Young Sheldon's Hidden Characters: Surprising Absentees From Big Bang Theory

Summary

Paige Swanson, a rival child genius and friend of Sheldon, is a significant part of his childhood in

Young Sheldon

but is never mentioned in

The Big Bang Theory

.

Dr. John Sturgis and Dr. Grant Linkletter both play important roles in Sheldon's life in

Young Sheldon

Young Sheldon's predecessor.

The Big Bang Theory

.

Young Sheldon, the prequel to The Big Bang Theory, delves into the childhood of Sheldon Cooper and explores the formative years that shape his future. While not all characters from his younger days are featured in the original series, Young Sheldon has gained significant popularity since its debut in 2018, spanning six successful seasons. This acclaimed prequel sheds light on Sheldon's childhood, revealing previously unknown aspects that he omitted in The Big Bang Theory.

In Young Sheldon, Iain Armitage skillfully embodies the role of Sheldon Cooper, succeeding Jim Parsons' iconic portrayal. Throughout The Big Bang Theory's 12-season run, Sheldon discloses numerous details about his upbringing in Texas, yet he makes no mention of certain significant individuals. Surprisingly, these pivotal characters from Young Sheldon never make an appearance or receive any acknowledgement in The Big Bang Theory.

13 Paige Swanson

12 John Sturgis

Introduced in the second season of Young Sheldon, Paige Swanson (played by McKenna Grace) is a talented child prodigy and a member of Dr. Sturgis' class. Initially not fond of Paige, Sheldon gradually develops a friendship with her and recognizes her value as a trusted ally, particularly due to her advanced social skills. Alongside her bond with Sheldon, Paige also forms a close relationship with his twin sister, Missy, finding solace in their presence during her parents' divorce. Interestingly, despite playing a prominent role in Sheldon's early years, Paige is curiously absent from any mention in The Big Bang Theory, despite her close connection to the Cooper family.

Initially, Dr. John Sturgis (Wallace Shawn) becomes young Sheldon's pen pal until he extends an invitation for Sheldon to audit his course. Sharing a mutual love for science, they form a wholesome friendship. Eventually, Sturgis embarks on a romantic relationship with Sheldon's grandmother, Connie. However, due to his ongoing mental health challenges, he decides to end the relationship. Despite playing both a grandfatherly and mentoring role in Sheldon's life, Sheldon never mentions the name John Sturgis in The Big Bang Theory. Instead, he frequently refers to the television scientist Professor Proton.

11 Grant Linkletter

Dr. Grant Linkletter (played by Ed Begley Jr.) is an esteemed physics professor at East Texas Tech who not only serves as Sheldon's advisor but also happens to be a rival to John Sturgis. However, dealing with Sheldon's difficulty in grasping sarcasm and his constant demands on his time often leave Linkletter feeling frustrated. On another note, Linkletter briefly pursues Sheldon's grandmother romantically, but Connie, still mourning her past relationship with Dale, remains uninterested. Despite Sheldon's obliviousness to Linkletter's frustrations, he holds great respect for the scientist. It is thus quite peculiar that he never mentions the man in The Big Bang Theory.

10 Dale Ballard

Dale Ballard, portrayed by Craig T. Nelson, appears as Connie's on-and-off boyfriend in Young Sheldon season 3. He also serves as Missy's baseball coach and exerts a negative influence on Sheldon's older brother, Georgie, by encouraging him to quit high school. Since Dale's storylines do not intersect with Sheldon's, it is unsurprising that he is not mentioned in The Big Bang Theory. Given the tumultuous nature of his relationship with Connie, it is unlikely that Sheldon has any reason to bring up Dale.

9 Mandy MacAllister

Mandy MacAllister (Emily Osment) makes her debut in Young Sheldon season 5, where she embarks on a romantic relationship with Georgie, completely oblivious to the fact that he is more than ten years her junior. In season 6, Mandy discovers that she is expecting Georgie's child, and together with the support of the Cooper family, she takes on the responsibility of raising little CeeCee. Initially taken aback by Sheldon's peculiarities, Mandy eventually develops a heartwarming bond with the young boy. Although absent from The Big Bang Theory, it is conceivable that Mandy has been absent from their lives for numerous years, considering Sheldon's references to Georgie's multiple ex-wives.

8 Pastor Jeff

Pastor Jeff, portrayed by Matt Hobby, serves as the pastor of the local church attended by the Cooper family. He shares a close relationship with Sheldon's mother, Mary, and demonstrates exceptional patience in his interactions with the young Sheldon, who often expresses his strong opinions and struggles to comprehend religion. Pastor Jeff frequently confides in Mary about his marital difficulties, arising from challenges in communication due to a language barrier with his wife. Although Sheldon's aversion towards religion as an adult explains his lack of mention towards Pastor Jeff in The Big Bang Theory, it is peculiar that the show does not allude to him given his mother's association with the church.

7 CeeCee

Baby CeeCee is born to Georgie and Mandy in Young Sheldon season 6, and her parents become engaged by the end of the season. Given Georgie's history with ex-wives and girlfriends as mentioned in The Big Bang Theory, it is likely that Georgie and Mandy eventually break up. Despite being Sheldon's niece, CeeCee is not referenced or present at Sheldon and Amy's wedding in the original show. This is probably because Mandy is introduced in Young Sheldon season 5, four years after The Big Bang Theory concluded, indicating that the writers did not have plans to include her character beforehand.

6 Billy Sparks

Billy Spark, portrayed by Wyatt McClure, is a cherished childhood friend and next-door neighbor of Sheldon and Missy. He is an innocent and uncomplicated child who relishes in spending time with the Cooper family. In The Big Bang Theory, Sheldon mentions Billy as one of his childhood tormentors; however, Young Sheldon challenges this notion and showcases Billy actively seeking friendship with Sheldon. Throughout the series, he persistently admires Missy, despite her continuous rejections.

5 Brenda Sparks

Brenda Sparks (Melissa Peterman) is the mother of Billy and the Coopers' next-door neighbor. Among all the characters, Brenda appears to be the least likely to be mentioned by Sheldon in The Big Bang Theory due to her infidelity scandal involving Sheldon's father in Young Sheldon. Prior to this, Brenda's relationship with Mary was strained. However, in Young Sheldon season 3, an unexpected friendship blossoms between the two, intensifying the sadness of George's affair. This becomes evident when Mary discovers that her husband confides more in Brenda than in her.

4 Pastor Rob

Pastor Rob, the youth pastor at Coopers' church, was appointed by Pastor Jeff and Mary, who were both impressed by his unique perspective. Pastor Rob shares a strong bond with all the youngsters and was the first to learn about Mandy's pregnancy. Additionally, he shares a special friendship with Mary, providing guidance on her smoking habits and supporting her when Jeff forces her to take a break from the church. Similar to Pastor Jeff, it is not surprising that Rob is not mentioned on The Big Bang Theory, largely due to Sheldon's aversion to religion.

3 President Hagemeyer

2 Wayne Wilkins

In Young Sheldon season 4, Sheldon attends East Texas Tech, where Linda Hagemeyer serves as the president. Despite Sheldon's difficulties, President Hagemeyer displays remarkable patience towards him and serves as a trusted confidante for his family troubles. It is perplexing that Sheldon never mentions Linda in The Big Bang Theory, considering the close bond they share, as depicted in Young Sheldon.

Wayne Wilkins is George Senior's colleague at Medford High, where he works as the P.E. teacher and assistant football coach. Although Wayne doesn't have a prominent role in Young Sheldon, there is an interesting storyline involving him. He discovers that his wife has cheated on him and as a result, she becomes pregnant. Wayne ends up frequently teaching Sheldon and enjoys listening to George's outrageous stories about his son. Nevertheless, given Sheldon's focus on football, it is unsurprising that Wayne is never mentioned in The Big Bang Theory.

1 Jana Boggs

Georgie's ex-girlfriend, Jana Boggs, ended their relationship when he made the decision to quit high school. Jana, known for her jealousy, frequently expresses concerns about Georgie's interactions with Veronica. Additionally, she finds it difficult to share a Spanish class with Sheldon. After their breakup in the episode "Potential Energy and Hooch on a Park Bench" in season 5 of Young Sheldon, Jana's character does not reappear, thus explaining Sheldon's absence of mentioning her in the future.