The Big Bang Theory: 10 Characters You Totally Forgot Existed

Season 4, Episode 15: The Benefactor Factor

While attending a university fundraiser, the gang are introduced to one of the leading donors, Mrs. Latham, played by the late Jessica Walter. Considering she calls Howard a "space plumber" seconds after meeting him, the gang can instantly tell she's not easy to impress. However, she's inexplicably wooed by Leonard and implies she will donate money to Caltech if he sleeps with her.

Since Jessica Walter has made a career out of portraying callous women who churn out cutting stingers, it's no surprise she plays a similar character here. Even though her characters in Archer and Arrested Development are infamous for being mean-spirited, Latham is arguably worse since she relishes making people feel uncomfortable. When Leonard asks why she engages in such cruel behaviour, she admits "there's nothing I like better than to make smart people feel ill at ease".

Sometimes, her dialogue isn't particularly clever but Walter has such a knack for sounding heartless, her way of saying something as simple as "I no longer care, dear." is crushing. It would've be amazing to see more of Latham since she might be the only person better at putting down others than Sheldon.