Veteran actor Judd Hirsch has been cast as the father of the scientist played by Johnny Galecki on the CBS sitcom.
- Mar 17, 2016
AceShowbiz - We'll soon meet Leonard Hofstadter's father. "The Big Bang Theory" has tapped former "Taxi" actor Judd Hirsch to guest star as the scientist's father. The two-time Emmy-winning actor will make his debut on the CBS sitcom in the May 12 season finale. The character is described as an anthropologist and he was not affectionate at all toward his son.
The show's producers announced Hirsch's casting at PaleyFest on Wednesday, March 16. Johnny Galecki who plays Leonard revealed that he's the one who invited Hirsch to play his on-screen father when he met the veteran actor at NBC's James Burrows tribute recently.
"We're all honored to be invited to this James Burrows tribute ... and we all had the opportunity to meet these incredible casts Jimmy directed and I had the opportunity to meet Judd Hirsch," Galecki shared. "I ran up to him and bombarded him with conversation that went on for a long time about what a fan I am. I did share with him that when we were shooting the pilot, I rewatched the first two or three seasons of 'Taxi' - not because I wanted to base Leonard on his character but the purpose his character served - this anchor in this group of people - and he was just as much at times a voice of reason as he was just as confused as everyone else."
"I shared that with him and a lightning bolt struck ... or another merlot ... and I said, would you have any interest in playing my dad on the show?" he went on recalling. Simon Helberg interjected, "And he said no but Rhea Pearlman is available ..." Galecki then called producers and they were all into the idea and the rest was history.
Co-creator Chuck Lorre joked, "And Danny DeVito will be [Howard and Bernadette's] baby next year!"
"Big Bang Theory" airs Thursdays at 8 P.M. on CBS.
