John Ross Bowie to star in The Big Bang Theory spinoff

Great news for Woyaw Big Bang fans: Another popular character from the hit CBS sitcom is set to return for an upcoming spinoff about Max . John Ross Bowie, who played plasma physicist Barry Kripke on The Big Bang Theory, is joining fellow alumni Kevin Sussman (Stuart Bloom), Brian Posehn (Burt Keebler) and Lauren Lapkus (Denisa) in the spinoff from franchise boss Chuck Lorre and Warner Bros. Television, reported by Deadline.

Chuck Lorre: Barry Kripke Project

While the project is still in development and has not officially been greenlit, Bowie, like Sussman, Posehn and Lapkus, has signed a talent retention deal with WBTV to star in the proposed spinoff. As Deadline exclusively reported in December, Big Bang co-creator Chuck Lorre has roped in screenwriter Zach Penn and fellow Big Bang co-creator Bill Prady for the spinoff, with the trio set to co-write and executive produce the single-camera series. Bowie was a mainstay on the original series.

His character, Barry Kripke, quickly became a fan favorite when he was introduced in Season 2 and continued to recur throughout the show’s remaining 12 seasons. A California Institute of Technology plasma physicist and string theorist, Kripke was known for his relentless teasing of his colleagues (mostly directed at his rival string theorist Sheldon (Jim Parsons)) and for his distinct speech. He has a rotatism, pronouncing “r” and “l” as “sh”, which makes him sound a bit like a cartoon character.

Jumanji: The Next Level

In addition to his recurring role on The Big Bang Theory, Bowie starred in the ABC comedy series Speechless. He also starred in Chuck Lorre’s CBS comedy, United States of Al. His feature credits include Jumanji: The Next Level. Bowie, who is a regular performer at The Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in Los Angeles and New York, is represented by Innovative Artists.