First premiering in 2007, no one knew just how big The Big Bang Theory would be. Following Penny as she annoys and eventually, befriends her neighbors: Leonard and Sheldon, the show became a hit.
There are a few reasons why the show became such a success and one major reason is because of the cast. The show still has one of the best ensemble cast and the way they played off each other was just dynamic.
Given the amount of awards and praise it received in 12 years, The Big Bang Theory was something special and was something fans had been looking for. Of course, we all know that the series ended up having a spinoff which was Young Sheldon.
Whether you watched the show from the beginning, love a certain cast member, or just enjoy the series as a whole, let's take a look back at the cast at the beginning of the series and now in 2024.
How old was The Big Bang Theory cast then and now?
How old is Johnny Galecki in The Big Bang Theory?
Born: April 30, 1975
The Big Bang Theory premiered on CBS on September 30th, 2007 which would make Galecki 32 years old when the series first aired. I don't know about you, but I thought Galecki looked younger than that. Maybe that's the magic of Hollywood. While The Big Bang Theory is his most known role, Galecki also appeared on 4 episodes of The Conners.
Currently, Galecki is 48 years old and recently got married. At this point, he seems happy to be out of the spotlight. Given how much money he made on The Big Bang Theory, who can blame him?
How old is Jim Parsons in The Big Bang Theory?
Born: March 24, 1973
It feels like Jim Parsons burst onto the scene, playing Sheldon Cooper and everyone instantly had thoughts. Considering that Parsons started the show at age 34, he truly gave it his all. While Parsons had other roles before BBT, Sheldon Cooper felt like the role he was born to play. Since then, Parsons went on to start in some films including Hidden Figures, The Boys in the Band and Spoiler Alert along with TV roles in Young Sheldon and Hollywood.
Now age 50, Parsons is focusing more on being behind the scenes as he's an executive producer for Young Sheldon.
How old is Kaley Cuoco in The Big Bang Theory?
Born: November 30, 1985
When The Big Bang Theory hit our screens, Kaley Cuoco was 21 years old. Since her birthday came after the premiere, she would eventually turn 22 before the end of 2007. However, I didn't realize there was such a vast gap between her and the other cast mates.
Of the entire cast, it's clear Cuoco has gone on to tremendous success as she's the voice and executive producer of Harley Quinn. She also went on to star in Max's The Flight Attendant and Peacock's Based on a True Story. She also starred in 2022's Meet Cute with Pete Davidson and 2024's Role Play which was released on Prime Video in January 2024. Now at age 38, Kaley Cuoco has truly hit her career stride.
How old is Simon Helberg in The Big Bang Theory?
Born: December 9, 1980
When taking on the role of Howard Wolowitz, Simon Helberg was only 26 years old. However, many consider this one of his best roles as Helberg really stretched his muscles as an actor. Whether you loved his impressions or his comedy on the show, Helberg truly put his all into playing Howard Wolowitz. Truly, it doesn't feel like anyone else could have played Howard other than Simon.
Now aged 43, Helberg hasn't gone nearly as many roles but some will recall his role in 2016's Florence Foster Jenkins, some voice acting gigs, and even, a guest appearance on Young Sheldon. As you can see, CBS does like to do its callbacks to the cast but on the whole, it seems Helberg is enjoying his time away from the spotlight.
How old is Kunal Nayyar in The Big Bang Theory?
Born: April 30, 1981
Everyone remembers Kunal Nayyar's memorable performance as Raj on The Big Bang Theory and considering that it was one of his first Hollywood roles, it ended up being a smashing success for him at age 26. Honestly, that's a pretty good age to start what has become a huge acting career for him.
Now aged 42, Nayyar is on the same boat as Cuoco when it comes to booking roles as he's voiced Guy Diamond in multiple Trolls projects, starred in Netflix's Spaceman, and even, appeared in an episode of Night Court. Of course, we all know someone else who is part of Night Court.
How old is Melissa Rauch in The Big Bang Theory?
Born: June 23, 1980
In talking about Simon Helberg, we have to talk about Melissa Rauch who played his wife in the series: Bernadette. At the time of the show's premiere, Rauch was 27 although she wasn't introduced until Season 3 so technically she was 29 in her first appearance. Regardless, she and Mayim Bialik ended up being key players so I still consider them part of the cast.
Now aged 43, Rauch's career has taken off since the end of The Big Bang Theory. She's not only the main character on Night Court but she's an executive producer. In addition, she's done some voice work and even appeared on Celebrity Jeopardy! All in all, she's another member of the cast who has gone on to find success after TBBT.
How old is Mayim Bialik in The Big Bang Theory?
Born: December 12, 1975
Introduced at the tail-end of Season 3, Mayim Bialik played Amy Farrah Fowler who would go on to become Sheldon's wife. At the time of the premiere, Mayim was 31 but when she finally appeared in an episode, she was 34. While she wasn't introduced until the end of Season 3, Bialik's character was a huge part of the series.
Now at age 48, Bialik has had a lot of career success since the show wrapped. She ended up hosting Jeopardy! for a stint along with being the star and executive product of Call Me Kat. She even started her own podcast: Mayim Bialik's Breakdown in 2021 and it's still ongoing. While she might not have been part of the original cast, Bialik made her mark on TBBT fans.
All seasons of The Big Bang Theory are currently streaming on Max.