Summary

• Howard's dad's letter on his 18th birthday remains a frustrating mystery from The Big Bang Theory, leaving viewers curious about its contents even years after the show ended.
• The show provided several theories about what could be in Howard's dad's letter, but the true contents were never revealed, adding depth to Howard's character.
• Ultimately, the letter's contents don't matter as much as the support and love from Howard's found family, showing that it's who's there for him that counts, not those who abandoned him.

What Howard's dad wrote in the letter to him on his 18th birthday is one of the most frustrating loose ends left by The Big Bang Theory — and over five years since the show ended many viewers still want to know what did Howard's dad's letter say. Howard Wolowitz's family remained one of the most mysterious and interesting in TBBT. Much has been said about his close relationship with his mom, Debbie Wolowitz (Carol Ann Susi). Although she was never physically shown on the screen, she was a steady presence in the series until her death. Howard's estranged father, Sam Wolowitz, however, was pretty much non-existent in the sitcom.

The identity of Howard Wolowitz's dad remains a mystery even after The Big Bang Theory wrapped. Many assumed that the series would address this before the show ended, but there was very little focus on side characters in the entirety of the final Big Bang Theory season. As a result, the show left some big questions regarding Howard's relationship with his father. That includes what was in Howard's dad's letter, which he wrote for his son's 18th birthday — a mystery that lingered from TBBT season 6 onward. However, thanks to events in the show, there are several plausible theories about what's in Howard's dad's letter.

What The Show Revealed About Howard's Dad Before The Letter

The Only Confirmed Fact About Howard's Dad Is When He Left

Sam Wolowitz, Howard's father, was mentioned a few times though throughout The Big Bang Theory's 12-year run. The first mention dates back to season 3's "The Precious Fragmentation," which revealed Sam abandoned his family when Howard was 11, although his reason remains unknown. This led to season 6's "The Closet Reconfiguration" where Sheldon discovered a letter Sam sent to Howard before The Big Bang Theory began, but Howard refused to read it and ended up burning it. The episode revolved around whether Sheldon would tell everyone. He eventually describes Howard's dad's letter off-screen, which set up the dramatic scene revealing what was in Howard's dad's letter (alongside four fake explanations).

The Big Bang Theory Gave Several Options For The Contents Of Howard's Dad's Letter

The Main Characters All Had Their Own Version

The rest of the main characters in The Big Bang Theory helped Howard by suggesting that each would reveal different possibilities about what could be in Howard's dad's letter, leaving him free to choose which one he'd believe. Raj described a traditional birthday card. Sheldon essentially stole the story of The Goonies, telling Howard that the birthday letter was a map leading to One-Eyed Willy's treasure. Amy claimed Howard's dad was in the auditorium during his high school graduation. Penny said the letter explained why Sam left, and it involved him having a different life. Leonard talked about his father's supposed reminder that family is everything and shouldn't be thrown away.

Finally, Bernadette (Melissa Rauch) said that it had a photo of newly-born Howard with a note on the back that read, "Howard my son, my greatest gift." Only one story reveals what's really in the letter from Howard's dad, and given that information regarding Sam Wolowitz was scant, it's difficult to gauge which one it is — although it's safe to say that Sheldon's was a lie. The belated introduction of Josh (Matt Bennett), Howard Wolowitz's supposed half-brother in The Big Bang Theory who's an oceanography student from San Diego, however, revealed Sam moved on with a second family. What's unclear is if he's still with them or if he left them too.

Chances are that Sam Wolowitz walked out on his second family too, considering that it would otherwise have been an opportunity for Howard to reunite with his dad — a possibility that wasn't even brought up. Penny's take on what's in the letter from Howard's dad — that Sam moved on to a different life — seems most plausible. It didn't give any hope that Sam would return but was instead an explanation of why he left, which would've given Howard closure. In any case, perhaps if CBS is still up for another The Big Bang Theory spin-off, Young Howard could push through, and audiences would find out what was in Howard's dad's letter.

Why It Doesn't Matter What Was In Howard's Letter

Nothing Howard's Dad Wrote Would Have Made Up For His Absence

Ultimately, what Howard's dad really wrote in the letter doesn't matter. Whatever words Sam Wolowitz had for his son Howard wouldn't have been enough to make up for his abandonment. Instead of a father figure, Howard has a large, supportive found family in The Big Bang Theory. This group of friends cares so much about him that they helped him find closure from the letter, and this present form of affection outweighs Howard's dad's letter. Revealing the letter's contents would therefore have missed the point: it's who's there for Howard that counts, not those who'd abandoned him. Keeping what was in Howard's dad's letter mysterious added depth to Howard's character.

The Best Theory For What Was In Howard's Dad's Letter

The Gang Probably Split Up The Letter From Howard's Dad

The best all-around theory about what was in Howard's dad's letter is that it contained a little bit of what everyone said — save for Sheldon's rendition. Even though Howard's dad's absence is inexcusable, it would be heartwarming to think he was there for his graduation, or that he called his son his "greatest gift." Assuredly, the birthday card included Raj's "Happy Birthday" proclamation, and it may have even included Penny's idea, which is only further reinforced by the fact that Howard's dad did move on to have a new family. Either way, fans of The Big Bang Theory will never truly know what was in Howard's dad's letter, and it remains up to the imagination.

Simon Helberg Wanted Howard To Meet His Dad

The Big Bang Theory Actor Wanted More Screen Time For Howard's Past

While he hasn't revealed what Howard's dad's letter says, actor Simon Helberg has revealed he would have loved to have a scene where Howard finally met and confronted his dad. He made these comments while the show was still on the air (via CinemaBlend), so it was something he had desired that the writers chose not to move forward with. This did make some sense, as Helberg outlined how a moment like this would be hard to pull off with genuine emotion on a show like Big Bang Theory.

"I think it would be nice to potentially meet his dad. I like it when the writers get deep because it’s hard to do that on a sitcom without hearing the cheesy violin or having that special episode feeling."

Helberg made these comments the season after Howard's mother died, and his father signed the house over to him without ever showing up onscreen or even contacting him about the deal. Sadly, the idea of Howard's dad signing the house over without even speaking to his son shows that the idea of the reunion was never going to happen, and that is what Big Bang Theory fans ended up seeing play out on the screen. The question of what was in Howard's dad's letter

Howard's father's letter might remain a mystery, but that might be best for Howard in the long run.