Actors That Were Almost Cast in The Big Bang Theory
#8: John Ross Bowie
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As hard as it is to imagine anyone else playing the main roles on the show, it’s just as hard to picture any other actor in the cast of great supporting characters introduced over the course of “The Big Bang Theory”’s 12 seasons. This includes the role of Sheldon’s nemesis Barry Kripke. But, as much as actor John Ross Bowie made Kripke his own - even introducing the specific type of speech impediment character has himself - Bowie had initially auditioned for the role of Leonard. In fact, according to Bowie, he auditioned for the role twice. Obviously he didn’t get the part, but the producers clearly wanted to get him on the show somehow - which is a theme we will see play out a few times on this list.
#7: Pamela Adlon
When Howard’s mother died, it was very sad news that had many of us crying along with the characters on the show. And, as you may know, they had her die on the series because the actress who voiced her, Carol Ann Susi, had sadly passed away in real life. That seems like the obvious thing to have done, but for a minute the producers considered bringing in Pamela Adlon to replace Susi as the voice. Adlon is an actress who’s done lots of voice work, including that of Bobby Hill on “King of the Hill.” In the end, they decided not to continue the character of Mrs. Wolowitz, but they did bring in Adlon to provide the distinct crying screams of Howard and Bernadette’s baby, Halley Wolowitz.
#6: Kate Micucci
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You know her as the actress who played Lucy on the sitcom, but there was a chance that she could have been the actress that played Amy Farrah Fowler. As it so happens. Kate was one of the actresses who auditioned for the role of Amy. As we all know, Mayim Bialik ended up getting the part and knocking it out of the park. But the producers kept Micucci in the back of their minds and when the role of Lucy came about, they brought her back to play Raj’s very shy love interest.
#5: Kevin Sussman
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Actor Kevin Sussman became a fan favorite as the uncool but loveable owner of the comic book store, Stuart Bloom (yes, that’s his last name). But Stuart wasn’t the character Sussman first auditioned for. Originally Kevin auditioned for the role of Sheldon Cooper, but he didn’t get it. After 12 seasons, it's almost impossible to picture anyone else in those roles, but as John Ross Bowie wrote in a 2012 blog post, “There’s an alternate cosmology out there where I’m Leonard and Kevin Sussman is Sheldon… DID I JUST BLOW YOUR MIND?” Yes, you did John. Yes, you did!
#4: Brie Larson
Yes, it’s true, the woman who would one day play Captain Marvel auditioned for a role in a show filled with characters who love superheroes. As Larson mentions in a 2020 video on her YouTube channel, she did test for a role on “The Big Bang Theory,” but was told that she was “too young.” Brie doesn’t say what role it was, but most people assume it was Penny. And given that the show started airing in 2007 and Brie was born in 1989, she would have only been about 18 years old at the time. And for those wondering, Kaley Cuoco is four years older than Larson.
#3: Macaulay Culkin
As opposed to the other actors on this list, the reason Culkin didn’t get a part on the series wasn’t because the producers said no, but because he did. In an interview with Joe Rogan, the “Home Alone” star said that he was asked multiple times to audition for the show, but he turned them down each time, as it didn’t sound interesting to him. We don’t know what character they wanted him to play, but with him on “The Big Bang Theory,” Sheldon wouldn’t have needed Howard to install that crazy security system after they got robbed. Just give Culkin some tar, a nail and an iron - and stand back!
#2: Amanda Walsh
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Amanda Walsh wasn’t almost cast in “The Big Bang Theory,” she actually was cast in “The Big Bang Theory” - as Katie. Who’s Katie, you ask? She was the Penny-esque character in the first, unsuccessful pilot of the show, which ended up getting completely retooled before becoming the show we know today. Part of that retooling involved rewriting the Katie character as Penny and recasting her with Kaley Cuoco. Ironically, Cuoco had auditioned for the role of Katie too, but she didn’t get it, partly because she was too young at the time. Also, the Katie character was darker, more abrasive and sarcastic. But when the producers went the other way with Penny some time later, they brought Kaley back in and it was a perfect fit.
#1: Johnny Galecki
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Before you yell at us in the comments, yes, we know that Galecki was cast in the show. What we also know (and what you may not know) is that he wasn’t cast in the original role that was offered to him. You see, Chuck Lorre knew he wanted Johnny to be in his new sitcom, but when he was contacted, it was for the role of Sheldon. However, after Galecki read over everything, he decided he would rather play Leonard. Having often been cast “as the best friend or the gay assistant,” Galecki said in an interview that he wanted to play a guy “who seems to have a future of romantic triumphs and difficulties.” And he was right, because Leonard sure had plenty of both.
