“Big Bang Theory” star Johnny Galecki is 50: five facts about the series actor

The TV audience knows Johnny Galecki (50) primarily as Leonard Hofstadter from “The Big Bang Theory”. From 2007 to 2019 he mimicked the lovable but shy nerd, who repeatedly demonstrated nerves from wire ropes when dealing with his strange roommate Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons, 52). The actor celebrates his 50th birthday on April 30th.

He gained awareness in the 90s as David Healy in the sitcom “Roseanne”. Years later, he slipped into the role for the series revival and the spin-off “Die Conners”-however, it remained with guest appearances. After the end of the successful nerd series “The Big Bang Theory” it became quiet around the series star.

Galecki played the role of the physicist Dr. Leonard Hofstadter, graduate of the renowned elite college Princeton. The actor’s academic career was a lot shorter. “I broke off school in eighth grade,” he revealed in 2009 in. “I just thought that is not for me.”

At that time he had already started his acting career. On the set, he had had individual lessons in a trailer. But he did not cope with public schools. In a full classroom, it was also not noticed when he fled from the math lessons and hid for 45 minutes on the toilet.

At that time, Galecki also attracted his first major role: in 1989 he was seen in “beautiful giving”. The comedy with Chevy Chase (81) has now become a real Christmas classic. The film is about family head Clark Griswold (Chase), who wants to give his family a great traditional Christmas – a project that goes wrong. Galecki played Chase’s film son Rusty Griswold. At that time he would not have dared to dream of participating in a large studio film. “At that time I spoke in Chicago for industrial films and regional theater, and I was happy with it,” he said in 2020 in one. Nevertheless, he sent in a tape and was actually flown to Los Angeles by Chicago. Chase personally told him that he had the role. A dream came true for the children’s actor.

Nevertheless, there is one thing that the series star regretted. He had spurned the chance of a father-son scene with Chevy Chase. A previously painted scene would have been rewritten. But Galecki saw no sense because the scene was already removed from the script. “So I got out of what an iconic scene with Chevy Chase could have been,” said Galecki. Now he sees it as a mistake. “I could still bite my butt every day.”

Johnny Galecki was in a relationship with two serial colleagues – in front of and behind the camera. During the filming of “Roseanne” in the 1990s, it sparked between him and Sara Gilbert (50). They also played a couple in the sitcom itself. Her liaison in real life only lasted briefly. To date, the two have a good friendship. In “The Big Bang Theory” they were finally united in front of the camera and played a couple of lovers again for a short time. But that wasn’t Galecki’s only set romance.

In the first episode of “The Big Bang Theory”, Leonard fell in love with his new neighbor Penny, played by Kaley Cuoco (39). The sparks immediately flew on the set – but in real life it was the other way around. “I had a crush on Johnny very early,” revealed Cuoco in the book “The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive Insider Report on the Cultural TV series”. “We were both with others at the time, but I only had eyes for Johnny.” They led a relationship between 2008 and 2009 for almost two years. They diverge in a friendly manner.

Just two weeks ago, they stepped together in front of the camera again – if only for a commercial for a mobile phone game. Apparently they play a few again. . “Big Bang Theory” fans were happy in the comments about the reunion of Penny and Leonard and also the serial colleagues Melissa Rauch, Kunal Nayyar and Kevin Sussman left love words and heart emojis in the comments. For Galecki, it was the first time in a long time that he sniffed again.

He still had roles in other projects during “The Big Bang Theory”, around 2008 in “Hancock” next to Will Smith (56). In 2011 he was seen together with Justin Timberlake (44) in “in time – your time is running out”. Between 2018 and 2019 he also had several guest appearances in the “Roseanne” spin-off “The Conners”. In the later seasons, however, it can no longer be seen what had been his own decision, according to the producers. “He didn’t want to go on,” said Bruce Helford in the series of Galecki’s absence in the series. That is why they had to turn his figure a “terrible father” who neglected his children, says producer Dave Caplan.

After the end of “The Big Bang Theory” in 2019 it was quiet for the actor. He has largely withdraw from the spotlight. On and on Instagram he gives updates from his life every now and then. In the meantime he has turned Hollywood back and moved from Los Angeles to Nashville, where he acquired a property. In March 2024 he presented his new home in the 30 years he had spent in Los Angeles, “a very long time to live in a city where you don’t feel particularly comfortable”.

In Nashville he now lives with his wife Morgan Galecki and her daughter, Oona Evelena. He used the story in the magazine to clean up with rumors about his private life. When exactly he gave his wife the yes, it is not known. With his former partner Alaina Meyer, he has the son Avery, born in 2019.