Simon Helberg

Trivia

• Simon's inspiration for his role as Howard on The Big Bang Theory is a cross between James Bond and Alec Baldwin's character on 30 Rock.
• Aside from starring in The Pity Card (2006), Simon was also the writer for the film.
• Some of the shows that Simon watches are In Treatment, 24, Project Runway, Arrested Development, and Curb Your Enthusiasm.
• Simon is a big fan of The Beatles. Their music is constantly on his iPod. He also listens and plays a lot of jazz music.
• The gutsiest thing Simon has done to impress a girl was when he flew all the way to France to surprise his wife (then-girlfriend) and win her back after they broke up.
• Simon executive-produced the made-for-TV movie This is My Friend in 2007.
• Simon was inspired to do Karate after watching Karate Kid when he was 5 1/2 years old. He received his black belt when he was ten.
• He's a professional pianist.

Quotes

• "It's appealing to play somebody who is so confident in every possible way. For me, believe it or not, it's a stretch. It may not be a huge stretch for me to play a nerd, but to play a super confident guy is a bit different. I tend to be a little more indecisive and insecure about things. It's pretty fun to get to just be out there and so smug and all knowing about all the situations that he's been in with a woman."
• "It's unbelievable. It's like a bonus. Working is a bonus, working on something you love is a bonus and getting to do it for a long time is the ultimate."
• "Honestly, it's like we've known each other forever. We spend time outside of the show together and it's really helpful to be on the same page as people when you're working with them-we have a shorthand and I think that makes the quality of the show that much better."
• "I don't get to keep the clothes and it's pretty far from what I wear in my real life. The turtleneck is really something to be reckoned with."
• "Tucked away in my childhood desk, I have many a New Kids on the Block centerfold from Teen Beat magazine and such. I was a much younger, scarier person when I ripped these pictures out (sometimes even from magazines that I didn't buy). It's a miracle I survived."
• "I own a fart CD. It has, I believe, over 100 fart sounds. A lovely variety, from the up-close and personal to the more experimental and dissonant. Some people prefer to listen to Bach when they go to sleep."
• "I enjoy spending my spare time with my wife, our cat and our bird. We've been so busy that when I have any spare time that I like to sit around and watch "Top Chef," or something like that"
• "I've worked with a lot of great people, some briefly and some in my depth. I've had a lot of fun, really. I try to have fun as much as I can on everything I do."
• "I think working for the audience for me is the most fun. It's really a chance for something to work towards. It's where everything kind of comes together and you have to make it work. You have all these people who are sitting there, wanting to have a good time and wanting to laugh. You really have no choice but to pull it out."
• "Sometimes I try to create some trouble. I just punch one of them in the stomach just to get things moving or make these interviews more interesting. It's pretty much just five friendly people just going to work and being happy to be around each other."