The Big Bang Theory remained one of the most popular and acclaimed shows on television throughout its twelve seasons. Much of the praise went to the cast, whose performances were constantly singled out in critics and fan reviews and declared the show's highlight.
Naturally, come September, the show was a staple at the Emmys, and the Television Academy bestowed multiple nominations upon its talented cast of regular and guest actors. And while Jim Parsons' Sheldon was by far the show's most lauded character, many of the show's other figures also received their fair share of praise.
Actors Who Received Emmy Award Nominations
Christine Baranski
By the time she first appeared in The Big Bang Theory in the season 2 episode "The Maternal Capacitance," Christine Baranski was already television royalty. Baranski played Beverly Hofstadter, Leonard's mother and one of the supporting characters who appears the most in The Big Bang Theory.
The actress rose to prominence with her role in Cybill, which earned her an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 1995 plus three more nominations. Baranski received four nominations for her guest role in Big Bang in 2009, 2010, 2015, and 2016. However, she never won, losing against Tina Fey and Betty White for hosting SNL, Joan Cusack for Shameless, and Fey once again, who shared the Emmy with Amy Poehler for their hosting duties on SNL.
Johnny Galecki
Although Sheldon is the show's breakout star, Leonard Hofstadter was the original de-facto lead. Played by Johnny Galecki, Leonard is an insecure but kind-hearted experimental physicist and one of the few people that actually knows Sheldon. Leonard's relationship with Penny provides much of the show's early drama, but they would eventually lose their status as Big Bang's golden couple to two romances no one thought would become so popular, Howard and Bernadette and Sheldon and Amy.
Galecki received solid reviews throughout the series' run, but the Television Academy only recognized him with one nomination in 2011 for the show's fourth season. Alas, luck wasn't on his side, and Galecki lost to his Big Bang co-star, Jim Parsons, who won his second consecutive Emmy.
Mayim Bialik
The season 3 finale, "The Lunar Excitation," introduced Amy Farrah Fowler, played by Blossom star Mayim Bialik. In season 4, Amy became a recurring character before becoming a series regular starting in season 5. Amy and Sheldon's relationship became wildly popular, cementing her place as one of the show's crucial characters. However, she also formed an endearing bond with the series' other girls; in fact, Penny, Amy, and Bernadette had some very iconic scenes on The Big Bang Theory.
Bialik received critical acclaim for her performance. She was one of only two Big Bang cast members to receive more than one Emmy nomination. Bialik received four consecutive nods in the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series category from 2012 to 2015. However, she never won, losing to Modern Family's Julie Bowen and Nurse Jackie's Merritt Wever once and twice to Mom's Allison Janney.
Laurie Metcalf
Television icon Laurie Metcalf was one of the first big names that guest-starred on The Big Bang Theory, first appearing in the season 1 episode "The Luminous Fish Effect." Metcalf played Sheldon's overly religious mother, Mary Cooper, who also acted as a surrogate mom to his other friends. Mary was overtly racist, but she was still caring and protective of her son; indeed, Mary and Sheldon share some of the most emotional scenes on The Big Bang Theory.
Metcalf was already a three-time Emmy winner when she first appeared on Big Bang, thanks to her iconic role as Jackie Harris in Roseanne. Metcalf received her sole nomination for guest-starring on The Big Bang Theory in 2016 but lost against Amy Poehler and Tina Fey, who won for their work as SNL hosts.
Actors Who Won Emmy Awards
Jim Parsons
Jim Parsons is the undeniable star of The Big Bang Theory. Indeed, Sheldon Cooper is the show's beating heart, for better and worse. He's the thing that keeps the show together; not only do his idiosyncrasies provide much of the series' humor, but his unique personality turned him into Big Bang's breakout character, earning him a spot in pop culture.
Parsons is the show's most acclaimed actor. He earned his first Emmy nomination in 2009 in the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series category, losing against Alec Baldwin in 30 Rock. However, he'd win back-to-back in 2010 and 2011, losing his 2012 bid to Jon Cryer in Two and a Half Men. Parsons would make a triumphant return to the stage, again winning back-to-back in 2013 and 2014. He wouldn't receive any more nominations for the rest of the series' run, but his four wins make him one of the category's most-awarded actors.
Bob Newhart
It's outright ridiculous to think that Bob Newhart won his first and so far only Emmy for The Big Bang Theory. Not because Newhart is bad on the show, quite the opposite; his Arthur Jeffries is arguably the funniest guest star on The Big Bang Theory thanks to the actor's legendary gift for deadpan and his charming chemistry with Jim Parsons. However, Newhart is a television institution, having starred in two of the most iconic sitcoms in history, The Bob Newhart Show in the 70s and Newhart in the 80s.
Prior to his victory for Big Bang, Newhart received one nomination for The Bob Newhart Show, three for Newhart, one for guest-starring on ER, and one for his supporting role in the miniseries The Librarian: Curse of the Judas Chalice. Newhart won the first of his three nominations for his role in Big Bang, losing the other two to Jimmy Fallon, who won for his hosting of SNL, and to Peter Scolari's stint on Girls.