Simon Helberg on Acting and the Appeal of The Big Bang Theory
Simon Helberg nails the character of Howard Wolowitz, a nerdy aerospace engineer who thinks he’s a ladies’ man, on CBS’s smash hit The Big Bang Theory. He’s a native Angeleno who studied at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and trained with the Atlantic Theatre Company. He was a star on MADtv and has appeared in such critically acclaimed series as Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, Arrested Development and Reno 911! His big screen credits are also impressive, with appearances in the Coen Brothers’ A Serious Man, George Clooney’s Academy Award-nominated Good Night and Good Luck, Old School, Christopher Guest’s For Your Consideration, and Walk Hard: the Dewey Cox Story. Helberg lives in L.A. with his wife, Jocelyn.
The Nuances of Playing Howard Wolowitz
On The Big Bang Theory, Howard is obnoxious but endearing. What do you enjoy most about playing him?
I like the challenge of trying to bring some humility to this outrageous, aggressive and slightly inappropriate character, cutting through the sleaze to reveal a human being. It’s also fun to step into the shoes of somebody so confident, delivering pick-up lines in different languages, only to watch him squirm when it backfires.
Why do you think the show has become so incredibly popular?
If I could tell you, I’d be creating five more series! I think the characters were very well-conceived and have been nicely developed over the past four years. Their personalities are so big that the stories can be kept pretty simple. For instance, watching these geniuses struggle with something as routine as changing a light bulb can be great fun. They also feel like outsiders, which is something most people can relate to.
The Charms of Growing Up in Los Angeles
What did you like most about growing up in L.A.?
People can’t fathom the idea of growing up here—L.A. is the place everybody moves to. And those stereotypes about Angelenos being superficial or stuck-up—none of that is true of people who are actually from here! As a kid, I loved the fact that in half an hour you could be at the beach, and in an hour you could be in the mountains.
Helberg’s Favorite L.A. Spots
What are some of your favorite foods in L.A., and where do you go for them?
I love sushi. I haven’t been to some of the big-name places people are always telling me to check out, but I enjoyed [acclaimed sushi chef] Nozawa’s sugarFISH in Brentwood. For Italian, I go to Osteria La Buca. The most awesome vegan restaurant is a place called Madeleine Bistro in the Valley. Their burger, called the “Bigger Maque,” tastes better than the real thing! For special occasions, my wife and I might go to The Little Door. We even modeled our wedding after the ambience there.
Do you enjoy going to movies?
I’m a huge Woody Allen fan, but love all kinds of movies and often see them at the ArcLight Cinemas in Hollywood. But for an eclectic retro house, I prefer The Cinefamily, which shows everything from old slasher movies to silent-era retrospectives to an entire evening of ’80s sitcom episodes.
Where do you go for live music?
I’m a huge fan of Largo—I even moved around the corner from the place at one point in my life to be close—where John Brion plays and people like Beck or Aimee Mann just swing by to perform. For comedy, I love the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in Hollywood.
*This article has been edited for length, clarity, and accuracy.
