Not Even Sheldon Can Name All These Secondary Characters From The Big Bang Theory
- by Rose Moore
- – on
- in Movies and TV
Any fan of The Big Bang Theory will know the core cast - and have probably spend some time talking about which one they are most like! There's Sheldon Cooper, of course - the star of the show. He's a brilliant scientist, and legitimately one of the smartest people in the world, but he's also completely eccentric and not always the nicest person to be around. Then there's his roommate Leonard, a much more 'normal' scientist to Sheldon's crazy genius, and the guy who kicked off the show with a huge crush on their neighbor, Penny. Penny is something of a blonde bimbo, and started off as a wannabe actress... before finding some real depth and success as the series continued. In addition, there's Howard (an engineer and a wannabe ladies man) and Raj (a cripplingly shy astrophysicist), as well as Amy (Sheldon's extremely geeky girlfriend) and Bernadette (a co-worker of Penny's).
However, can you name all the characters that aren't part of that central group? Are you a big enough fan to know all their colleagues, friends, family members and one-off additions to the show?
How big a fan of The Big Bang Theory are you - are you a total TBBT genius, on the same level as Sheldon, or are you a TBBT ditz like Penny? Take our quiz to find out!
Who owns the comic book store?
Obviously, for a group of guys as nerdy as Leonard, Sheldon, Raj and Howard, they are often found at the local comic book store - whether they are there for a party, a mixer, to buy the latest issues, or to spend more money on collectibles. Given how much time they spend there, then, it's obvious that they would become friends with the guy who owns it - and who is a little bit of a sad sack, despite having his own business.
Who is this girl that dated Raj?
One of Raj's most serious girlfriends over the years, this redhead is a dermatologist who met Raj through his dating site profile. The two made a surprisingly good match, although she is described as a little bit 'scary', because of her love of gore and all things horror. However, her passion for this genre means that she understands his love of sci-fi and all things nerdy - although he messes things up when he can't decide if he prefers her or another woman!
Who is this colleague of the core gang?
Over the years, we've met many of the other scientists and grad students that work at CalTech with Sheldon, Leonard, Howard and Raj, whether they are friends or... as in this case... foes! This scientist works at the university with the boys, but hates them, and they are constantly butting heads; whether in direct competition, to see who gets a great office, or in the Southern California Robot Fighting League Round-Robin Invitational, where they battle their home built killer robots.
Who is this scientist and musician?
Although many of the people that Sheldon, Leonard, Howard and Raj work with are men, that doesn't mean that there aren't any female scientists at CalTech! This woman is another colleague of the gangs', who also plays violin to Leonard's cello in a quartet. She and Leonard have also had both a fling and later, a 'relationship', although they didn't really work together, and she was just trying to see if she could be a girlfriend, and thought Leonard was a solid choice.
Who is this scientist who came to stay?
This scientist doesn't work at CalTech with the rest of the gang, but she and Sheldon got to know each other through their work online. So when she came to town, she stayed with Leonard and Sheldon... who quickly learned that she has some voracious sexual appetites! She slept with Leonard, before moving on to Raj, and attempting to get Raj, Leonard and Howard together as well! Sheldon was, needless to say, less than impressed with the behaviour of his friend.
Who is the ex of Penny's?
Penny used to date a very different kind of guy before she became interested in her neighbor, Leonard... and they were usually big, beefy, handsome - but not that smart! This is a perfect example of Penny's usual type, a guy who worked for his Dad's business making restaurant menus, and who was incredibly friendly but not that bright; which led to Leonard and his friends making fun of him a lot of the time, and him not even realizing it!
Name this big guy who dated Penny.
Another one of the buff guys to date Penny was this ex, who first appeared in the series pilot, when Leonard dragged Sheldon, Howard and Raj over to his house to try and get Penny's TV back. They failed, of course, but Penny loved that they tried... and later, when she started seeing him again, she tried to make sure that her boyfriend wasn't too much of a meathead around them. Thankfully, though, they didn't date for much longer in the show.
Who is this graduate student?
This graduate student at CalTech was a huge fan of Sheldon and his work - which came as no surprise to him, of course (as he assumes that everyone will automatically find him incredibly impressive!). However, the rest of the gang were confused, and then concerned, as this student started to take over Sheldon's life, getting him food, chasing away his friends and forcing him to stay focused on his work in order to 'help' him... and try and get some partial credit!
Who was this interviewer?
In the third season of The Big Bang Theory, Raj faced a dilemma - his grant money was running out, and if he didn't find something else to do, he would end up being deported! He attempts to get different jobs, and for a moment it seems like he could have one... until he realizes that his second interview is going to be with a woman, and he is still dealing with selective mutism! He turns to booze to help him... but ends up having a bit much and blowing it totally.
Who is this TV scientist?
In the real world, there is Bill Nye The Science Guy. In the universe of The Big Bang Theory, they have this character! This is the man who inspired Sheldon as a child, and Sheldon is one of his biggest fans - which is how he eventually comes into their lives. Sadly, however, he passes away... and Sheldon even attempts to take over with a new version of his TV show, but is furious when a different friend ends up getting the part.
What is the name of Leonard's mother?
Many of the characters' parents appear on the series, including Leonard's mother. A cold woman, she is a brilliant scientist in multiple disciplines, and has even written books on parenting... but was a less than brilliant parent herself. She always made Leonard feel like a bit of an experiment, and even as an adult, struggles to connect with her son emotionally, and prefers the company of the equally brilliant but cold Sheldon. Despite this, she does visit fairly often, and loves Penny.
Who is this girl that Raj dated?
Claire may be the only member of the Big Bang Theory gang who is perpetually single, but that doesn't mean that he doesn't date women... including, when it comes to this particular woman, two at a time! Raj met this lovely blonde at the comic book store, where he learned that she is a screenwriter and a bartender, and fell for her so hard that he dumped his existing girlfriend... only to find that the girl of his dreams got back together with her boyfriend!
What is the name of Sheldon's mother?
As well as meeting Leonard's mother, The Big Bang Theory has also introduced Sheldon's mother, who comes to visit from Texas. She couldn't be more different than her son, as she is a born again Christian who believes in evolution and can't understand any part of what her son does for a living. However, she is extremely loving and clearly cares about her son and his friends, and is always there to deal with it when Sheldon goes completely off the rails.
Who did Sheldon get to 'play' his fictional cousin?
In one of the early seasons, when Penny was still trying to make it as an actress (and failing miserably!), she was performing in a very small-scale version of Rent, and wanted Leonard and Sheldon to come see her. They needed to get out of it, so instead of just telling her a small lie, Sheldon concocted a massive lie about a cousin who has addiction issues, and needs to come stay with them. To play the part, he gets a colleague who wishes he was an actor to stay.
What is the name of the hospital nurse they deal with many times?
This is one of those characters who pops up time and time again, but not because she has any real connection to the lives of the main characters... other than seeing them get into all kinds of scrapes. Despite being brilliant, Sheldon, Leonard, Howard and Raj do occasionally run into trouble when it comes to medical emergencies... whether it is a robot hand or an allergic reaction. Every time, they end up seeing the same hospital nurse - this woman.
What is the name of Penny's dad?
Penny's family remained a mystery for many seasons, although she would routinely drop little stories about her upbringing - including heavy drinking and cousins in prison. However, eventually, her Dad did appear on the show - and absolutely loved Leonard. He flat out begged him not to 'give up' on his relationship with Penny, talking about how much better Leonard was than the usual meatheads she would date. When the two eventually did get married, he was thrilled to be at their (second) wedding.
Name this scientist who Penny dated?
Although she is known for picking meatheads most of the time, Leonard isn't actually the only scientist that Penny has dated in her time on The Big Bang Theory. Early in the series, she met this man, who was a colleague of Leonard's, and unlike any other scientist she had ever met. He was tall, handsome, and rode a motorbike - and Penny fell for him instantly! The two dated briefly, but it ended when Penny discovered that he was actually married!
What's the name of Leonard's Dad?
Although we meet Leonard's cold mother quite early in the series, it's not until the end of season nine that his father actually appears. He is mentioned, though - especially when it comes to sad stories about Leonard's childhood and his parents marriage (ended by the time he shows up in The Big Bang Theory). One particularly heartbreaking story involved a young Leonard making a 'hug machine' to get some affection... and his father asking him if he could borrow it!
Who did Amy date while broken up with Sheldon?
Amy and Sheldon are the perfect couple - but that doesn't mean that they haven't had their ups and downs over the years - especially given Sheldon's reticence to actually admit that they are in a relationship at first. At one point, Amy actually broke up with Sheldon, and dated this man a few times. He was lovely, but she quickly discovered that as a bit of a nerd himself, he was a huge fan of Sheldon's work - and drove Amy nuts with his enthusiasm about it!
What's the name of Raj's father?
Raj's parents rarely appear in person on The Big Bang Theory - because they live in India! However, fans have 'met' both of his parents many times through the magic of video chat, as Raj often talks to them that way. While his father and mother were married for many seasons, it was eventually revealed that they were actually very unhappy, and the two got a divorce - leading to Raj's father actually coming to visit! His first name is never revealed, but what is his last name?
Who is this doctor who dated Leonard?
Although Leonard has had a massive crush on Penny since she first moved in next door to him, that hasn't stopped him from having the occasional fling - and even a couple of longer relationships in the time before he and Penny really got together. One of the biggest of these was with this doctor, who seemed perfect for Leonard in many ways - but who freaked him out when she started quietly moving her stuff in with him without asking first.
What's the name of Raj's sister?
One of the other women that Leonard dated was Raj's sister - a hugely successful lawyer. Although Raj was obviously not too happy about this at first, and reminded Leonard that he had once promised never to hit on her, he eventually warmed up to the two of them as a couple. Sheldon hated it, though, as having a lawyer in the apartment meant that there was someone around to pick apart the 'roommate agreement' that Sheldon uses to get his way.
What was the name of Sheldon's assistant?
This young scientist was a doctoral student at CalTech, and worked as an assistant to Sheldon for a while. However, he drove her crazy (unsurprisingly!) - at first, by only trusting her with the most menial of tasks, and then later by making completely inappropriate comments... just because he has no idea what would actually be appropriate, of course! She also had a bit of a crush on Leonard, which makes Penny furious - as the two are dating at the time!
What is the name of this geologist?
Another scientist and colleague is this guy, who appears in multiple episodes, but who is definitely not a friend to most of the group... a geologist, he is awkward and slow-speaking, and often makes the core cast of The Big Bang Theory characters feel bored and a little bit uncomfortable... although Amy does occasionally enjoy the fact that he has quite a crush on her! He even thinks that Sheldon is only 'cool' because he's dating Amy - although he does get a girlfriend later on in the show.
Name this celebrity guest star?
There are a lot of celebrities that guest star on The Big Bang Theory - from the occasional cameo from a big name, to the more common range of nerd-culture celebs that pop up from time to time. However, only one of these has actually become a recurring character on the show; this Star Trek: The Next Generation actor. Appearing as himself, he's been both Sheldon's nemesis, and his eventual friend - although obviously, any friendship with Sheldon is not going to be easy!