Simon Maxwell Helberg[3] (born December 9, 1980) is an American actor and comedian. He is known for playing Howard Wolowitz in the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory (2007–2019), for which he won the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, and as Cosmé McMoon in the film Florence Foster Jenkins (2016), for which he was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture.
Simon Helberg | |
|---|---|
 Helberg at PaleyFest 2013 for The Big Bang Theory | |
| Born | Simon Maxwell Helberg December 9, 1980 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Citizenship |
|
| Education | New York University (BFA) |
| Occupations | |
| Years active | 1999–present |
| Television | The Big Bang Theory |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Father | Sandy Helberg |
Helberg has appeared on the sketch comedy series MADtv, and has further performed in films such as Old School (2003), Good Night, and Good Luck (2005), Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007), A Serious Man (2009) and Annette (2021).
Early life
editHelberg was born on December 9, 1980, in Los Angeles.[3] He is the son of actor Sandy Helberg and casting director Harriet Helberg (née Birnbaum).[4][3] He was raised Jewish, "Conservative to Reform but more Reform as time went on."[5][6]
Helberg attended middle and high school at the Crossroads School in Santa Monica, California, with Jason Ritter, who later became his roommate at New York University.[7] He attended New York University's Tisch School of the Arts,[8][9] where he trained at the Atlantic Theater Company.[4]
Career
editSince the early 2000s, Helberg performed with comedian Derek Waters as the sketch comedy duo Derek & Simon.[10] In 2007, the two starred together in Derek and Simon: The Show, a web series they created with comedian Bob Odenkirk for the comedy website Super Deluxe. They previously made two short films "Derek & Simon: The Pity Card" (co-starring Zach Galifianakis and Bill Hader) and "Derek & Simon: A Bee and a Cigarette" (co-starring Casey Wilson and Emily Rutherfurd) and had a pilot deal with HBO in 2005. One of Helberg's earliest jobs in television was briefly joining the cast of MADtv for one season in 2002.
Helberg appeared in the 2002 feature film Van Wilder as one of the geeky students for whom Van Wilder was throwing a party. He had a minor role in the 2003 movie Old School. In 2004, he was in two episodes of Reno 911!: Student Driver in "Raineesha X" and Hooker Buying Son in "Not Without My Mustache". He had a small role in the sixth episode of Quintuplets, "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 film A Cinderella Story, starring Hilary Duff and Chad Michael Murray. Helberg played the minor role of Simon in George Clooney's 2005 film Good Night, and Good Luck, where he had one line. In 2005, he had a bit part on Arrested 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 drama Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. In 2006, he appeared in a series of comical TV commercials for Richard Branson's UK financial services company Virgin Money. He played a small role in the 2007 film Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story as a Jewish record producer.
In 2007, Helberg was cast as Howard Wolowitz, in the CBS comedy series The Big Bang Theory.[5][11]
He appeared as the character Moist in Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog, and had a small role in the pilot episode of the Judd Apatow-produced sitcom Undeclared. In the 2009 Coen brothers film A Serious Man, he played junior Rabbi Scott Ginsler. He had a minor role in the season 4 finale of The Guild as one of the Game Masters.
In 2016, Helberg starred alongside Meryl Streep and Hugh Grant in Florence Foster Jenkins, directed by Stephen Frears; he played pianist Cosmé McMoon and his performance was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture.[12] Not only did Helberg act in the film, he also played the piano.[13] Helberg next starred in Annette, opposite Adam Driver.[14]
Forbes placed him third in its world's highest-paid TV actors list in 2018, his revenues rising to $23.5 million in that year.[15]
Personal life
editHelberg married actress Jocelyn Towne, the niece of screenwriter Robert Towne,[16] on July 7, 2007.[17] They have a daughter[18] and a son.[19]
Helberg has been friends with Nathan Hamill, son of actor Mark Hamill, since he was 9 years old.[20] Helberg has been friends with Jason Ritter since he was 12 years old. They went to college together and continue to work together when given the opportunity.[21]
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 director Leos Carax's English-language debut Annette, which opened the 2021 Cannes Film Festival.[22]
Filmography
editFilm
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| 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 |
Television
edit| 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 | Poker Face | FBI Agent Luca Clark | Episodes: "Time of the Monkey" and "The Hook" |
| American Dad! | Dr. Revanche (voice) | Episode: "Saving Face" |
Theatre
edit| 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 (musical) | 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 |
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Award | Nominated work | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Teen Choice Awards | The Big Bang Theory | Choice TV: Male Scene Stealer | Nominated |
| 2012 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series | Nominated | |
| 2013 | Critics' Choice Television Awards | Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series | Won | |
| 2013 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series | Nominated | |
| 2014 | Nominated | |||
| 2015 | Nominated | |||
| 2015 | Teen Choice Awards | Choice TV: Chemistry | Nominated | |
| 2016 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series | Nominated | |
| 2017 | Golden Globe Awards | Florence Foster Jenkins | Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture | Nominated |
| 2017 | Santa Barbara International Film Festival | Florence Foster Jenkins | Virtuosos Award | Won |
| 2017 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | The Big Bang Theory | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series | Nominated |
| 2024 | Astra TV Awards | Poker Face | Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series | Nominated |
References
edit- ^ "Simon Helberg". Twitter. Archived from the original on February 16, 2015. Retrieved January 5, 2015.
- ^ Goldberg, Lesley (October 25, 2013). "'Big Bang Theory's' Kate Micucci on Howard's 'Song for Bernadette': Simon Helberg 'Nailed It' in One Take (Video)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on February 16, 2015. Retrieved January 5, 2015.
- ^ a b c "Simon Helberg". TV Guide. Archived from the original on January 5, 2015. Retrieved January 4, 2015.
- ^ a b "The Big Bang Theory Cast: Simon Helberg". CBS. Archived from the original on January 23, 2014. Retrieved October 19, 2012.
- ^ a b Miller, Gerri (September 4, 2007). "Fall TV Preview: Simon Helberg". American Jewish Life Magazine. Archived from the original on October 2, 2013. Retrieved October 19, 2012.
- ^ Bloom, Nate (January 26, 2012). "Jewish Stars 1/27". Cleveland Jewish News. Archived from the original on October 8, 2019. Retrieved December 24, 2017.
- ^ Lindhome, Riki. "Making It #1: Jason Ritter". Nerdist. Archived from the original on December 11, 2011. Retrieved July 26, 2011.
- ^ "Eight Tisch Alumni Nominated for 18th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards". Tisch School of the Arts, New York University. Archived from the original on January 11, 2014. Retrieved October 19, 2012.
- ^ Davies, Alex (September 30, 2019). "Big Bang Theory: The 4 real-life educations of Big Bang stars". Daily Express. London. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
- ^ Fox, Jesse David (September 1, 2015)."Bob Odenkirk Talks to Derek Waters About Drunk History, Drinking With David Simon, and the State of Sitcoms". Archived January 27, 2016, at the Wayback Machine. Vulture.
- ^ Quillard, Bobby (August 16, 2010). "Talk Nerdy to Me: Simon Helberg of The Big Bang Theory". Venus Zine. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved October 19, 2012.
- ^ Setoodeh, Ramin; Birnbaum, Debra (December 12, 2016). "Golden Globes Nominations: 25 Biggest Snubs and Surprises". Variety. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
- ^ Ruggieri, Melissa (August 11, 2016). "'Big Bang' star Simon Helberg talks playing piano and working with Meryl Streep in 'Florence Foster Jenkins'". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
- ^ Wiseman, Andreas (October 9, 2019). "Simon Helberg Joins Adam Driver & Marion Cotillard In Leos Carax's Amazon Musical 'Annette'; France Deal Inked As Cameras Roll". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on July 23, 2021. Retrieved October 9, 2019.
- ^ "Highest-Paid TV Actors 2018". Forbes. Archived from the original on August 2, 2020. Retrieved March 21, 2019.
- ^ Bowerman, Jeanne Veillette (August 18, 2011). "Balls of Steel: I Am I ... and Then Some". Script Magazine. Archived from the original on November 9, 2014. Retrieved May 9, 2014.
- ^ Raz, Gali (March 12, 2014). "Simon Helberg Gets Together With His Real Life Wife Jocelyn Towne To Direct A Movie – On Their Romance". Jewish Business News. Archived from the original on July 12, 2014. Retrieved January 4, 2015. Note: Webber, Us Weekly (below), gives marriage year as 2012.
- ^ Michaud, Sarah; Rizzo, Monica (January 27, 2012). "Baby on the Way for Simon Helberg". People. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved January 27, 2012.
- ^ Webber, Stephanie (June 24, 2014). "Simon Helberg and Wife Jocelyn Towne Welcome Second Child, Baby Boy Wilder Towne Helberg". Us Weekly. Archived from the original on January 5, 2015. Retrieved January 4, 2015.
- ^ "Watch: Mark Hamill guest starts on The Big Bang Theory in new BTS footage". Syfy. Archived from the original on August 20, 2021. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
- ^ "I AM I Interview: Jason Ritter". Collider. June 17, 2014. Archived from the original on September 10, 2021. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
- ^ Guthrie, Marisa (July 6, 2021). "Simon Helberg Is Deeply Committed". Women's Wear Daily. Archived from the original on September 5, 2021. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
External links
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