joy and shared the screen with Meryl Streep, Antonio Banderas and Gary Oldman in Steven Soderbergh's disappointing insurance fraud tale, The Laundromat.
On the small screen, she's shown up as Paul Scheer's wife Shira on 1980s-set Wall Street dramedy Black Monday and voiced The Nun, Betty Spaghetti and Poopsie Unicorn in an episode of Robot Chicken.
She's currently the star of sitcom revival Night Court, though it's on indefinite hiatus due to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike.
Mayim Bialik
As previously mentioned, Bialik took the director's chair for the first time in her career in the film based on her own real life experiences, As They Made Us.
The former child star also pulled double duty as star and producer on Call Me Kat, the Miranda adaptation mentioned above.
Kevin Sussman
Best known for playing comic bookstore owner Stuart Bloom, Kevin Sussman appeared to enjoy some downtime after The Big Bang Theory drew to a close, but roared back to business in 2022.
He appeared in the Theranos-scandal movie The Dropout, in Mayim Bialik's Call Me Kat, Breaking Bad prequel series Better Call Saul and Apple TV+'s Lessons in Chemistry.
Wil Wheaton
Already a familiar face in nerd culture thanks to his role as Wesley Crusher in Star Trek: The Next Generation, Wil Wheaton was further embraced by the community when he played a fictionalised version of himself in The Big Bang Theory. (He also returned to playing Wesley in Picard in 2022.)
Since sending himself up for the final time, the 47-year-old has filmed video game adventure comedy Max Reload and the Nether Blasters alongside another cult hero, Kevin Smith.
He's also narrated the audio version of Cory Doctorow's dystopian thriller Walkaway, contributed to Galaxy Quest documentary Never Surrender and expressed interest in returning to the Star Trek franchise.
Wheaton has also filed a lawsuit against Geek and Sundry after claiming that he hadn't received the money he was promised for creating, hosting, writing and producing web series Titansgrave: The Ashes of Valkana.
John Ross Bowie
An intermittent character throughout The Big Bang Theory's 12 seasons, John Ross Bowie nevertheless still racked up 25 credits as Leonard and Sheldon's colleague Barry Kripke.
Since bowing out in the show's penultimate episode, Bowie has appeared in the short films The Kiss-Off and Thankful, guested on short-lived Lifetime comedy drama American Princess and voiced Loab in animated series Milo Murphy's Law.
Sadly, in the same week that The Big Bang Theory came to an end, ABC announced that another Bowie sitcom, the underrated Speechless, would also be finishing after its third season.
Not to worry though: in 2022 he appeared in The United States of Al, The Rookie, The Neighbourhood and Station 19, so he's not short of work.
The Big Bang Theory's final season aired on CBS and CBS All Access in the US. You can buy the complete boxset now on DVD and Blu-ray.
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