Here’s What The Cast Has Been Doing

It’s been six years since The Big Bang Theory ended after a successful 12-season run on network TV. The series ended perfectly with Sheldon Cooper and Amy Farrah Fowler winning a Nobel Prize for their work in super-asymmetric string theory. Meanwhile, the other characters’ storylines were perfectly wrapped with growing families and career goals.

Since TBBT ended, most of the cast have taken some much-deserved time off from acting and focused on other passions. Six years later, however, the franchise continues its popularity with three spin-offs, with fans wondering what the cast has been up to. From producing to starting families, the cast of TBBT will forever be network TV’s favorite group of friends.

Kaley Cuoco

Kaley Cuoco portrayed Penny in The Big Bang Theory. The character had one of TBBT’s top character arcs as she transformed from a waitress at The Cheesecake Factory to a blossoming pharmaceutical sales rep. Her character’s relationship with Leonard was a popular side plot in the series and brought a lot of growth to both characters.

Unlike some cast members, Cuoco jumped right into other projects. She created a production company (Yes, Norman Productions) and starred in one of HBO’s top dramas, The Flight Attendant. She’s also the voice of Harley Quinn in the animated TV series of the same name.

Outside of work, Cuoco got engaged to fellow actor Tom Pelphrey. The pair had a baby girl in 2023. Becoming a mom hasn’t slowed Cuoco down, however, as she has more TV projects in the works.

Jim Parsons

Jim Parsons played the one and only, Sheldon Cooper. Sheldon was the nucleus of the group, offering his smarts to the group’s projects, ideas, and plans. His friendship with Leonard was one of the show’s shining examples of a loving friendship.

Sheldon’s platonic and romantic relationship with Amy Farrah Fowler was a roller coaster ride of emotions, but the two defeated the odds and got married in season 11. By season 12, Sheldon got everything he wanted: a Nobel Prize, new opportunities in science, a wife, and close friendships.

When TBBT ended, Parsons dove into TBBT’s first spinoff, Young Sheldon. The series did incredibly well, portraying Sheldon’s childhood. Parsons then dove into the Netflix movie, Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile, and has focused his talents on the theater.

In 2017, he married his longtime love, producer Todd Spiewak.

Melissa Rauch

Melissa Rauch was Penny’s friend who turned into Howard Wolowitz’s girlfriend. The microbiologist was a welcome addition to the group in season 3 and quickly established herself as someone of importance to Howard. While the two had their ups and downs, the couple went on to marry and have two kids.

By season 12, Bernadette was working at the same pharmaceutical company as Penny.

When TBBT was coming to an end, Rauch jumped into other projects. Her biggest was The Laundromat and the TV series Night Court. In 2015, she co-wrote and co-produced The Bronze. She’s done mostly voice work and kids’ shows since the show’s ending.

Before The Big Bang Theory took off, Rauch married writer Winston Rauch, and they went on to have two kids together.

Johnny Galecki

Johnny Galecki’s Leonard Hofstadter was just as important to the series as Sheldon Cooper. As Sheldon’s roommate and Penny’s boyfriend (and later, husband), Leonard was the main character who bridged both worlds together. Leonard was a flawed character who was lost at times, but matured by season 12.

When TBBT ended, Galecki stepped back from acting significantly. He was in four episodes of the sitcomThe Conners until 2019 before adding his voice to a podcast series in 2021.

Galecki’s personal life has been purposefully kept quiet, and he has since focused on being a dad. He had a son in 2019 before having a daughter in 2024.

Simon Helberg

Simon Helberg’s Howard Wolowitz is another character with a dramatic arc. The hilarious engineer brought a large source of comedy to the group and rivaled Sheldon on many occasions. He was seen as creepy and naive in the early seasons, but slowly transformed into a family man by season 12.

Like Kaley Cuoco, Helberg continued to work hard after TBBT ended. He starred in the drama Annette, Melissa Rauch’s Night Court, As They Made Us, and more recently, Peacock’s Poker Face. According to NBC, Helberg will be back for season 2.

Helberg has two children with his wife, but like Johnny Galecki, is notoriously private.

Kunal Nayyar

Kunal Nayyar’s Raj Koothrappali was a lovesick astrophysicist whose main objective was finding love. The character had his moments on TBBT where he thought he found “the one,” but it never happened for him. His character arc was one of the more disappointing, as it never seemed like he got where he wanted to be outside of work.

Like Simon Helberg, Nayyar was on an episode of Rauch’s Night Court. He has also done some voice work for the Trolls franchise. More recently, he was in Adam Sandler’s Spaceman and Christmas Karma.

In September 2025, Nayyar co-founded a secure document-sharing company, IQ121. The app allows family members to share secure financial and legal documents with one another.

The actor married beauty pageant winner, Neha Kapur in 2011, but the pair keep their relationship rather private.

Mayim Bialik

Amy Farrah Fowler smiling in The Big Bang Theory

Actress and real-life neuroscientist, Mayim Bialik, portrayed Sheldon’s long-term partner, Amy Farrah Fowler. Amy’s personality changed tremendously during her relationship with Sheldon. She was once robotic and cold before warming up and becoming an important member of the friend group.

Amy did big things in her field on TBBT before winning a Nobel Prize with her husband. In a lot of ways, she got everything she ever wanted by season 12.

As a fellow scientist, Bialik was the perfect casting choice as Amy Farrah Fowler. Once the season ended, she starred in a new sitcom that lasted three seasons, Call Me Kat. More recently, Bialik was in Like Father, Like Son and Father, Mother, Sister, Brother. The actress also hosts a mental health podcast, Mayim Bialik’s Breakdown.

In a major career move, she became the host of Jeopardy! in 2021. However, it was short-lived. The actress’s schedule was inconsistent because of her other duties for Call Me Kat. She also took some time away to support the writers’ strike, which rubbed the network the wrong way.

The actress started dating her podcast co-host Jonathan Cohen in 2021. She has two kids from a previous marriage.

The Possibility Of A Reunion

The cast of The Big Bang Theory eating food — The cast of The Big Bang Theory

The cast of The Big Bang Theory were incredibly close after filming for 12 years. And although they don’t see each other nearly as much now that they’re no longer filming the series, they still touch base with each other.

Johnny Galecki and Kaley Cuoco recently teamed up for an ad with the game Royal Kingdom. Kunal Nayyar publicly celebrated the fact that Simon Helberg joined Instagram in September 2025. And now that there’s a new TBBT spinoff (Stuart Fails to Save the Universe), there’s room for the main cast to make an appearance alongside Kevin Sussman.

The spinoff follows Stuart at his comic book store after he breaks a device built by Leonard and Sheldon. The device then opens alternate realities for Stuart. This opens the door for guest appearances by The Big Bang Theory cast. Stuart Fails to Save the Universe is expected in 2026.