When Melissa Rauch first showed up in “The Bang Bang Theory” as Howard’s blind date, Bernadette, in 2009, nobody was sure she would have a recurring role. The two didn’t have much chemistry with each other, and Howard wasn’t exactly charming. But as soon as viewers saw the two characters bond over their meddling mothers, the spark was obvious, and Rauch was ensured a permanent role on “The Big Bang Theory.”
Despite Howard’s socially awkward habits, he was clearly made for Bernadette, whom he would ultimately marry in Season 5. Rauch told Backstage that she was ever-grateful for the direction that “Big Bang” went in, as she was originally intended to be a one-time guest star.
From a young age, Rauch had a deep love for comedy. This passion led her to develop characters like Bernadette, who would take her on a journey she could never have imagined.
She’s from New Jersey
A New Jersey native, Melissa Rauch wasn’t always surrounded by Hollywood glamour. Raised in the ‘burbs of Jersey,’ her New Yorker parents migrated to the nearby state to raise their children. They moved to Marlboro Township, which is where Melissa Rauch’s upbringing occurred and where she discovered her passion for making people laugh.
She was a class clown in school
As a child, Rauch always imitated what she saw on-screen, mimicking celebs like Whoopi Goldberg and Don Knotts. The actress used this tactic to get over her natural shyness, but it sometimes got her in trouble. At the age of 7, Rauch would often memorize stand-up sets that were inappropriate and far beyond her years. One day in class, she memorized a Whoopi Goldberg HBO special filled with the F word, and her teacher called her mother, shocked that the child wouldn’t talk but performed this bizarre standup performance filled with swearing.
Her bat mitzvah was comedy club-themed
As Melissa Rauch started growing up, so did her passion for comedy. In her free time, she participated in community theater, went to theater camp, and did shows in her basement with her brother. As a teen, her bat mitzvah even had a comedy club theme! It’s obvious that Rauch always wanted to be an actress, and she eventually started going to acting auditions in New York, finally losing her Jersey accent while studying acting at Marymount Manhattan.
She met her future husband in college
While attending Marymount Manhattan College, Rauch met Winston Beigel, who was once her writing partner at school. He helped her write a one-woman show called “The Miseducation of Jenna Bush,” and after they performed it at the New York Fringe Festival, the two moved west to California. They married in 2007 and have been in Los Angeles ever since.
