In Season 4 of The Big Bang Theory, Johnny Galecki, known for his role as Leonard Hofstadter, faced a serious health scare that nearly ended his time on the beloved sitcom. Galecki, who stayed with the show for all twelve seasons, reveals in Jessica Radloff’s The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series that he experienced a frightening medical emergency in 2011.
The trouble began when Galecki, fresh off his first Emmy nomination for playing Leonard, was visiting his sister in Chicago. He noticed his right eye was tearing up repeatedly, but after taking allergy medicine, the problem only got worse. The next day, Galecki found one side of his face drooping and feared he’d suffered a mini-stroke. “I thought I had had a mini-stroke,” Galecki recalls, as he and his sister hurried to the hospital.
Despite his health concerns, Galecki was already thinking of the show’s future and called Big Bang Theory creator Chuck Lorre, prepared to discuss recasting his role. He even offered to transition to a writing position if his acting career was compromised. “I called Chuck and told him I was paralyzed on my right side. I said, ‘I’m going to help you recast my role,’” Galecki remembers. Lorre quickly contacted top medical professionals, who suspected Galecki was suffering from Bell’s palsy—a temporary condition affecting facial muscles, not a stroke.
Galecki’s Journey Back to Set After Diagnosis
Galecki’s doctors confirmed he had Bell’s palsy, which can improve with therapy. But for Galecki, it meant making special adjustments on set to avoid highlighting the condition. He didn’t initially inform his team of the diagnosis, but after his Emmy nomination, he had to explain his limitations. “I said, ‘Half my face doesn’t work, so if you could put the cameras on the left side of my face, that would be great,’” Galecki shared, and he even carried a bandana to wipe his eye, which wouldn’t blink.
Although Galecki recovered enough to keep performing, he still experiences some residual effects. “Still, to this day, when I get over-exhausted, I can feel some weakness on that side,” he notes.
A Pattern of Miraculous Medical Support on Set
Galecki wasn’t the only Big Bang Theory star who benefited from timely medical intervention on Chuck Lorre’s watch. In 2010, Kaley Cuoco, who played Penny and was an avid horseback rider, suffered a severe leg injury after being thrown from a horse. The accident nearly resulted in Cuoco losing her leg, but through a lucky coincidence, Lorre met a renowned orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Steven Lombardo, on a golf course. Dr. Lombardo arranged for Cuoco’s transfer to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where she received urgent surgery.
“That was the darkest, most frightening time in all 12 years. Kaley could have lost her leg,” Lorre recounts. “It was heaven-sent.” Lorre credits Dr. Lombardo’s intervention for saving not only Cuoco but also the future of The Big Bang Theory.
In the book, Lorre reflects on these miraculous moments, grateful for the unlikely medical rescues that kept the show’s cast and legacy intact. For fans of The Big Bang Theory, it’s yet another reason to admire the incredible bond between the cast and crew, both on and off-screen.
