The Big Bang Theory managed to pull in some amazing talent for cameo appearances during its run, and these are some of the best. Following a group of four nerdy guys who thoroughly enjoy comics, TV, and movies, TBBT developed a dedicated fanbase that resonated with the central cast or simply found the concept too funny to pass up. While the group of highly intelligent scientists may excel in their careers as doctors (except Howard) of science, all of them become star-struck when engaging with their idols.
From early in the show’s run, they managed to book incredible cameos from some of the biggest names in popular franchises, such as Star Wars, Star Trek, technology and educational science shows. Due to the nature of the characters, and their deep reverence for many of these subjects, the gang frequently loses their cool. Most of these cameos also only appeared in one or two episodes. However, some guest stars returned again and again, becoming a more regular part of the show.
12 Bill Nye
The Big Bang Theory Season 7, Episode 7 And Season 12, Episode 1
Bill Nye the Science Guy was a popular science education show hosted by Nye himself. In The Big Bang Theory, Bill Nye had a direct competitor known as Professor Proton who also hosted an educational science show for kids, and this is who Sheldon preferred growing up. However, when Sheldon feels betrayed and hurt by his childhood hero asking his roommate to read one of his research papers, Sheldon attempts to make him jealous by contacting Nye. Understandably, this mainly results in Sheldon adding another restraining order to his growing collection. He also appears in a brief cameo later in the series when Neil DeGrasse Tyson calls him.
11 Bob Newhart
Recurring
Bob Newhart is a long-time comedian who starred in several sitcoms during the 70s and 80s. He also ended up becoming a recurring guest star on The Big Bang Theory as Sheldon’s childhood hero, Professor Proton. The character is a clear parody of Bill Nye’s, but over the course of six appearances on the show, it becomes clear just how much Sheldon cares about and idolizes Arthur Jeffries, the man behind Professor Proton.
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10 Steve Wozniak
The Big Bang Theory Season 4, Episode 2
The other co-founder of Apple, Steve Wozniak took a much longer time to rise to fame than Steve Jobs, as Jobs adopted more of a frontman persona and the two had personal conflicts. The Woz is revealed to be Sheldon’s 15th favorite technological visionary, which places him several places ahead of Jobs in Sheldon’s esteem. Sheldon bumps into the Woz at The Cheesecake Factory when he is making use of a crudely constructed robot to interact with the outside world while he remains safe at home.
9 Summer Glau
The Big Bang Theory Season 2, Episode 17
Summer Glau is a popular actress in pop culture, having appeared in both Firefly and the Terminator franchise, among other sci-fi roles. When the gang spots Summer sharing a train cart with them on a long-haul journey, a few of the guys decide to shoot their shot and strike up a conversation. However, the boys’ ineptitude when it comes to talking to women comes shining through, and they all ultimately leave a bad impression. The cameo is great due to the comedy it adds to the episode and reveals how the characters may be mature in some ways, but positively juvenile in others.
8 LeVar Burton
The Big Bang Theory Season 4, Episode 17, Season 6, Episode 7, And Season 8, Episode 10
Most famous for his portrayal of Geordi LaForge in Star Trek: The Next Generation, LeVar Burton is another significant idol for the guys in TBBT. When Sheldon reaches out on Twitter to invite Burton to a game night, Burton arrives a little too late after Sheldon has already left. However, later in the series, Sheldon does get to interact with LeVar when he invites him to guest star on his web series, “Fun with Flags,” which Burton does twice before having Sheldon delete his contact info.
7 Brent Spiner
The Big Bang Theory Season 5, Episode 5
Another star from Star Trek: TNG, Brent Spiner, played the incredibly popular Data. Brent Spiner meets the group while attending a birthday party for Wil Wheaton, and during their interaction, he decides to take a pristine action figure of Wheaton out of the packaging. This obviously incites the wrath of Sheldon, who chooses to add Spiner to his list of mortal enemies. The interaction is comical and displays the high esteem Sheldon gives to the inanimate figures in his life, even over real-life idols.
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6 Mark Hamill
The Big Bang Theory Season 11, Episode 24
Mark Hamill is best known for playing Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars movies, and understandably, as one of the most iconic figures in pop culture, the guys are in awe of him. When Howard incidentally stumbles into Hamill by finding and returning his dog, Mark offers a reward, and Howard requests that Hamill come and officiate at Sheldon and Amy’s wedding as a surprise. The beautiful moment when Sheldon meets Hamill and again moments later when Hamill breaks down in tears because of Sheldon and Amy’s beautiful vows to each other makes this one of the absolute best guest appearances on the show.
5 Carrie Fisher
The Big Bang Theory Season 7, Episode 14
Another actor from the Star Wars franchise, shortly before her death, Carrie Fisher, guest starred in an episode of TBBT alongside James Earl Jones. Fisher and Jones had never actually met in real life until this encounter on TBBT, which makes it all the more special (via Looper). The brief appearance in the show displays a wonderfully playful relationship between Fisher and Jones, and Sheldon gets in on the action playing ding-dong ditch with his idols.
4 Stephen Hawking
The Big Bang Theory Season 5, Episode 21, And Season 11, Episode 1
One of the most beloved and influential figures in Sheldon’s life is undoubtedly the great physicist Stephen Hawking. Hawking is referenced in several episodes, but it isn’t until the end of the fifth season that he appears on the show. When Hawking is brought to Caltech as a guest lecturer, Howard is recruited to help maintain his wheelchair. Sheldon, excited about the opportunity to meet his hero, asks Howard to pass on a research paper, which he does, and Hawking reaches out to praise his work. However, Sheldon gets a rude awakening when Hawking points out a glaring error early in the paper which entirely knocks Sheldon’s confidence.
Hawking also appears briefly in other episodes through either a quick voice cameo or via call, but it wasn’t until The Big Bang Theory season 11 that Hawking would share the screen with Sheldon again. When Sheldon berates those around him for neglecting the presence of one of the world’s greatest minds to talk about themselves, Hawking tries to communicate the irony of what Sheldon is also doing, but it fails to land. Hawking also passed away shortly after this final appearance.
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3 Stan Lee
The Big Bang Theory Season 3, Episode 16
When most of the guys get a chance to meet Stan Lee, Sheldon is forced to miss out due to a parking ticket he incurred while helping Penny earlier in the show. Penny feels bad and decides to take Sheldon to the home of Stan Lee to meet his idol, which goes about as well as one could expect when strangers turn up at the house of a celebrity idol. Sheldon ends up with a restraining order from his hero, which he hangs proudly at home next to another restraining order from Leonard Nimoy.
2 Leonard Nimoy
The Big Bang Theory Season 5, Episode 20
Leonard Nimoy, the actor who played Spock in Star Trek, is another significant hero for all of the TBBT boys. While he never actually physically appeared on the show, he did meet the cast behind the scenes while doing voice-over work for an episode in season 5. Sheldon often has unusual dreams and moments of clarity where his idols like Nimoy and Professor Proton act as a sort of conscience for Sheldon. Nimoy is also referenced at other points in the show, such as when Sheldon is gifted his DNA and refers to his restraining order from his idol.
1 Wil Wheaton
Recurring
Wil Wheaton initially appeared as an antagonistic version of himself in TBBT season 3, but after considerable back and forth in a bitter rivalry with Sheldon and his friends, they eventually made peace. Wheaton is the best guest star of the series thanks to how interwoven his story became with the rest of the cast, and the deepening of a friendship that led to him originally being asked to officiate at Sheldon and Amy’s wedding before Mark Hamill stepped in. Ultimately, this guest appearance and all of the others contributed to what made The Big Bang Theory great as the guys had opportunities to mingle with their idols, despite being regular people, for the most part.
