The Big Bang Theory: The Tallest (& Shortest) Actors In The Cast

Summary

• The Big Bang Theory cast features a varied range of heights, with Melissa Rauch as the shortest at 4’11”, enhancing her big personality.
• Height preferences in casting were evident, with Christine Baranski and Lauren Lapkus standing out as the tallest female cast members at 5’10” and 5’10” respectively.
• Brian Posehn’s portrayal of Bert Kibbler, at 6’7″, adds a fascinating dynamic with his towering height and soft-spoken nature in The Big Bang Theory.

The Big Bang Theory cast creates one of the most beloved television ensembles and part of the joy of their chemistry is the unique appearance of each character, especially in their heights. Many actors are actually much shorter than they look, as the camera angles, or even clever lifts, make them look taller than they really are. Conversely, sometimes it’s tough to tell how toweringly tall an actor might be when seeing them on screen from the comfort of the couch. When it comes to the heights of the cast of The Big Bang Theory, they vary quite a bit.

When The Big Bang Theory cast is all standing together, their height differences are easy to spot and sometimes become the topic of conversation. Most poke fun at Bernadette’s small stature, mainly because her big personality is in stark contrast to that. Meanwhile, Sheldon is overpowering not only in his personality but his height, too. Alongside the main cast, fans also wonder how tall (and short) other cast members are on the show.

Melissa Rauch

Bernadette Is 4’11”

It’s obvious that Melissa Rauch of The Big Bang Theory cast, who plays Howard’s firecracker wife Bernadette Rostenkowski, is the shortest person on the show. They mention her tiny stature often, complemented by her high-pitched, shrill voice — which is not how Rauch actually sounds. Standing under five feet tall, Rauch measures in at just 4’11”, making her the shortest actor on the show.

Despite this, however, she has the biggest personality and often dominates over not only her husband, Howard, but the others in the group. Most of them talk about how they are afraid of her, proving that size does not matter when it comes to confidence. After The Big Bang Theory, Rauch went on to star in the Night Court reboot as Judge Abby Stone, who happens to be the daughter of the former Judge Harry Stone from the original run of the sitcom.

Carol Ann Susi

Howard’s Mom Is 5’0″

Carol Ann Susi was one cast member who never appeared on The Big Bang Theory in person. That is because she was someone who was only known by her voice. Of course, Susi starred on the hit sitcom as Mrs. Wolowitz, Howard’s overbearing and angry mother. If fans had seen her on the show, they would have realized that Susi was one of The Big Bang Theory‘s shortest actors, standing only 5’0″ in height.

Sadly, Howard’s mother died on The Big Bang Theory, and there was a very good reason this had to happen. It is because Carol Ann Susi also died in 2014, and the show honored the actress by writing her out with a touching death that hit Howard quite hard. While no one ever saw Susi, comparing her height to others, her voice was always bigger than almost any other character.

Sara Gilbert

Leslie Is 5’3″

Roseanne alum Sarah Gilbert played Leslie Winkle in The Big Bang Theory cast. Fans missed Leslie’s dynamic with Leonard and Sheldon in later seasons. She was a lot like Leonard but didn’t know how to tolerate Sheldon quite as well. Nevertheless, Leslie wasn’t the shortest of the group, but she wasn’t the tallest either. She was most known for her quick comebacks against Sheldon and her on-and-off relationship with Leonard.

Some believe Leslie is one of the most underrated characters on The Big Bang Theory. She was one of only a few female colleagues and she was downright hilarious. After her role on The Big Bang Theory, Gilbert returned to headline the cast of The Conners, reprising her role as Darlene. In an interesting bit of trivia, Johnny Galecki also reprised his role on THe Conners as David Healey, Darlene’s absentee husband.

Aarti Mann

Priya Is 5’3″

Like many other members of The Big Bang Theory cast, Aarti Mann is of average height in terms of The Big Bang Theory cast. Her character Priya in introduced as Raj’s sister and later ends up becoming Leonard’s ex-girlfriend. Priya and Leonard had a solid relationship and probably would have ended up together if it hadn’t been for having to do long distance. It helps that they complemented each other height-wise, as there were only two inches separating them.

However, it was for the best because fans wanted Leonard and Penny to be the endgame more than Leonard and Priya, and some fans did not like how Priya treated Leonard at times. As Raj’s sister, she and Leonard staying together could have become awkward for their friendship. Mann later played Meera in The Donor Party and Violet Ebner in The Recruit.

Simon Helberg

Howard Is 5’4”

Simon Helberg is technically the shortest male cast member on The Big Bang Theory. Helberg, of course, plays Howard Wolowitz, an engineer with an inflated sense of confidence and a weirdly close relationship with his mother. Howard is often made fun of by his friends for not having a doctoral degree. His shorter stature also plays well with him always trying to show his self-confidence, yet always lacking in self-worth.

He doesn’t appear to be as short, since the other guys are not much taller than he is, with the exception of Sheldon. With his wife Bernadette several inches shorter, it also makes Helberg appear taller than he is since many of his scenes include her by his side. Helberg recently played Dimitri in Space Oddity and had a brief stint on Poker Face as Luca.

Mayim Bialik

Amy Is 5’4”

Interestingly, Mayim Bialik of The Big Bang Theory cast is the same height as Helberg at just 5’4”, which makes her one of the shortest women on the show. She is also nine inches shorter than her on-screen boyfriend, Sheldon. Bialik plays Amy, Sheldon’s love interest and eventually his wife. There are many ways Amy matured throughout The Big Bang Theory, but most importantly, she was pivotal in helping Sheldon grow and evolve.

Bialik was known before this role for the ’90s sitcom Blossom. She is also known for being the only cast member from The Big Bang Theory to understand the scientific lingo the core group uses since she has a Ph.D. in neuroscience. Bialik has voiced Amy on Young Sheldon, headlined the series Call Me Kat, and even temporarily took on the role of one of the hosts of Jeopardy! after host Alex Trebek died.

Johnny Galecki

Leonard Is 5’5”

It is pretty well-known that Leonard Hofstadter actor Johnny Galecki isn’t exactly one of the tallest actors in the Big Bang Theory cast, as he is only 5’5″, which is a full inch shorter than Kaley Cuoco, who plays his love interest and eventual wife, Penny. In fact, the two actors also dated in real life at one point.

Galecki has been acting for decades. While he is best known for playing Leonard on The Big Bang Theory, other notable roles include playing Darlene’s boyfriend in Roseanne—and her ex-husband in the sequel series The Conners — as well as Griswold son Rusty from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and Max Neurick in the film I Know What You Did Last Summer. Since leaving The Big Bang Theory, Galecki has stepped out of the spotlight and only takes on choice roles in his acting career.

Kaley Cuoco

Penny Is 5’6”

As one of the tallest of the shortest The Big Bang Theory cast members on the show, Kaley Cuoco, who plays Penny, is an average 5’6”, which is fairly tall considering the height of some of the other actors on the show. As one of the show’s original cast members, it’s her presence in the building when she moves in that sets the stage for the entire premise. It also helps to have at least two male cast members shorter than her, as it makes her look a little more intimidating.

Cuoco rose to fame with her role on the sitcom 8 Simple Rules and fantasy series Charmed, but it was her Big Bang Theory character Penny on this show that put her on the Hollywood map. She went on to win awards for her role on The Flight Attendant, a show she also created and executive produced. She also voiced Harley Quinn in the Max series and starred in the comedy thriller Based on a True Story on Peacock.

Laurie Metcalf

Mary Cooper Is 5’7″

In The Big Bang Theory cast, Laurie Metcalf plays Sheldon Cooper’s mother, Mary Cooper. Mary is a devout Baptist who is out of touch and dated, but she adds comic relief whenever she comes to visit her “Shelly.” Although her son is very tall, Mary is of slightly above average height at 5’7″.

She ranks among the best relatives on The Big Bang Theory. Metcalf rose to fame as Aunt Becky on Roseanne, a role she has reprised for the sequel series The Conners. She also received an Oscar nomination for her performance in Lady Bird. She does not play Sheldon’s mother on Young Sheldon, but there is still a connection. Audiences who notice that Zoe Perry, who plays a young Mary on Young Sheldon, bears a striking resemblance to Metcalf are correct: Perry is Metcalf’s real-life daughter.

Kunal Nayyar

Raj Is 5’7”

Kunal Nayyar is in the middle when it comes to the height of The Big Bang Theory cast, standing at 5’7”. Many of the women Raj Koothrappali dated on the show stood taller than him, though he is slightly taller than his best friend, Howard. Keeping him shorter than his love interests helped show Raj’s insecurities on the show, but keeping him taller than Howard did the same for his friend.

Nayyar played Raj, one of the most changed core characters on the show, who initially had selective mutism that made it impossible for him to speak to women. While he could be problematic in his treatment of women after he conquered his condition, Nayyar’s acting helped keep him at least likable during these storylines. He most recently appeared in the Apple TV+ thriller Suspicion and headlined The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry.

Laura Spencer

Emily Is 5’7”

Laura Spencer briefly played Dr. Emily Sweeney in The Big Bang Theory cast. She was a dermatologist who appeared on the show from seasons 7 through 10 and, for some time, dated Raj. The pair stood the same height, and they seemed like the perfect couple. Emily actually found Raj and sought him out from a dating app, and after a runaround, they hit it off. Having them as the same height helped show Raj come into his own skin for the first time in the series.

The relationship ended badly, however, when Raj, having once been unable to even speak to women, decided to date two women at the same time. When they found out, it ruined everything for Raj. Emily, however, was one of the characters with the best chance of being a soulmate for Raj, even though it never happened. One of Spencer’s later notable credits is the action/thriller 13 Minutes.

Bob Newhart

Arthur Is 5’8″

One of the best recurring guest stars on The Big Bang Theory is Bob Newhart. He starred on the show as Arthur Jefferies, one of Sheldon Cooper’s favorite TV shows as a child as a character known as Professor Proton. Humorously, after Arthur’s death, he also later appeared as Sheldon’s ghostly Jedi advisor. When it comes to The Big Bang Theory cast members, Newhart is an average 5’8″.

Newhart was one of the biggest names on the show. He got his start in the 1950s and was the lead in more than one successful television sitcom. He headlined his own series, called The Bob Newhart Show, and then later starred in the sitcom Newhart, which was one of television’s most successful shows in the 1980s. Later roles on The Big Bang Theory and NCIS introduced him to a new fanbase. Newhart died in 2024.

Courtney Henggeler

Missy Cooper Is 5’9″

Courtney Henggeler starred on The Big Bang Theory as Sheldon Cooper’s big sister, Missy Cooper. Henggeler showed up several times throughout the series, starting in the season 1’s “The Porkchop Indeterminacy” and then making her last appearance in season 11’s “The Bow Tie Asymmetry” for Sheldon’s wedding. As for her height, the actress stands 5’9″, which is above average for The Big Bang Theory cast members, although she is still quite shorter than her TV brother.

It is also important to note that Henggeler did not play Missy in Young Sheldon, as obviously, Missy in that show was still a teenager. However, there was a lot of controversy after that show because Missy was shown to be strong and smart in her own way, while she never appeared to be intelligent on TBBT, and Sheldon often spoke down about his sister’s lack of smarts as an adult.

Kevin Sussman

Stuart Is 5’9”

Kevin Sussman is among the tallest of The Big Bang Theory cast, standing at about 5’9” tall. He plays the awkward comic bookstore owner Stuart, who is often depressed and pining to be part of the group of friends. He spends most of the series just listening to the others and doing everything he can to be part of their inner circle. By the end of the series, Stuart finally finds true love while also achieving success at his comic book store.

All of his hardships made him the kind of compassionate man he was by the end of the series. Sussman went on to appear in the final season of AMC’s Breaking Bad prequel series Better Call Saul as a potential victim of Saul Goodman’s con scheme and also had a guest-starring role in Mayim Bialik’s TV show Call Me Kat.

John Ross Bowie

Barry Is 5’9”

Standing 5’9” tall is John Ross Bowie, who plays Sheldon’s rival at the university in The Big Bang Theory cast, Barry Kripke. Barry is a Caltech plasma physicist and a string theorist who works with both Leonard and Sheldon. Making Barry shorter than Sheldon works to show his status compared to the genius, but he is taller than the other guys, allowing him to remain a slightly dominating person at the same time.

Bowie is also known for his roles in Speechless, for appearing in Ford Motor Company commercials, and for sketch comedy work at theaters in New York and L.A. Despite his Elmer Fudd-like voice in the series, Bowie does not have a speech impediment in real life. He later appeared in the sitcom The Neighborhood and had a small role in Reno 911!: It’s a Wonderful Heist.

Christine Baranski

Beverley Hofstadter Is 5’10”

Audiences might be surprised to know that Christine Baranski, who played Leonard’s cold mother, Dr. Beverley Hofstadter, is the tallest woman in The Big Bang Theory cast. Standing 5’10”, her stature is in stark contrast to her son. She appeared in several episodes when she was in town visiting Leonard, always talking down to him, gushing about his brother, and doting over Sheldon as though he was the accomplished son she wished she had.

One of the biggest bits of closure for the show, however, was Leonard finally getting some affection and apologies from his mother for the way she treated him as though he was a psychological experiment. Baranski has an impressive repertoire, known for Mamma Mia!, Into The Woods, and Chicago. She recently had a long run on The Good Fight, a spinoff of The Good Wife, which Baranski also starred in.

Lauren Lapkus

Denise Is 5’10”

A later-season The Big Bang Theory cast addition, Lauren Lapkus stands 5’10,” matching Christine Baranski as one of the taller female cast members. Lapkus played Denise, a young woman who entered the comic book store and mesmerized the guys with her interest in and knowledge of comics. She ended up working there alongside Stuart and the two began a relationship.

She is Stuart’s first real girlfriend for Stuart, and marks the only time he ever appears to be happy while on the show. Interestingly, she’s just an inch taller than him, but as a woman who rarely wore heels, they often stood eye-to-eye. This worked out perfectly as it helped show his confidence and allowed them to seem perfect for each other. Lapkus voiced Gasolina in Digman! and had a small role in A Million Little Things, but is most well-known for appearing alongside David Spade in The Wrong Missy.

Brian George

V. M. Koothrappali Is 5’10”

Brian George starred in The Big Bang Theory as V. M. Koothrappali, Raji’s father. It is almost impossible to know the height of V.M. on the show since most of his appearances came via video calls with his son from India, where he is a retired gynecologist. However, V. M. did have a physical appearance when he showed up in person during the epispode, “The Clean Room Infiltration,” at a party that Amy threw. It was here that he met all of Raj’s friends. George stands three inches taller than the actor playing his son.

Other than The Big Bang Theory, Brian George is known for his time at Second City, where he worked alongside famed comedian John Candy. In his career, George voiced the spiritual guide Guru Pathik in Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005–2008) and the character of Chutney in Father of the Pride (2004-2005).

Wil Wheaton

Wil Wheaton Is 5’11”

Wil Wheaton wasn’t a main The Big Bang Theory cast member, but he did appear in many episodes through the seasons. One of the show’s best guest stars, he played an exaggerated version of himself, and was Sheldon’s rival, even though Sheldon, in some way, idolized Wil for having appeared as Wesley Crusher on Star Trek: The Next Generation. This made him one of the best meta-jokes in the series.

The two often butted heads, trying to one-up one another at every turn. Wil was always annoyed to see Sheldon and did whatever he could to get under his skin. Height-wise, Wil is a few inches shorter than Sheldon, making him among the tallest on the show. He reprised his infamous role in an episode of Star Trek: Picard and hosts “The Ready Room,” a Star Trek podcast.

Jim Parsons

Sheldon Cooper Is 6’1”

Jim Parsons, who plays the socially awkward and egotistical Sheldon Cooper, is one of the few The Big Bang Theory cast members on the show who tops six feet. He is notably taller than the others on the show, but his slim build might have given the impression that he isn’t actually as tall as he is. Standing 6’1″, he is taller than almost everyone he comes across, although he is shorter than his big brother, who appears at times on the show.

With The Big Bang Theory over, Parsons focused a lot on his film career, appearing in hit films like Hidden Figures and Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile, as well as narrating the spin-off series Young Sheldon. He also starred in the Netflix movie The Boys in the Band and Spoiler Alert. Cooper also appeared as Sheldon again in the Young Sheldon finale.

Jerry O’Connell

George Cooper Is 6’2″

Jerry O’Connell appeared on The Big Bang Theory as George Cooper, Sheldon’s big brother. Standing 6;2″, O’Connell is one inch taller than Jim Parsons, who plays his younger brother. O’Connell appeared for the first time in the season 11 episode, “The Sibling Realignment,” which was the first time fans got to see him, although Sheldon mentioned him numerous times. Ironically, as of 2024, actor Montana Jordan (who played Georgie in Young Sheldon) is also one inch taller than Iain Armitage (who played Sheldon Cooper as a child).

Other than TBBT, O’Connell also starred in movies like Jerry Maguire and Scream 2, and the TV shows Sliders and Crossing Jordan. In 2021, he began working as a host on The Talk. Also, in some fun trivia, O’Connell enjoyed one of his earliest roles in the Stephen King adaptation Stand By Me, a movie that also starred The Big Bang Theory recurring actor, Wil Wheaton.

Brian Thomas Smith

Zack Is 6’3′

Brian Thomas Smith portrays Penny’s ex-boyfriend, Zack in The Big Bang Theory cast. Unlike many of Penny’s exes, Zack continued to pop up throughout the series as he palled around with her group of friends. Zack isn’t the sharpest tool in the shed, but he does have a big heart. Standing at 6’3”, Brian Thomas Smith is one of the tallest characters on the show. Standing so much taller than Leonard, it also helps make him a little intimidating as one of Penny’s former lovers.

Zach had a pivotal storyline in the final season when he and his wife visit Penny and Leonard, asking Leonard to be a sperm donor so they can have a baby. It’s this that sparks a conversation with Penny and Leonard about starting a family. Since being on TBBT, Smith has had small roles on The Neighborhood, NCIS, and UDrive Me.

Brian Posehn

Bert Is 6’7”

Coming in at a towering 6’7” tall, Posehn plays geologist Bert Kibbler in The Big Bang Theory cast. It’s clear he’s significantly taller than anyone else on the show which is wonderfully contrasted with his soft-spoken ways. He is also, much like the other characters on the show, very socially awkward, which his towering size likely plays into. In addition to stand-up comedy, he has taken his strapping height to other films and TV series, as well, and has even released a musical album titled “Grandpa Metal.”

Posehn is one of the taller figures in Hollywood, towering over many others. Despite his stature, on The Big Bang Theory, he was often quite awkward, soft-spoken, and harmless, like a big teddy bear. Posehn does a lot of voiceover work, with roles in in Star Trek: Lower Decks, Crank Yankers, and M.O.D.O.K.