Summary
- Simon Helberg, who plays Howard Wolowitz in The Big Bang Theory, opened up about his struggle with OCD.
- Helberg described his peak of darkness after filming the pilot of the show.
- Despite his mental health struggles, Helberg found support through therapy, meditation, and exercise.
Howard Wolowitz's awkward but endearing personality is one of the reasons why The Big Bang Theory continues to be so popular. Simon Helberg's perfect portrayal of this beloved character is another reason.
But while Helberg is of course a wealthy The Big Bang Theory cast member, he is not immune to struggling. In a revealing interview, he explained that he suffered from a health condition earlier on in his acting career, and he still deals with it today. The Big Bang Theory fans will definitely want to hear Simon Helberg's honest account of the tough times that he went through.
What Health Condition Did The Big Bang Theory Star Simon Helberg Struggle With?
Mayim Bialik's podcast Bialik Breakdown features interviews with celebrities on vulnerable topics. Some recent episodes include Ben Stiller talking about working too much, Geri Halliwell discussing confidence, and Justin Bateman chatting about getting older. Mayim Bilalik interviewed Simon Helberg on her podcast in May 2022 and Helberg opened up about having OCD.
Bialik opened up the conversation by saying, "I did see a huge shift in you and in the way that you composed yourself. And one of the things that I really was so excited about was that I found a fellow nail-biter. And over the course of the work that you have done on yourself, you stopped biting your nails."
She mentioned that he started talking to a therapist and asked, "I'm just curious what you sort of remember of that shift for you?"
Helberg told Bialik in the podcast episode:
"The peak of my darkness... Right after we shot the pilot to Big Bang, right before I was getting married... That was the best moment in my life before I had kids i would say, in terms of the things that I loved and wanted and attaining things. And of course that's when, you know, the fear of losing it is there. But in the swirl and the vortex of that storm, you don't. know what's going on and I just didn't have any way to cope with it."
He continued that he talked to various therapists and was given medications to try things out. He talked to one therapist about "compulsions" and said he wasn't the right person for him to talk to.
Helberg continued to Bialik:
"I remember being curled up in a fetal position in my dressing room multiple times. Um, hysterical, you know... but really like for a long time... and then there's that awful ugly part of it... Why am I not enjoying this? I'm so ungrateful, I'm so awful, I'm so superficial, what's wrong with me? Look at all the other hardships in the world... And here I am at the highest point in my career, and this great moment in my personal life, and I can't get out the door. I can't get off the floor."
Helberg continued that his wife, Jocelyn Towne said that it wasn't the right time for them to start a family because he was going through so much with his mental health. The actor shared that when he found a great therapist, they supported him.
| Facts About Simon Helberg And Jocelyn Towne's Relationship | Date |
|---|---|
| got married | 2007 |
| first child, Adeline, born (according to E! News) | 2012 |
| second child, Wilder, born (according to E! News) | 2014 |
| Helberg ended the relationship prior to proposing (shared on The David Letterman Show) | pre-2007 |
Bialik added "there is a science to cognitive behavioral therapy" and mentioned "chemicals" coming out when people smile. She said "I was very, very tuned into the way that you functioned" and that she noticed when things got better for him.
Simon Helberg explained that while he doesn't take medication anymore, he "still does struggle" but Helberg has benefited from cognitive behavioral therapy. He added that he wants healthcare to be better for people because he didn't have health insurance in the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic and he can relate.
It's tough to hear that the actor struggled so much earlier on in his career, as fans had no idea that he was experiencing mental health struggles.
The Big Bang Theory actor mentioned "getting very regular with therapy, meditation and exercise" were the most helpful for him.
How Did The Big Bang Theory Star Simon Helberg's Mental Health Struggles Affect His Career?
It sounds like, from the podcast interview that he did with Mayim Bialik, The Big Bang Theory star Simon Helberg was able to find compassionate support that helped him with his mental health. He described feeling much better and finding coping strategies.
After The Big Bang Theory ended in 2019, Simon Helberg continued to work. He voiced Dr. Revanche in a 2023 episode of American Dad, played Luca Clark in a few episodes of Poker Face, and starred in the movies Space Oddity, As They Made Us, and Annette.
Movies and TV shows Simon Helberg starred in before The Big Bang Theory:
- 5 episodes of Mad TV (2002-2003)
- played Seth in Joey (2004-2006)
- 14 episodes of Derek And Simon: The Show (2007)
- played Terry in A Cinderella Story (2004)
In 2022, Mayim Bialik directed the family drama As They Made Us, and Simon Helberg played Nathan, the brother of the main character Abigail, played by Dianna Agron. Bialik and Helberg bonded so much on The Big Bang Theory and it was great they worked on this project together.
It sounds like starring in the 2021 movie Annette was a fascinating and special experience for Simon Helberg. The Big Bang Theory star played The Accompanist in Annette. His character travels with the main characters Ann Defrasnoux (Marion Cotillard) as she is an opera singer.
Simon Helberg talked about Annette in an interview with IndieWire and shared that he really dug into the character.
Helberg said:
“I feel like that quality existed throughout the entire shoot, where it was these series of demands that we were being asked to accomplish, and they were next to impossible at times. Because of that, there was always a real vulnerability. You see that onscreen. You see that we are walking this high wire and it’s a long way to fall. You end up being very raw. That is a quality that is very compelling to watch and also very thrilling to be a part of.”
It must have been satisfying for The Big Bang Theory's Simon Helberg to star in such a unique movie, especially after the hard times that he experienced.
