The Big Bang Theory’s Side Actor Never Got the Leading Role For a Disheartening Reason

Summary:

• The Big Bang Theory would surely never be the same without Simon Helberg’s portrayal of nerdish womanizer Howard Wolowitz, but not many fans may know that the role was initially intended for the show’s other actor.
• According to one of the creators, The Big Bang Theory’s side actor could’ve landed the iconic role if it hadn’t been for his contract with another big show.
• Despite the big failure, the actor nonetheless got to be in the sitcom with a minor, yet still important role.

Over the course of its 12-year-old run, The Big Bang Theory has never lost sight of any of the four main characters with each and every single one of them being extremely different from the others.

Apart from omnipresent Sheldon and Leonard, the show also featured their long-time close friend Howard Wolowitz portrayed by Simon Helberg throughout the whole series.

While now everyone can hardly imagine any other actor in this role, the show’s creators initially had someone else in mind — and Helberg could’ve lost his iconic character to his actual co-star.

As Jessica Radloff’s book, The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series, suggests, Howard Wolowitz’s part was initially offered to Kevin Sussman — he later on ended up staying in the show and portraying Stuart Bloom, a comic book store owner.

According to co-creator Bill Prady who made this revelation in an interview held by Radloff, the whole crew just loved Kevin after he auditioned for Leonard’s role first.

At that moment the creators were more than ready to welcome Sussman onboard as Howard Wolowitz, but then the television world’s rivalry came up on stage. As Prady recalled, the actor back then was busy with his role in America Ferrera’s comedy drama show Ugly Betty and its production company ABC wouldn’t let Sussman change for the rival studio that easily.

Eventually, the actor’s tension with ABC kept him away from landing The Big Bang Theory’s major role, but the saddest thing here, according to Prady, is that Sussman stayed in there for Ugly Betty, but they never accepted him back, making the actor lose both opportunities at the same time.

Though not everything was that bad for Kevin Sussman anyway — he still made it to the show landing a minor role, but yet making constant appearances ever since the second season.

Despite the fact that Stuart wasn’t an official part of the main geeks’ group, he nonetheless still joined them in a more discrete way.

Source: The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series