The popular TV series “The Big Bang Theory” has shown us that a nerdy bunch can have a better love life than many of us. On screen, these delightful characters have proven that dating is not easy, but that there is a lid for every pot, and that makes us optimistic!
On the other hand, the actors of this series have gone through their own hoops in real life. After 12 successful seasons, love stories among the cast are expected. However, things got a little more complicated than that, as romantic relationships between 3 cast members seemed to unfold. Want to know the whole story? Then continue reading!
1. Kaley Cuoco and Johnny Galecki were an item
You read that right! Kaley Cuoco and Johnny Galecki, better known as neighbors-turned-lovers Penny and Leonard, dated for almost 2 years before anybody at the studio even knew about it! Their relationship started in 2008 and run its course until 2011, when they amicably parted ways.
Luckily, after the romance ended, they were extremely professional at work. They continued filming love scenes (How awkward is that?), and their characters even got married at some point. The fact that they both moved on quickly after the breakup made things easier, and they remain great friends until this day.
2. Kunal Nayyar tied the knot with designer Neha Kapur
Our beloved Raj, the quietest of the gang, turned out to be quite successful in the love department, at least in real life. After watching Kunal Nayyar portray such a sweet, insecure guy, you could never imagine he would marry a gorgeous, statuesque former beauty queen. The fact that Neha is also a successful designer is the cherry on the top.
Kunal was visiting India when they met at a bar, surrounded by common friends. Neha says she was stunned by his Hollywood flair, and we can only imagine what he thought when he saw her! Obviously, sparks flew and the rest is history. They got married and had a wedding reception for more than 1,000 guests!
3. Sara Gilbert married successful songwriter Linda Perry
Leslie Winkler, one of the girls who Leonard tried to date to forget about Penny, was played by actress Sara Gilbert. Even though she didn’t continue on the show, she definitely left a mark. We think it was because she could see what Leonard’s was up to, and she was having none of that.
Sara’s interpretation of smart Leslie got her the love of the fans, but she needed another kind of love. Fortunately, she found the best kind in songwriter, singer and former lead singer of 4 Non Blondes, Linda Perry. They got married in Malibu in March 2014 and had a beautiful baby boy a year later.
4. Melanie Truhett and Brian Posehn got married
Brian Posehn has become quite known thanks to his wonderful interpretation of Bertram “Bert” Kibbler, the geologist who had a huge crush on Amy. The way he kept trying to get her attention by giving her rocks could melt anybody. Unluckily for him, Amy’s heart belonged entirely to Sheldon.
But don’t worry, Brian didn’t have much trouble finding a lady in real life. He is married to successful film producer and manager Melanie Truhett. Funny enough, she became famous for marrying Brian, although she had already done many projects in Hollywood. They now have a son and live happily in sunny California.
5. Kaley Cuoco dated Josh Resnik
Our beloved Penny is hard to catch. Kidding aside, Kaley Cuoco is one lucky lady when it comes to dating. She dated Josh ‘Lazie’ Resnik for a year, and things got serious pretty rapidly. They announced their engagement and the media went crazy.
It was her first relationship following her very public breakup with Johnny Galecki. Sadly, the engagement didn’t last long, as she called it off before even planning the wedding. Nobody knows what happened, as she didn’t give away any details. She only shared on the red carpet that she wasn’t engaged anymore. What a bummer!
6. Wil Wheaton and Anne Prince got hitched
Wil Wheaton had a crucial role in the series as Sheldon’s antagonist. He played a darker version of himself and was always looking for ways to upset Sheldon. He just loved to see him lose. By the end of the show, they finally become friends, but that didn’t stop him from causing trouble.
Off-screen, things couldn’t be more different for Wil. He and his wife Anne met at a mutual friends’ party. They married in 1999, and he later became famous for Star Trek: The Next Generation and The Big Bang Theory. She has always been by his side and their beautiful marriage is still going strong after 20 years!
7. Alessandra Torresani dated a Kardashian
Oh, the fame of the Kardashians! Who doesn’t want a piece of that? Alessandra Torresani certainly did! However, we think she had more chemistry with Raj in her role as Claire, the script writer. Many fans wanted her to be Raj’s girlfriend, but they only dated for a little while.
In real life, we believe Alessandra enjoys short romances, as her affair with the youngest member of the Kardashian family, Robert, was also short-lived. The couple were first seen together in 2011 at the Coachella festival, and romance rumors spread quickly. However, the relationship didn’t last longer than Claire and Raj’s little fling.
8. Laura Harris and Johnny Galecki
Johnny Galecki has also had many leading ladies. Back in the 90’s, he met co-star Laura Harris on the set of the mystery movie Suicide Kings. The Canadian actress and Galecki dated from 1996 to 1998, and they were both very young at the time: she was 19, while he was 20.
This puppy love didn’t last long, but they remain good friends until today. She continued her acting career, doing voice-overs and landing roles in films and successful TV shows like 24, where she appeared in 14 episodes as Marie Warner, one of Jack Bauer’s major antagonists in the series.
9. Kaley Cuoco went out with Brett Bollinger
This gorgeous gal has had many good-looking boyfriends. Her dating history is long, but we seriously can’t blame her! She has stolen the hearts of many. One of the hotties she briefly dated is Brett Bollinger, lead singer of the rock band Pepper.
Kaley didn’t take long before starting to date again after calling off her engagement to Josh Resnik. It was right after their break-up when she was spotted holding hands with Brett, showing lots of PDA. Sadly, their relationship only lasted 10 months. The Hawaiian singer has had a successful music career, so we are glad he is doing just fine.
10. Mark Harelik and Spencer Kayden tied the knot
When the first season of The Big Bang Theory started, Raj, Sheldon and Leonard worked together at the Physics department of the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), one of the top ten universities for natural science and engineering in the USA. The head of the department was Dr. Eric Gablehouser, played by Mark Harelik.
Even though he only appeared briefly on the show, we did learn that he had romantic feelings towards Mary, Sheldon’s mom. However, in real life, Mark is married to Spencer Kayden, an American writer and actress who is well-known in Broadway. The couple tied the knot in 2004 and have a child.
11. Kelli Garner and Johnny Galecki were a power couple
This couple was a match made in heaven. Or so it seemed. They were a magnet for photographers when walking the red carpet, holding hands and flashing big smiles. We must admit: they really had us thinking this was the real deal. The Pan Am actress and the Big Bang Theory actor would show their love anywhere they went to.
Holidays in Mexico, ball games, red carpets: together, they were the picture of happiness. Unfortunately, their relationship only lasted 2 years. The media caught wind of the situation when they started to appear at events alone. Even though there isn’t much information about the cause of the split, we know they remain good friends.
11. Simon Helberg got hitched in 2007
Undoubtedly, one of our TBBT’s favorite characters is aerospace engineer Howard Wolowitz. He was in every single episode of the series, and we think that is no coincidence. Fans simply love Howard. That probably has to do with the love relationship between him and sweet Bernadette.
What many of you may not know, is that the actor who plays Howard, Simon Helberg, is also a very lucky fellow when it comes to love. He got married in 2007 to Jocelyn Towne, who is also an actress, producer and director. They have 2 children and are happily married until today.
12. Keith Carradine married Hayley DuMond
Now it’s time for Penny’s caring father, Wyatt. Although he doesn’t appear in the show all the time, we all know how much Penny loves him. She constantly remembers things he said or any advice he ever gave her. Penny’s Dad’s character is gracefully portrayed by Keith Carradine.
Out of the screen, this wonderful actor has a great romantic relationship with his wife Haley DuMond. And believe us, it has been a long one. They dated 9 years before becoming an item in 1997, and got married in 2006 in Turin, Italy. They recently had a baby boy, whose name is Sean David.
13. Kevin Sussman and Alessandra Young were together for 11 years
Kevin Sussman is better known as Stuart Bloom. He was the manager of one of the places the guys loved to hang out at, the comic store named Regeneration! Even though he didn’t appear much at the beginning of the series, he later became an official cast member in season 6.
Stuart’s character was known for having bad relationships. Unluckily, Kevin Sussman has also had bad luck in real life. He was married to Alessandra Young from 2006 to 2017. The divorce process wasn’t easy: they separated in 2012, filed for divorce 2 years later and finally signed it in 2017! Some things are definitely too hard to let go of!
14. Michael Stone & Mayim Bialik were husband and wife
Mayim Bialik gives life to Amy Fowler. Amy is not your typical California girl, but she is definitely an outstanding gal. With a doctoral degree in Neurobiology from prestigious Harvard University, brilliant Amy is the only woman capable of winning Sheldon’s heart and admiration.
In reality, Mayim is just as bright as Amy. Besides being an actress, Amy is also a neuroscientist and a published author. She married Michael Stone in 2003, but called it quits in 2012. Together, they had 2 beautiful boys, and continue to have a healthy relationship as they co-parent in a very responsible way for the sake of the children.
15. Bob and Ginny Newhart have been together for 56 years!
A marriage that stays together for 56 years is not something you see every day. It requires commitment, respect and a lot of love! And such is the story of Bob Newhart and his wife Ginny. For TBBT’s fans, Bob is better known as Professor Proton!
He was a very influential character in the lives of Sheldon and Leonard, and in reality, Bob Newhart is an institution and an inspiration for many fellow comedians. He met wife Ginny through a friend who set them up on a blind date, and they still remain as happy as day one! Talk about a real love story!
16. Jamie Denbo & John Ross Bowie are a happy couple
On TBBT, funny man John Ross Bowie gives life to physicist Barry Kripke. This weird yet memorable character gave the boys a hard time by competing with them and making fun of Sheldon constantly, even though he had a very particular way of speaking.
Since he wasn’t able to pronounce letters “r”, “l” and “w”, he sounded pretty much like Elmer Fudd. However, off the screen, John Ross Bowie is a nice guy. In fact, he married another very funny comedian, actress Jamie Denbo. They have been an item for 20 years and have followed similar acting paths. We think they make the cutest couple!
17. Kaley Cuoco and Ryan Sweeting had a short marriage
Kaley Cuoco fell madly in love with Ryan Sweeting. The tennis player swept her off her feet by asking her to marry him after just 3 months of dating. It was very romantic, but also pretty rushed. There were rumors about a pregnancy, but none of them were true.
Their wedding was everything a girl can dream of, and her dress was deliciously pink! They appeared at numerous events, showing PDA everywhere. Unfortunately, the fact that they didn’t know each other too well caught up with them. Thus, they parted ways in 2015. We can only hope it was fun while it lasted!
18. Kevin Price weds Sara Rue
One of Leonard’s girlfriends throughout the series was Dr. Stephanie Barnett, perfectly portrayed by actress Sara Rue. Stephanie was actually supposed to be Howard’s date, but she ended up falling in love with Leonard instead. She moved into his apartment fairly quickly, which led to an imminent breakup.
In reality, Sara Rue didn’t have much luck with her first marriage, but she definitely did good with her second. In 2011, she married school teacher Kevin Price in a beautiful Jewish ceremony, surrounded by family, friends and hummingbirds. Nowadays, they have two small daughters, one of which is adopted. They are certainly a beautiful family!
19. Kaley Cuoco dated Superman Henry Cavill
Kaley might have dated many good-looking guys, but this one is certainly one of our faves: British actor Henry Cavill. Better known as Superman, Henry and Kaley had a brief romance in 2013, which was on every single celebrity magazine and media outlet. They were just such an irresistibly handsome couple!
However, they couldn’t hide away from the paparazzi and that hurt their relationship. As an example, there are hundreds of pictures from them getting coffee, running errands and lots of PDA, even though the short-lived romance only lasted 10 days. We wish it had lasted longer, but it will forever be in our memories.
20. Jim Parsons got hitched!
Probably the most favorite character of The Big Bang Theory among fans is Sheldon Cooper. His quirkiness, nerdy personality and brilliance could only been played by actor Jim Parsons. His performance has won him several awards, including 4 Emmys and a Golden Globe as best actor in a comedy.
Fortunately, his real-life love relationship is just as successful. He dated fashion designer Todd Spiewak for 14 years before they decided to tie the knot. But when they did, it was with a bang (a big bang!). In 2017, they exchanged vows wearing Tom Ford suits at a glam reception in New York City, surrounded by friends and family.
21. DJ Qualls and Nikki Reed were in a relationship
Do you remember DJ Qualls’ appearance as a guest actor in The Big Bang Theory? He played Toby Loobenfeld, a guy who was hired to act as Sheldon’s drug-addicted cousin, as part of an elaborated plan to prevent Sheldon from going to see Penny’s play.
Although many don’t remember this small part, DJ Qualls has played many other more memorable characters throughout the years, and he is well regarded for his acting talent. He has dated many good-looking girls, including actress Nikki Reed. The Twilight babe and DJ Qualls dated from 2006 to 2007, and although they weren’t together long, they are still good friends.
22. Michael Trucco & Sandra Hess are hitched
Better known for Battlestar Galactica, Michael Trucco was also a guest star in The Big Bang Theory. He played Dr. David Underhill, Leonard’s new working partner. Even though Dr. Underhill is an acknowledged physicist, he is also into motorcycles, plays in a rock band and looks like a movie star.
Penny had never known a nerd that looked so good, so she immediately starts dating him. Unfortunately, she soon discovers he is married and breaks up with him. In real life, Michael Trucco is a wonderful husband to Sandra Hess, a gorgeous Swiss model and actress. They have been married since 2009, and they are still going strong!
23. Melissa Rauch married Winston Beigel
Bernadette is definitely one of the warmest and quirkiest characters in the series. She is Howard’s girlfriend, and together, they play one of the sweetest love stories in the history of modern television: they date throughout the series, she becomes part of the gang, and they end up marrying and having children together.
Melissa Rauch, the actress who plays Bernadette on screen, also has a beautiful real-life relationship with writer Winston Beigel, whom she married in 2007. What many don’t know is that they are college sweethearts and have worked in many projects together. They now have a beautiful daughter named Sadie.
24. Kaley Cuoco and new husband Karl Cook
Second time is the charm, at least for Kaley Cuoco! The actress met her now husband Karl Cook in the equestrian circle, since she is an excellent horse rider, and he is one of America’s best show jumpers at the moment. He has won several competitions and his family owns several stallions.
The couple began dating in 2016 after they met at a horse show. In fact, she has shared that he didn’t know who she was, and she absolutely loved that! They got engaged in November 2017 and got married in June 2018 in a horse stable. They are an unconventional couple, as they don’t live together, but their love is still growing strong!
25. Liz Gilles and Matt Bennett dated secretly
Not all nerds have a hard time scoring gorgeous girls! And that’s exactly Matt Bennett‘s case. You probably know him for his role as Josh Wolowitz, Howard’s half-brother. He only appeared in one episode, but it was quite memorable since Howard didn’t know about his brother’s existence. Awkward!
In reality, there are rumors that Matt used to date beautiful actress Liz Gilles. They met on the set of a Nickelodeon show many years ago, and people think they had a secret romantic relationship. Although we can’t confirm it, we do believe that there was something special going on between the two young actors!
