Did Stephen Hawking Ever Guest Star On The Show?

After seven appearances on "The Big Bang Theory," Stephen Hawking definitely charmed the show's fans. In fact, fans chose him as their favorite guest star in a 2022 poll. Hawking ultimately scored 57% of the vote, followed by stars like James Earl Jones, Bill Nye, and the late Carrie Fisher. 

These are just a few of the major stars who stopped by "The Big Bang Theory" during its 12-season run, playing themselves in a variety of ridiculous situations. Joe Mangianello shows up in Season 12, alongside Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, William Shatner, and Wil Wheaton, all playing a game of Dungeons & Dragons together. Wheaton frequently appears on the series, positioned as a sort of nemesis for Sheldon. LeVar Burton also appears as himself in a few episodes, including ones where he joined Amy and Sheldon for their makeshift online show, "Fun with Flags." Sarah Michelle Gellar even showed up in the series finale as Raj Koothrappalli's (Kunal Nayyar) date to the Nobel Prize ceremony where Amy and Sheldon are being honored. 

Stephen Hawking was one of many famous figures to show up on "The Big Bang Theory." And following Hawking's passing in 2018, the sitcom found a way to honor his legacy — even if many fans never got to see it.