The popular and much-loved show, the CBS comedyThe Big Bang Theory‘ was popular even after the show stopped airing in 2019. The fabulous cast is undoubtedly one of the main reasons behind the show’s popularity aside from the well-timed jokes.

But how many of us really know that the famous part-time astronaut and aerospace engineer Howard Wolowitz, played by Simon Helberg is inspired by a real person who happens to be a personal friend of the sitcom’s co-creator Bill Prady.

Big Bang Theory: Bill Prady and Howard Wolowitz

Bill Prady he was not “This is my goal and I will achieve it” kind of person from the start. Before he worked on the Big Bang theory as the co-creator and executive producer, he was just another New York City college dropout desperate to grab every opportunity that came his way.

We saw him explain to Slate back in 2009 how his research led him to a local RadioShack and he started computer programming with very little experience in the field. Thankfully, his co-worker friends all the time came to his rescue.

“I had a brief career as a computer programmer. I was involved in creating the FilePro software for the TRS-80 at my friend Howie’s place.” Prady said

Yes, you heard it right. Howie or Howard Wolowitz is the real person who Simon Helberg’s character from The Big Bang Theory is called after.

Although at first there isn’t any apparent similarity between the two Howards, Prady believes that the time he spent with Howie really laid the groundwork for the show’s Howard and other cast mates. It helped him better understand ‘geekish culture’ and with the awesome representation of geeks on the show, we’d say there is no arguing that.