Whatever Happened To Barry Kripke From The Big Bang Theory? – Looper

During the “Big Bang Theory”‘s run, John Ross Bowie was cast in the ABC sitcom “Speechless.” The series follows the DiMeo family as they find a school to accommodate their son, JJ, who suffers from cerebral palsy. JJ is confined to a wheelchair and is nonverbal, communicating using a laser pointer attached to headgear that allows him to dictate words and letters on a board. Armed with a means of communication, JJ utilizes a biting sense of humor to speak to those around him. Bowie plays Jimmy DiMeo, the easy-going patriarch of the family, who’s just looking to support his family and coast through life with minimal effort. However, despite this façade, Jimmy works to instill the value of family in his kids.

“Speechless” aired in 2016 and ran concurrently with “The Big Bang Theory,” with Bowie playing both roles simultaneously, which likely was a factor in Kripke’s diminished presence. Though the series garnered critical acclaim, it was canceled after Season 3 due to low ratings. Following “Speechless” and “The Big Bang Theory,” Bowie would star in several shorts and played one-off roles in various TV shows, before landing a role in the Dwayne Johnson-led “Jumanji: The Next Level.”

Starting in 2021, Bowie started cropping up more regularly, with stints in several TV series including a reunion with Chuck Lorre, the creator of “The Big Bang Theory,” when he played Brett on “United States of Al,” a Chuck Lorre production. Unfortunately, the series was canceled in May 2022.

Earlier in Bowie’s career, he guested on a few episodes of the satirical comedy “Reno 911!” In 2022, Bowie reunited with his former castmates in the TV movie “Reno 911!: It’s a Wonderful Heist,” which premiered on Comedy Central.