# Favorite Big Bang Theory guest star **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 26, 2017, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-big-bang-theory-guest-star/787507 "2017-05-26T20:12:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![well\_he\_s\_back](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3ab097/32.png) [@well\_he\_s\_back](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/well_he_s_back)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2017, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-big-bang-theory-guest-star/787507/1 "2017-05-26T20:12:28Z")
For a show many folks claim to hate, BBT sure has managed to snag a slew of amazing guest stars, and cameos as well. For those who watch, what were your favorite guest spots/ cameos? I enjoyed many including Neil Degrasse Tyson . I also think the recurring guest stars who play Leonard & Sheldon’s mothers are perfect. ---
**Author:** ![LH75](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lh75/32/4438_2.png) [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2017, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-big-bang-theory-guest-star/787507/2 "2017-05-26T20:26:15Z")
Bob Newhart steals every episode in which he appears ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2017, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-big-bang-theory-guest-star/787507/3 "2017-05-26T20:57:06Z")
James Earl Jones and Billy Bob Thornton were two of my favorites. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2017, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-big-bang-theory-guest-star/787507/4 "2017-05-26T21:06:59Z")
Stephen Hawking, Wil Wheaton and the voice (and DNA!) of Leonard Nimoy. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_John\_Marcej](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Richard\_John\_Marcej](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_John_Marcej)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2017, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-big-bang-theory-guest-star/787507/5 "2017-05-26T22:39:36Z")
Lewis Black as Professor “Creepy” Crawley was only on once and in one scene, but every line from Lewis always makes me laugh! ---
**Author:** ![DMGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5a626/32.png) [@DMGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2017, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-big-bang-theory-guest-star/787507/6 "2017-05-26T22:49:44Z")
> [@LH75](#): > > Bob Newhart steals every episode in which he appears This ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2017, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-big-bang-theory-guest-star/787507/7 "2017-05-26T23:00:08Z")
It’s a toss up between Christine Baranski and Bob Newhart for me. I’m amazed by Christine’s acting range and of course, Bob Newhart is a national treasure. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2017, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-big-bang-theory-guest-star/787507/8 "2017-05-26T23:01:42Z")
Judy Greer. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2017, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-big-bang-theory-guest-star/787507/9 "2017-05-26T23:03:38Z")
In order: Bob Newhart Briana Cuoco\* Stephen Hawking Carrie Fisher Lewis Black Laurie Metcalf Kate Micucci Leonard Nimoy Adam Nimoy (what a good sport) Mike Massimino (for a non-actor with a substantial role, he was great) LeVar Burton (“Oh, HELL no!”) Riki Lindhome \*This was an inside joke. The old friend who cheated on Penny with her boyfriend at the time, and then ended up at the restaurant where Leonard, Penny, Howard and Bernadette were spending Valentine’s Day, and the old boyfriend ended up proposing, was played by Kaley Cuoco’s sister. ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2017, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-big-bang-theory-guest-star/787507/10 "2017-05-26T23:11:50Z")
Christine Baranski ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2017, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-big-bang-theory-guest-star/787507/11 "2017-05-27T00:37:22Z")
It’s gotta be Bob Newhart. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2017, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-big-bang-theory-guest-star/787507/12 "2017-05-27T00:55:31Z")
All of the above are great, but the one I would dearly love to see again (in ANY role) is Analeigh Tipton. She’s the blonde who (a) opened the door for Howard and Raj at the supermodel mansion and (b) showed up at Sheldon’s place two minutes too late to become his new girlfriend. :o > **[Lio Tipton - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3006818/?ref_=tt_cl_t6)** > > Lio Tipton. Actress: Two Night Stand. Lio was born in Minnesota, USA, and grew up in Sacramento, California. When they were a child, they were a competitive ice skater. They gave up competing at age 16, but have taken part in charity skating... ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2017, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-big-bang-theory-guest-star/787507/13 "2017-05-27T00:58:43Z")
Alessandra Torresani (“Claire”) comes in a close second! :o ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2017, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-big-bang-theory-guest-star/787507/14 "2017-05-27T01:09:37Z")
She’s not famous, so she isn’t really a guest “star,” but I thought the actress who played Wendy Chow did a fantastic job with a tiny part. I wish she could come back. Maybe she’ll be Zach’s fiancee. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2017, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-big-bang-theory-guest-star/787507/15 "2017-05-27T01:16:12Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > She’s not famous, so she isn’t really a guest “star,” but I thought the actress who played Wendy Chow did a fantastic job with a tiny part. I wish she could come back. Maybe she’ll be Zach’s fiancee. Surely you mean \*\*Mandy \*\*Chow? :dubious: > **[Mandy Chow](https://bigbangtheory.fandom.com/wiki/Mandy_Chow)** > > Mandy Chow is a marine biologist at Caltech. In "The Matrimonial Momentum" (S9E01), Leonard almost blew his wedding day when he admits to kissing a woman while on his North Sea expedition. There had been a lot of drinking, he'd been seasick and she... (And yes, she is **hot**! :o ) ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2017, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-big-bang-theory-guest-star/787507/16 "2017-05-27T03:01:58Z")
The lovely actress who played Priya. That’s Arrti Mann, and she was very charming and funny. Wish they’d bring her back. And I love, love, love Garfunkel & Oates. They’ve both been on the show, and it’s always a treat. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2017, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-big-bang-theory-guest-star/787507/17 "2017-05-27T03:18:16Z")
Who was the one that looked like Eliza Dushku that was from the FBI and doing a background check on (I think) Howard? ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2017, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-big-bang-theory-guest-star/787507/18 "2017-05-27T04:21:44Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Who was the one that looked like Eliza Dushku that was from the FBI and doing a background check on (I think) Howard? That was “The Apology Insufficiency” and FBI Special Agent Amanda Page was played by an actress named Eliza Dushku. I think you should separate Guest Stars from Recurring Roles. Sheldon and Leonard’s moms are recurring roles. Newhart was a Guest Star. Maybe 5 appearances is the dividing line? ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2017, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-big-bang-theory-guest-star/787507/19 "2017-05-27T04:26:37Z")
Riki Lindhome and Kate Micucci have guest starred separately in several episodes. At some point I’d to see both Garfunkel & Oates together in the same episode. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2017, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-big-bang-theory-guest-star/787507/20 "2017-05-27T05:08:44Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > Mike Massimino (for a non-actor with a substantial role, he was great) Absolutely. > [@terentii](#): > > Alessandra Torresani (“Claire”) comes in a close second! :o Winner for me, her character was not only great, her performance was instantly charismatic. It’s a shame they didn’t find a way to include her ongoing. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-big-bang-theory-guest-star/787507.md?page=2)