# The Big Bang Theory: A Compendium of Characters' Families **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 16, 2014, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-a-compendium-of-characters-families/688590 "2014-05-16T15:44:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-a-compendium-of-characters-families/688590/1 "2014-05-16T15:44:00Z")
Please help me fill out the gaps in my knowledge here: **Leonard** Mom: Beverly, seen on the show. Dad: Not named. Mentioned on the show as divorcing his mom. Never seen or heard on the show. Brothers/Sisters: Mentioned a brother and a sister. As far as I know, never seen on the show. **Sheldon** Mom: Mary, seen on the show. Dad: Mentioned as having died. Brothers/Sisters: Sister has been on the show (one episode). I think brothers have been mentioned, but I could be wrong. **Raj** Mom: Seen on the show in video chat. Don’t think she’s been named. Dad: Seen on the show in video chat. Don’t think he’s been named. Sister: Priya(sp?), seen on the show. Brother: Seen in video chat as Raj’s lawyer (or was that his cousin?). Multiple brothers mentioned on the show, but not seen. **Howard** Mom: Debbie (not named until final episode of Season 7); heard on the show, but only glimpses of her are seen, as part of a running gag. She may yet be seen in a future episode. Dad: Mentioned as having run out on the family when Howard was 12. An episode dealt with a letter he had written to Howard. Not named. May yet turn up on a future episode of the show. Brothers/Sisters: None mentioned on the show. **Penny** Dad: Wyatt, seen on the show. Mom: Spoke to Penny on the phone. Not named, voice not heard. Brothers/Sisters: Brother mentioned on the show. Sisters not mentioned (IIRC). **Amy** Mom: Seen on the show in video chat. Not named. Dad: Never mentioned. May not even be alive. Brothers/Sisters: Never mentioned. She may or may not have any. **Bernadette** Mom: Seen on the show; may or may not have been named. \*Oddly enough, she was not mentioned as having been at Bernadette & Howard’s wedding. Dad: Seen on the show; may or may not have been named. Brothers/Sisters: Bernadette mentions helping raise “several” brothers & sisters. None have been named or seen on the show. Please help me if I’ve forgotten anything or gotten anything wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-a-compendium-of-characters-families/688590/2 "2014-05-16T15:46:33Z")
Bernadette’s dad’s name is Mike. It was mentioned in the episode where he and Howard were going fishing. And Sheldon’s sister’s name is Missy. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-a-compendium-of-characters-families/688590/3 "2014-05-16T15:57:35Z")
New list: **Leonard** Mom: Beverly, seen on the show. Dad: Not named. Mentioned on the show as divorcing his mom. Never seen or heard on the show. Brothers/Sisters: Mentioned a brother and a sister. As far as I know, never seen on the show. **Sheldon** Mom: Mary, seen on the show. Dad: Mentioned as having died. Sisters: One sister, Missy, has been seen on the show (first season). May or may not have other sisters. Brothers: Brothers may have been mentioned on the show; I’m not certain. **Raj** Mom: Seen on the show in video chat. Don’t think she’s been named. Dad: Seen on the show in video chat. Don’t think he’s been named. Sister: Priya(sp?), seen on the show. Brother: Seen in video chat as Raj’s lawyer (or was that his cousin?). Multiple brothers mentioned on the show, but not seen. **Howard** Mom: Debbie (not named until final episode of Season 7); heard on the show, but only glimpses of her are seen, as part of a running gag. She may yet be seen in a future episode. Dad: Mentioned as having run out on the family when Howard was 12. An episode dealt with a letter he had written to Howard. Not named. May yet turn up on a future episode of the show. Brothers/Sisters: None mentioned on the show. **Penny** Dad: Wyatt, seen on the show. Mom: Spoke to Penny on the phone. Not named, voice not heard. Brothers/Sisters: Brother mentioned on the show. Sisters not mentioned (IIRC). **Amy** Mom: Seen on the show in video chat. Not named. Dad: Never mentioned. May not even be alive. Brothers/Sisters: Never mentioned. She may or may not have any. **Bernadette** Mom: Seen on the show; may or may not have been named. \*Oddly enough, she was not mentioned as having been at Bernadette & Howard’s wedding. Dad: Mike, seen on the show. Brothers/Sisters: Bernadette mentions helping raise “several” brothers & sisters. None have been named or seen on the show. ---
**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 16, 2014, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-a-compendium-of-characters-families/688590/4 "2014-05-16T16:02:29Z")
Sheldon has other siblings. His mother has made mention of raising several kids to Leonard, in a context that there were others than the twins. eta: The BBT wiki says there is an older brother named George, Jr. Penny also has a sister who shot her husband while they were both drunk. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-a-compendium-of-characters-families/688590/5 "2014-05-16T16:04:39Z")
> [@Kimballkid](#): > > And Sheldon’s sister’s name is Missy. His \*twin \*sister, IIRC. Which seems dubious because she’s pretty hot. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-a-compendium-of-characters-families/688590/6 "2014-05-16T16:05:53Z")
The details of TBBT can usually be found at the [Wiki](http://bigbangtheory.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page) for the show. If you _really_ want to get into minutia, go visit the forums there. There are a lot of additional details that are known. E.g., Sheldon’s father’s name was George and his older brother is George, Jr. An uncle nicknamed Stumpy (for obvious reasons), etc. Penny’s father was first called “Bob” but for some reason later became “Wyatt”. Don’t forget Leonard’s Uncle Floyd or his clothing optional grandmother. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-a-compendium-of-characters-families/688590/7 "2014-05-16T16:12:22Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > Please help me fill out the gaps in my knowledge here: > > **Leonard** > > Mom: Beverly, seen on the show. > Dad: Not named. Mentioned on the show as divorcing his mom. Never seen or heard on the show. > Brothers/Sisters: Mentioned a brother and a sister. As far as I know, never seen on the show. dog: who also has the title, doctor, like all of the above. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-a-compendium-of-characters-families/688590/8 "2014-05-16T16:14:18Z")
Leonard said the dog’s name once, but I forget what it was. ---
**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 16, 2014, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-a-compendium-of-characters-families/688590/9 "2014-05-16T16:21:23Z")
Mitzi. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-a-compendium-of-characters-families/688590/10 "2014-05-16T16:36:45Z")
and the cat, boots is a doctor as well, although leonard said that was honourary. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-a-compendium-of-characters-families/688590/11 "2014-05-16T17:19:16Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > His \*twin \*sister, IIRC. Which seems dubious because she’s pretty hot. I should hope it doesn’t need to be pointed out that they are fraternal twins, not identical. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-a-compendium-of-characters-families/688590/12 "2014-05-16T17:36:56Z")
I’m pretty sure it was Raj’s cousin who was lobbying for the jet ski via Skype. ---
**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 16, 2014, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-a-compendium-of-characters-families/688590/13 "2014-05-16T18:12:19Z")
> [@Kimballkid](#): > > And Sheldon’s sister’s name is Missy. Are you sure that’s her actual name, or just what she’s called? And what about Raj’s dog? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-a-compendium-of-characters-families/688590/14 "2014-05-16T18:12:21Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > I should hope it doesn’t need to be pointed out that they are fraternal twins, not identical. Same genes. At least the other siblings could possibly be wild oats - Mrs. Cooper has admitted a party-girl past. I remember Raj himself asking for heated seats on his BMW via Skype, but nothing about a jetski. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-a-compendium-of-characters-families/688590/15 "2014-05-16T18:19:32Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Same genes. At least the other siblings could possibly be wild oats - Mrs. Cooper has admitted a party-girl past. > > I remember Raj himself asking for heated seats on his BMW via Skype, but nothing about a jetski. It was the episode where they found the prop One Ring from the Lord of the Rings and were fighting over what to do with it. Raj wanted to sell it and buy Jet Skis. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-a-compendium-of-characters-families/688590/16 "2014-05-16T18:29:00Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > And what about Raj’s dog? Cinnamon ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-a-compendium-of-characters-families/688590/17 "2014-05-16T18:35:02Z")
> [@Kimballkid](#): > > And Sheldon’s sister’s name is Missy. > [@panache45](#): > > Are you sure that’s her actual name, or just what she’s called? As far as we know, that’s her real name. They have never used anything else or said otherwise. ---
**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 16, 2014, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-a-compendium-of-characters-families/688590/18 "2014-05-16T18:58:19Z")
But Sheldon is called “Shelly” by both his mother and his sister, so there is a good possibility her real name is “Melissa.” ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-a-compendium-of-characters-families/688590/19 "2014-05-16T19:11:43Z")
Sheldon had a beloved Meemaw as well. Probably his maternal grandmother, but I don’t think it was ever specified which side she was on. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-a-compendium-of-characters-families/688590/20 "2014-05-16T19:24:10Z")
Sheldon introduced her to his friends as “Missy.” I doubt he’d be so informal to use a nickname in that context, but he also could not care. His mother told Leonard that she was blessed with two other children that are “dumber than soup.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-a-compendium-of-characters-families/688590.md?page=2)