In a surprisingly candid revelation, The Big Bang Theory star Simon Helberg recently shared that he spent a significant portion of his time on the massive CBS sitcom battling intense, paralyzing anxiety. Helberg, who won the hearts of millions globally for his portrayal of the eccentric aerospace engineer Howard Wolowitz, opened up about the heavy psychological toll of sudden worldwide fame.
Appearing on the latest episode of the Dinner’s On Me with Jesse Tyler Ferguson podcast, the actor reflected on his twelve-year run on the show. Helberg admitted that for the first eight or nine years of the series, he felt continuously overwhelmed by fear and nervousness. When questioned whether the pressure came from losing his anonymity alongside the demanding nature of the job, the actor confirmed that a mix of every factor contributed to his constant state of high anxiety.
The actor explained that as the show skyrocketed in popularity, it brought an unrealistic expectation that his life should feel perfect, like a “walk in the park.” Instead, the mounting success made him feel incredibly vulnerable. Helberg described a particular low point where he felt on the verge of collapsing under the pressure, noting that early attempts with standard therapy and various medications did not yield positive results for him at the time.
To cope with the daily stress of filming in front of a live studio audience, Helberg developed a unique, behind-the-scenes ritual to release his built-up adrenaline. According to co-stars interviewed in the 2022 definitive history book of the series, Helberg would run down the famous apartment staircase on the set right before the cast introduction and scream as loudly as possible. Because the studio audience was already cheering loudly, his screams were entirely drowned out.
While his fellow cast members, including Jim Parsons and Kaley Cuoco, affectionately looked back at the routine as a harmless pre-show superstition, Helberg noted that it became an essential tool for his mental survival. The actor admitted he used to feel embarrassed by the ritual but eventually embraced it as a necessary way to ground himself before stepping into the spotlight.
