Top 20 Most Memorable Big Bang Theory Cameos
Script written by Nick Spake
Top 20 Memorable Big Bang Theory Cameos
Top 30 Memorable The Big Bang Theory Guest Stars
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 20 Memorable Big Bang Theory Cameos.
For this list, we’ll be looking at the most memorable guest stars who have crossed paths with Leonard, Sheldon, and the rest of the gang on the sitcom.
Which “Big Bang” cameo is your favorite? Let us know in the comments.
#20: Bill Nye
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Long before “The Big Bang Theory” was mixing science and comedy, Bill Nye had perfected the formula. Turns out Professor Proton predated the self-proclaimed Science Guy, at least within this sitcom’s universe. When Sheldon’s childhood idol seeks out Leonard instead of him for a peer review, he attempts to make them both envious by enlisting another TV scientist. Enter a blindsided Bill Nye, who thought Sheldon wanted him to do a guest lecture. Despite being more famous, Nye is star-struck to be in the presence of Professor Proton, who doesn’t reciprocate with the same enthusiasm. It’s too bad that Bill didn’t stick around to help with the nano-vacuum tubes. He does know a thing or two about atmospheric pressure.
#19: Summer Glau
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In addition to “The Sarah Connor Chronicles,” Summer Glau rose to popularity playing River on the tragically short-lived “Firefly.” That cult show was notoriously aired out of order, premiering with the second episode, “The Train Job.” So, we guess it’s fitting that the gang encounters Glau on a train. With exception of Sheldon, each guy tries striking up a conversation with her. Raj is the first to muster the courage, stealing Howard’s pickup line. Howard gets his chance after Raj realizes that he hasn’t been drinking his cool juice. While Summer kind of dug Raj, Howard is an easy swipe left. As for Leonard, timing isn’t on his side, but we imagine Glau would rather talk to him than hear more about Howard’s disturbing dreams.
#18: Buzz Aldrin
Upon returning from the International Space Station, Howard makes a habit of reminding everyone that he’s an astronaut. Howard doesn’t realize just how obnoxious he’s being until Raj sends him a video of a certain astronaut named Buzz. No, not Lightyear. Despite being one of the first individuals to walk on the moon, Aldrin still finds the time to pass out candy on Halloween. Then again, that’s probably because Aldrin will take any opportunity to brag about his space exploits. He does so by using conveniently-named treats as a segue. We’re surprised that Aldrin didn’t break out a packet of Starburst. As if gloating isn’t bad enough, Aldrin makes fun of a kid for being less accomplished than him. Should’ve gone to Jim Lovell’s house.
#17: Steve Wozniak
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Considering much of this show’s humor revolves around tech, it was only a matter of time until Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak dropped by. The gang encounters the Great and Powerful Woz at the Cheesecake Factory. Sheldon, who has decided to live his life through a mobile virtual presence device, can’t resist saying hello. Wozniak is impressed with Sheldon’s robot and even offers to sign his 1977 Apple II. Sheldon rushes to deliver the computer to his 15th favorite technological visionary, but sadly trips going down the stairs. The Apple II breaks and Sheldon hurts his ankle. The cameo may have been brief, but it was unexpected, funny, memorable… and an excuse to hear soft kitty!
#16: Bob Newhart
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Despite being a television legend, Bob Newhart had never won an Emmy until he appeared on “The Big Bang Theory.” In 2013, he took home a well-deserved Outstanding Guest Actor award for his performance as Arthur Jeffries, aka Professor Proton. The former host of a science TV show, Arthur is taken aback when Sheldon and Leonard hire him to perform at their apartment. Although he’s reluctant, Arthur evolves into something of a father figure for Sheldon. The character might’ve passed away towards the end of Season 7, but he still occasionally appeared in Sheldon’s dreams as a Jedi Master. Arthur offers sage-like advice, which is only made funnier by Newhart’s trademark deadpan delivery.
#15: LeVar Burton
This “Star Trek: The Next Generation” actor has made a few fun cameos over the years. First, when Sheldon invites Burton to a party, he actually shows up. Of course, he immediately leaves upon seeing the state of things. Thankfully, Burton would later return as a guest on Sheldon’s online video series, “Fun with Flags,” only to be criticized by Amy. In season 8, Sheldon invites Burton back, and Burton accepts, albeit with one condition. Sheldon then proceeds to show him his George Washington Carver impersonation, and later asks Burton to dress as a swastika. Between Sheldon and Troy from “Community,” LeVar should probably stop meeting his biggest fans, however hilarious the results may be.
#14: William Shatner
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It took almost twelve years, but Captain James T. Kirk himself finally made an appearance. He’s introduced to Sheldon through a mutual friend, Wil Wheaton, who we’ll discuss in greater detail later. While Sheldon has met no shortage of sci-fi icons over the years, he isn’t prepared to make first contact with the Captain. Being in Shatner’s presence stirs up so many emotions that Sheldon throws up all over him. Meh, at least he didn’t break Shatner’s tooth. Shatner is just one of Wheaton’s famous friends, as the two are part of a Dungeons & Dragons group with Kevin Smith, Joe Manganiello, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Having two generations of “Star Trek” actors together is one thing, but the episode went all out with this impressive lineup.
#13: George Takei
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Another “Star Trek” alumnus, George Takei unexpectedly pops up in Howard’s fantasy. Although Howard’s sexual orientation is briefly questioned, Takei and Katee Sackhoff help him to realize that it’s ex-girlfriend Bernadette he truly harbors feelings for. After Howard wins Bernie back, Takei and Sackhoff resurface. Sackhoff tells Howard to make the move, but Takei advises him to take things slowly - and despite being interested in men, Takei seemingly knows a thing or two about romancing the ladies. We’ve got to say that, platonically speaking, Takei and Sackhoff have serious chemistry. Any chance of them getting their own spin-off? That’s a series sure to have audiences saying, “Oh my!”
#12: Billy Bob Thornton
Most of the familiar faces on this list star as themselves. Like Bob Newhart, though, Billy Bob Thornton got to create a wholly original character. Thornton mentioned in an interview that he was a fan of the show, paving the way for a surprise guest spot. Of course, you’d think a group of fanboys would notice the resemblance between Thornton’s character and the NASA guy from “Armageddon.” Thornton plays Dr. Oliver Lorvis, an awkward doctor who misreads Penny’s flirtations. The episode takes some surprisingly dark turns as Lorvis traps the guys in a basement to win over Penny, only to spontaneously fall for Amy… and then Bernadette. We’ve seen Thornton play creepy characters before, but Lorvis strikes a unique balance of pathetic, dorky, and strangely sympathetic.
#11: Adam West
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Batman didn’t show for Sheldon’s sixth birthday, but the series booked the real deal for episode 200. In one of his final TV appearances, Adam West is hired for Sheldon’s big day. As the guys engage in a debate over who the definitive Dark Knight is, West gives his two cents. While he champions Michael Keaton, almost every option is considered: Christian Bale, Val Kilmer, George Clooney, and even Lego Batman. Wait, where’s the Kevin Conroy love? In terms of who’s the funniest Batman, West puts himself at the top. West also takes pride in knowing that he didn’t need any kind of muscle suit. The Batman legend wishes Sherman/Sheldon a happy birthday, but we wish West could’ve come back for his bachelor party.
#10: Wil Wheaton
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Of all the “Star Trek” actors that have appeared on the show, Wil Wheaton has got to be the most memorable. This is largely due to his ongoing rivalry with Sheldon. Wheaton became Sheldon’s mortal enemy after he missed a sci-fi convention in 1995. Sheldon’s hatred for Wheaton only grows stronger after he tricks him into losing a card game. Becoming one of the show’s funniest recurring antagonists, Wheaton would go on to troll Sheldon for the next couple years. He finally makes peace, however, by giving him a Wesley Crusher action figure. Since then, Wheaton has continued to show his friendly side. Just don’t tell him that “Star Wars” is better than “Star Trek.”
#9: Katee Sackhoff
Before joining forces with Takei in the aforementioned episode, this “Battlestar Galactica” actress served as Howard’s fantasy - although for a fantasy, she was pretty effective at shooting him down. Appearing in Howard’s bathtub, Sackhoff not only acts as a great comedic foil for Howard, but also - despite being make-believe - serves as a real voice of reason. She tells the lonely fanboy that he needs to stop dreaming about fictional characters and acknowledge the real girl in his life. As if that’s not enough to kill the mood, Mrs. Wolowitz interrupts and causes Katee to disappear. Frak!
#8: Mark Hamill
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No offense to Wil Wheaton, but we can’t think of a more legendary sci-fi icon than Mark Hamill to officiate Sheldon and Amy’s wedding. After finding Hamill’s lost dog, Howard books Luke Skywalker himself! And no, the “Star Wars” actor sadly doesn’t have a dog named Bark Hamill in real life. Still, it’s appropriate that Howard is the common link here, as actor Simon Helberg has known Hamill since age 9. He went to school with his son, Nathan Hamill, who designed the awesome t-shirt Mark wears in the episode. What is that symbol anyway? Mickey Mouse with vampire fangs? In any case, the wedding inevitably turns into a Q&A session, but Hamill eventually unites the bride and groom in matrimony.
#7: Leonard Nimoy
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Ever since season one, fans have wondered if Leonard Nimoy would beam down for a guest spot. Mr. Spock made his long-awaited appearance during Season 5… in toy form. While only a voiceover cameo, Nimoy is nonetheless cleverly utilized. Besides, Sheldon couldn’t get too close to the real Nimoy due to the restraining order. A Spock action figure serves as both the devil and angel on Sheldon’s shoulders—albeit in his dreams. First, Spock tempts Sheldon to play with his transporter toy. After breaking the vintage collectible, Sheldon swaps it with Leonard’s. Small Spock isn’t done with Sheldon though, transporting him to planet Vulcan for a lesson in honesty. Although it’s unfortunate that Nimoy never appears on-screen, seeing Sheldon talk to a toy is arguably funnier.
#6: Carrie Fisher
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Hitting the town with James Earl Jones, Sheldon arrives at Carrie Fisher’s house. Ringing her doorbell, Jones and Sheldon make a run for it. Armed with a bat, Fisher answers the door to find nobody there. It’s clearly not the first time he’s pulled this routine. Now… the idea of Darth Vader ding-dong ditching Princess Leia is downright hilarious, but what makes this moment especially noteworthy, however, is that Fisher and Jones had astonishingly never met before. While they both had key roles in “Star Wars,” Fisher performed on a set while Jones recorded all his lines in a sound booth. Leave it to Sheldon to finally bring two sci-fi legends together.
#5: Bill Gates
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In a classic screwball setup, Penny has an opportunity to meet Bill Gates, but can’t bring anyone along. After Leonard, Raj, and Howard figure out where Gates is staying, they decide to instigate a “chance encounter.” This is actually the second time that the teary-eyes Leonard has met the Microsoft co-founder, although it takes Gates a moment to remember him. Matters get complicated, however, after Penny tells Leonard that he can meet Gates, forcing him to play sick. This ruse blows up in Leonard’s face when he winds up on a video call with Penny and Gates. Leonard winds up owing apologies to both Penny and Sheldon, having given the latter the wrong address. He also probably owes Bill Gates a new tie.
#4: Elon Musk
Being an aerospace engineer and a former astronaut, Howard has always looked up to Elon Musk. He likely didn’t picture their first meeting in a soup kitchen doing dishes, however. Then again, the SpaceX founder is an eccentric fellow. Volunteering on Thanksgiving, Musk turns out to be a humble person. Although Howard fakes his charitable nature, the two do form a bond over space travel… and pumpkin pie that somebody else already nibbled on. Honestly, we could imagine the real Elon Musk doing all of this. We don’t know if Elon ever got back to Howard about going to Mars, but he should at least bring Sheldon aboard. He has been stealing notes from Young Sheldon’s old notebook, after all.
#3: Stan Lee
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Anyone who’s seen a Marvel movie knows that Stan Lee was no stranger to epic cameos. There’s only one word to describe his cameo on “The Big Bang Theory” however, and that’s “excelsior.” Sheldon isn’t at all pleased when he misses an opportunity to meet Stan the Man, so, with some help from Penny, Sheldon finds Lee’s house. Answering the door in a “Fantastic Four” bathrobe, the comic book legend feels, understandably, that his personal space has been invaded. Beyond irritated, Lee sarcastically invites them to come inside and Sheldon, as oblivious to social cues as ever, accepts. Instead of an autograph, he goes home with a restraining order, which is pretty cool too!
#2: James Earl Jones
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On any given occasion, Sheldon Cooper is easily the most unpredictable person in the room. After crossing paths with James Earl Jones, though, Sheldon suddenly becomes the stable man. At first feigning annoyance, Jones quickly takes a liking to Sheldon. Bonding over their mutual love of “Star Wars,” Jones takes Sheldon to a carnival, a karaoke bar, and a spa. Even Sheldon is mystified by Jones’ eccentric behavior, and eventually grows weary of the iconic actor’s attention. Before seeing this episode, we never would’ve pegged Jones as a party animal either, but now we’ll never look at Darth Vader the same way again, that’s for sure.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
Charlie Sheen
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Danica McKellar
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Neil deGrasse Tyson
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Nathan Fillion
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Mike Massimino
We Wonder What This Astronaut Gives Out on Halloween… Froot Loops, Probably
#1: Stephen Hawking
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It IS called “The Big Bang Theory” after all, so it should come as little surprise that for series co-creator Bill Prady, Stephen Hawking was always a “dream guest star.” In season 5 however, it became a reality, when Sheldon got to meet the world’s most famous theoretical physicist. While Hawking is happy to meet Sheldon, he does point out an embarrassing error in his thesis. Adopting a hilarious on-screen persona across a few episodes, Hawking proved to be a skilled, albeit kind-hearted troll - feigning having a big ego and mocking Sheldon, but also taking the time to wish him a happy birthday. It turns out that he’s not only brilliant, but seriously funny too.
