Simon Helberg | |
|---|---|
 Helberg atPaleyFest 2013 forThe Big Bang Theory | |
| Born | Simon Maxwell Helberg (1980-12-09)December 9, 1980 (age 44) Los Angeles,California, U.S. |
| Citizenship |
|
| Education | New York University (BFA) |
| Occupations | |
| Years active | 1999–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Father | Sandy Helberg |
Simon Maxwell Helberg[3] (born December 9, 1980) is an American actor and comedian. From 2007 to 2019, he playedHoward Wolowitz on theCBSsitcomThe Big Bang Theory and won theCritics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for the role. His performance asCosmé McMoon in the filmFlorence Foster Jenkins (2016) received a nomination for theGolden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture. Helberg has also appeared on the sketch comedy seriesMADtv as a cast member inseason 8 (2002–2003), and his other film roles includingOld School (2003),Good Night, and Good Luck (2005),Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007),A Serious Man (2009), andAnnette (2021).
Simon Maxwell Helberg was born on December 9, 1980, in Los Angeles.[3] His parents are actorSandy Helberg and casting director Harriet Helberg (née Birnbaum).[4][3] He was raised Jewish, "Conservative toReform but more Reform as time went on."[5][6]
Helberg attended middle and high school at theCrossroads School inSanta Monica, California, withJason Ritter, who later became his roommate atNew York University.[7] He attended New York University'sTisch School of the Arts,[8][9] where he trained at theAtlantic Theater Company.[4]
Since the early 2000s, Helberg performed with comedianDerek Waters as the sketch comedy duo Derek & Simon.[10] In 2007, the two starred together inDerek and Simon: The Show, a web series they created with comedianBob Odenkirk for the comedy websiteSuper Deluxe. They previously made two short films "Derek & Simon: The Pity Card" (co-starringZach Galifianakis andBill Hader) and "Derek & Simon: A Bee and a Cigarette" (co-starringCasey Wilson andEmily Rutherfurd) and had a pilot deal withHBO in 2005. One of Helberg's earliest jobs in television was briefly joining the cast ofMADtv for one season in 2002.[11]
Helberg appeared in the 2002 feature filmVan Wilder as one of the geeky students for whom Van Wilder was throwing a party. He had a minor role in the 2003 movieOld School. In 2004, he was in two episodes ofReno 911!: Student Driver in "Raineesha X" and Hooker Buying Son in "Not Without My Mustache". He had a small role in the sixth episode ofQuintuplets, "Get a Job", as a man called Neil working behind the counter at a shoe shop where Paige and Patton were working.
In 2004, he appeared in the filmA Cinderella Story, starringHilary Duff andChad Michael Murray. Helberg played the minor role of Simon inGeorge Clooney's 2005 filmGood Night, and Good Luck, where he had one line. In 2005, he had a bit part onArrested Development as Jeff, an employee of the film studio where Maeby worked. From 2006 to 2007, he had a minor supporting role as Alex Dwyer in the dramaStudio 60 on the Sunset Strip. In 2006, he appeared in a series of comical TV commercials forRichard Branson's UK financial services companyVirgin Money. He played a small role in the 2007 filmWalk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story as a Jewish record producer.
In 2007, Helberg was cast asHoward Wolowitz, in the CBS comedy seriesThe Big Bang Theory.[5][12]Forbes placed him third in its world's highest-paid TV actors list in 2018 with his revenues rising to $23.5 million in that year.[13]
He appeared as the character Moist inDr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog, and had a small role in thepilot episode of theJudd Apatow-produced sitcomUndeclared. In the 2009Coen brothers filmA Serious Man, he played junior Rabbi Scott Ginsler. He had a minor role in the season 4 finale ofThe Guild as one of the Game Masters.
In 2016, Helberg starred alongsideMeryl Streep andHugh Grant inFlorence Foster Jenkins, directed byStephen Frears; he played pianistCosmé McMoon and his performance was nominated for theGolden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture.[14] Not only did Helberg act in the film, he also played the piano.[15] Helberg next starred inAnnette oppositeAdam Driver.[16]
Helberg married actressJocelyn Towne, the niece of screenwriterRobert Towne,[17] on July 7, 2007.[18] They have a daughter[19] and a son.[20]
Helberg has been friends with Nathan Hamill, son of actorMark Hamill, since he was 9 years old.[21] Helberg has been friends with actorJason Ritter since he was 12 years old. They went to college together and continue to work together when given the opportunity.[22]
Through his wife Jocelyn, who is a French citizen through her French mother, Helberg himself became a French citizen to obtain the role of the Conductor in French directorLeos Carax's English-language debutAnnette, which opened the2021 Cannes Film Festival.[23]
.jpg)
| Year | Title | Role | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Mumford | College Roommate | |
| 2002 | Van Wilder | Vernon | |
| 2003 | Old School | Jerry | |
| 2004 | A Cinderella Story | Terry | |
| 2005 | Good Night, and Good Luck | CBS page | |
| 2006 | Derek & Simon: A Bee and a Cigarette | Simon | Short film; also writer and producer |
| The Pity Card | |||
| Bickford Shmeckler's Cool Ideas | Al | ||
| The TV Set | TJ Goldman | ||
| For Your Consideration | Junior Agent | ||
| 2007 | Careless | Stewart | |
| Evan Almighty | Staffer | ||
| Mama's Boy | Rathkon | ||
| Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story | Dreidel L'Chaim | ||
| 2009 | A Serious Man | Rabbi Scott Ginsler | |
| 2011 | The Selling | Young Husband | |
| Let Go | Frank | ||
| 2013 | I Am I | Seth | Also executive producer |
| 2014 | We'll Never Have Paris | Quinn Berman | Also director, writer and producer |
| 2015 | Hollywood Adventures | Translator | |
| 2016 | Florence Foster Jenkins | Cosmé McMoon | |
| 2021 | Annette | The Accompanist | |
| 2022 | As They Made Us | Nathan | |
| Space Oddity | Dmitri | ||
| 2025 | For Worse | Mediator |
| Year | Title | Role | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Popular | Gus Latrine | Episode: "Coup" |
| Cursed | Andy Tinker | Episode: "And then Jack Became the Voice of Cougars" | |
| Ruling Class | Fred Foster | Episode: "Pilot" | |
| Son of the Beach | Billy | Episode: "It's Showtime at the Apollo 13!" | |
| Undeclared | Jack | Episode: "Prototype" | |
| 2002 | Sabrina, the Teenage Witch | The Spokesman | Episode: "Time After Time" |
| The Funkhousers | Donnie Funkhouser | Episode: "Pilot" | |
| 2002–2003 | MADtv | Various | 5 episodes |
| 2003 | Less than Perfect | Arthur | Episode: "It Takes a Pillage" |
| Tracey Ullman in the Trailer Tales | Adam | Television special | |
| 2004 | Quintuplets | Neil | Episode: "Get a Job" |
| Reno 911! | Hooker Buying Son | Episode: "Not Without My Mustache" | |
| Student Driver | Episode: "Raineesha X" | ||
| 2005 | Unscripted | Simon / Casting Assistant | 2 episodes |
| Life on a Stick | Vinnie | Episode: "Liking Things the Way They Aren't" | |
| Arrested Development | Jeff | Episode: "Meat the Veals" | |
| 2004–2006 | Joey | Seth Tobin | 4 episodes |
| 2006 | The Jake Effect | Bill Skidelsky | Episode: "Flight School" |
| 2006–2007 | Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip | Alex Dwyer | 14 episodes |
| 2007 | Derek and Simon: The Show | Simon | Main role; also co-creator, writer and producer |
| The Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman | Matt Menard | Episode: "Bad Luck Brad" | |
| 2007–2019 | The Big Bang Theory | Howard Wolowitz | Main role |
| 2008 | Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog | Moist | 3 episodes |
| 2010 | The Guild | Kevinator- Official Game Master | Episode: "Guild Hall" |
| 2010–2011 | Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil | Ronaldo (voice) | 3 episodes |
| 2011–2016 | Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness | Bian Zao (voice) | 8 episodes |
| 2013 | Drunk History | Frank Mason Robinson | Episode: "Atlanta" |
| 2014 | The Tom and Jerry Show | Napoleon (voice) | 9 episodes |
| 2015 | Comedy Bang! Bang! | Himself | Episode: "Simon Helberg Wears a Sky Blue Button Down and Jeans" |
| 2021 | Dug Days | Squirrel (voice) | Episode: "Science" |
| Young Sheldon | Howard Wolowitz (voice) | Episode: "An Introduction to Engineering and a Glob of Hair Gel" | |
| 2023–2025 | Poker Face | FBI Agent Luca Clark | 5 episodes |
| 2023–2024 | American Dad! | Dr. Revanche / Creep (voice) | 3 episodes |
| 2025 | Night Court | Spencer | Episode: "A Decent Proposal" |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Doctor Cerberus | Franklin Robertson | L.A. Theatre Works, Los Angeles, United States |
| How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying | Bud Frump | Reprise Theatre Company, Los Angeles, United States | |
| 2013 | A Midsummer Night's Dream | Demetrius | L.A. Theatre Works, Los Angeles, United States |
| 2016 | God of Carnage | Alan | L.A. Theatre Works, Los Angeles, United States |
| 2018 | Lenin's Embalmers | Boris | L.A. Theatre Works, Los Angeles, United States |
| It's a Wonderful Life | George Bailey | Pasadena Playhouse, Pasadena, United States | |
| 2021 | The Murder on the Links | Captain Hastings | L.A. Theatre Works, Los Angeles, United States |
