11 Geeky Facts About The Big Bang Theory You Didn't Know

8. Sheldon + Leonard = Sheldon Leonard

There is a story behind the names of The Big Bang Theory's principal characters. Sheldon Cooper and Leonard Hofstadter were named after one Sheldon Leonard, an innovative producer, director actor and writer, of whom the show's creators are said to be big fans. Leonard, known for his thick New York accent and penchant for playing gangsters, starred in famed Hollywood films such as It's a Wonderful Life and Sinbad the Sailor. Later in his career, he provided voiceovers for iconic cartoons and TV commercials; but it was his work as a producer on The Dick Van Dyke Show and The Andy Griffith Show for which he was most well known. According to executive producer Bill Prady, it was Chuck Lorre's idea to name the characters after him. Bonus trivia: Leonard's last name 'Hofstadter' was taken from that of renowned physicist and Nobel prize winner, Robert Hofstadter. Additionally, Sheldon takes his last name from another Nobel prize winner, Leon Cooper.