- Mayim Bialik
-
Mayim Bialik 
Bialik at the 2011 Gracie AwardsBorn Mayim Hoya Bialik
December 12, 1975
San Diego, California, U.S.Occupation Actress Years active 1986–present Spouse Michael Stone (2003-present; 2 children) Website mayimbialik.net Mayim Hoya Bialik (English pronunciation: /ˈmaɪəm biˈɑːlɨk/; born December 12, 1975) is an American actress who also holds a PhD in neuroscience. Her most notable TV roles have been as Blossom Russo on NBC's Blossom and as Amy Farrah Fowler on CBS's The Big Bang Theory.
Contents
Early life
Bialik was born in San Diego, California, the daughter of Barry Bialik and Beverly Winkelman.[1] Her grandparents emigrated in the late 1930s from Poland and Czechoslovakia/Hungary. Bialik was raised in Reform Judaism. Her given name means "water" in Hebrew.[2]
Career
Bialik at the rehearsal for the 1989 Academy Awards
Bialik started her career as a child actress in the late 1980s. Her early roles included the horror film Pumpkinhead, her first acting job,[3] and guest appearances on The Facts of Life and Beauty and the Beast. She appeared in three episodes of MacGyver as Lisa Woodman. In 1988, she appeared in Beaches (1988), playing Bette Midler's character as a young girl. She also appeared in the video for the song "Liberian Girl" by Michael Jackson.
In 1990 Bialik was tied to two television pilots, Fox's Molloy and NBC's Blossom. Molloy at first produced six episodes for a tryout run, followed by the shooting of the pilot special for Blossom. The latter actually aired two weeks before Bialik's Fox series, and ultimately garnered higher ratings than it. When Molloy folded after its six episodes, Blossom was pursued as a regular series. Blossom aired until 1995.
Between 1995 and 2005 Bialik mostly did voice work for cartoons, such as The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest, and Recess.
She appeared in the feature film Kalamazoo? released in late 2005. She appeared in three episodes of the HBO comedy series Curb Your Enthusiasm as Jodi Funkhouser, the lesbian daughter of a friend of Larry David. Bialik also made guest appearances as a fictionalized version of herself in the series Fat Actress. Bialik had a guest appearance as a Hasidic Jew in an episode of Saving Grace.[4][5] She had a recurring role as the high school guidance counselor in ABC Family's The Secret Life of the American Teenager. She also had an appearance on the Fox TV show 'Til Death in which she has a reunion of sorts with two of her Blossom costars- Jenna von Oÿ – who played Blossom’s quirky best friend Six – and Michael Stoyanov – who played Blossom’s older brother Anthony.[6]
In 2010 she joined the cast of The Big Bang Theory as Amy Farrah Fowler. Her first appearance was in the finale of the third season of the show, where she was cast as a potential girlfriend for the character Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons). In the fourth season of the show, she started out as a recurring character playing Sheldon's "friend that's a girl, but not a girlfriend". Beginning with episode 8 of the 4th season, she became part of the main cast.[7] Bialik's character is a neurobiologist, which corresponds to Bialik's real-life educational pursuits, as described below.
Prior to her joining the cast, in the episode "The Bat Jar Conjecture", Raj suggests recruiting the real-life Bialik to their Physics Bowl team, saying "You know who’s apparently very smart, is the girl who played TV’s Blossom. She got a PhD in neuroscience or something".
Personal life
At the end of Blossom, she chose to attend UCLA, although she also had been accepted to both Harvard and Yale.[8][9] She stated that she wanted to stay close to her parents and did not want to move to the East Coast. She earned a bachelor's degree in 2000 in neuroscience, Hebrew, and Jewish studies, and went on to the PhD program in neuroscience. A 2002 interview stated that Bialik is now involved in Conservadox Judaism.[2] She has appeared in several YouTube cameos as Blossom and Amy Farrah Fowler [10] asking questions about Jewish beliefs. The videos are produced by Allison Josephs, Bialik's Judaism study partner, whom she met with the help of Partners in Torah. [11]
She took a break from studies in 2005 to return to acting.[12] Bialik completed her PhD in 2008, but is not pursuing an academic career in the near future, though her character on The Big Bang Theory is a neurobiologist.[13] Her dissertation was an investigation of Prader-Willi syndrome.[14][15]
She married Michael Stone on August 31, 2003, in a Victorian-themed ceremony with traditional Jewish customs[16] (Bialik's husband, born a Latter Day Saint, converted to Judaism; several years later, Bialik's mother-in-law converted to Judaism as well).[17][18] The couple have two sons together; Miles Roosevelt Bialik Stone was born on October 10, 2005, and Frederick Heschel Bialik Stone was born on August 15, 2008.[19] She is a celebrity spokesperson for the Holistic Moms Network.[20]
Hayim Nahman Bialik, Israel's national poet, was Mayim Bialik's great-great-grandfather's uncle.[21]
She is vegan.[22]
Filmography
Film Year Title Role 1988 Beaches young Cecilia 'CC' Carol Bloom Pumpkinhead Wallace kid 2005 Kalamazoo? Maggie Goldman 2011 The Chicago 8 Nancy Kurshan Television - Live Action Year Title Role Notes 1987 Beauty and the Beast Ellie Episode: "No Way Down" 1988 The Facts of Life Jennifer Cole Episodes: "The Beginning of the Beginning", "The Beginning of the End" 1988–1989 Webster Frieda eight episodes 1989–1990 Empty Nest Laurie Kincaid Episodes: "The R.N. Who Came to Dinner", "Harry Knows Best" MacGyver Lisa Woodman Episodes: "Cease Fire", "Twenty Questions", "Hearts of Steel" 1990 Doogie Howser, M.D. Candace Episode: "Ask Dr. Doogie" Molloy Molloy Martin Episodes: "Pilot", "Surprise" Murphy Brown Natalie Episode: "I Want My FYI" 1990–1995 Blossom Blossom Russo 114 episodes 1991 Sea World's Mother Earth Celebration (on Nickelodeon) Herself Played a mall-a-holic who knows little about animals and nature until she hears about friends' experiences. Her neighborhood mysteriously "flies off" to Sea World where she's able to use her new knowledge and learn more facts. 1993 The Hidden Room Jillie Episode: "Jillie" 1994 Don't Drink the Water Susan Hollander Woody Allen's TV remake 1994–1995 The John Larroquette Show Rachel Episodes: "The Book of Rachel", "Rachel and Ton", "Rachel Redux" 1998 Welcome to Paradox Rita Episode: "Alien Jane" 2005 Fat Actress Herself Episodes: "The Koi Effect", "Holy Lesbo Batman" 7th Heaven Cathy Episode: "Dick" 2005, 2007 Curb Your Enthusiasm Jodi Funkhauser Episodes: "The Bowtie", "The TiVo Guy", "The Ida Funkhouser Roadside Memorial" 2009 Saving Grace Esther Episode: "Mooooooooo" What Not To Wear Herself Clinton Kelly nominated her for the show, having been a fan of hers since Blossom Bones Genie Gormon Episode: "The Cinderella in the Cardboard" 2010 The Secret Life of the American Teenager Dr. Wilameena Bink Episodes: "You Don’t Know What You’ve Got...", "Just Say Me", "Let's Try That Again", "The Rhythm of Life" 'Til Death Herself Episodes: "The Break-Up", "Merit Play", "Baby Steps" 2010-Present The Big Bang Theory Amy Farrah Fowler Introduced in season 3 finale, guest until episode 5 of season 4, main cast starring role since episode 8 of season 4 Television - voice Year Title Role Notes 1992 The Kingdom Chums: Original Top Ten Petey 1995, 1996 The Adventures of Hyperman Brittany Bright Episodes: #1.1 and "Oceans a Leavin'" 1996 The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest Lucy Episode: "The Alchemist" Julia/French Woman Episode: "Assault on Questworld: 1996, 1999 Hey Arnold! Maria Episodes: "6th Grade Girls/The Baseball", "Dinner for Four/Phoebe Skips" 1997 Johnny Bravo Tour Guide Episode: "Going Batty/Berry the Butler/Red Faced in the White House" Extreme Ghostbusters Girl in Future Episode: "Ghost Apocalyptic Future" 1997, 1998, 2000 Recess Kirsten Kurst Episodes: "The Break-In", "The Girl Was Trouble", "The Ratings Game" 2003 X2: Wolverine's Revenge Bush Pilot, May Deuce video game 2003, 2004 Kim Possible Justine Flanner Episodes: "The Secret Files", "Partners" 2005 Katbot Paula never aired References
- ^ "The Mayim Bialik Appreciation Society". http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=16809065907.
- ^ a b Goldman, Michele (2002-10-11). "Religion Blossoms for Bialik". The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles. http://www.jewishjournal.com/home/preview.php?id=9409. Retrieved 2006-12-13.
- ^ Pierce, Leonard (2009-01-28). "Mayim Bialik: Random Roles". The A.V. Club. http://www.avclub.com/articles/mayim-bialik,23149/. Retrieved 2009-07-05.
- ^ "Mayim Bialik's Kosher Comeback!". Popjudaica.com. http://popjudaica.com/blog/2009/05/mayim-bialiks-kosher-comeback/. Retrieved 2011-03-12.
- ^ "Mayim Bialik Learns What Not to Wear". Celebrity-babies.com. 2010-11-15. http://celebrity-babies.com/2009/05/28/mayim-bialik-learns-what-not-to-wear/. Retrieved 2011-03-12.
- ^ "'Blossom' reunion on FOX? Whoa!". Fox News. 2010-03-31. http://entertainment.blogs.foxnews.com/2010/03/31/blossom-reunion-on-fox-whoa/.
- ^ Ausiello, Michael (2010-11-15). "‘Bang Theory’ Ups Mayim Bialik to Regular". deadline.com. http://www.deadline.com/2010/11/bang-theory-ups-mayim-bialik-to-regular/. Retrieved 2011-01-30.
- ^ Carter, Alan (1993-07-16). "Blossom Flowers: Mayim Bialik Grows into Adult Roles". Ew.com. http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,307267,00.html. Retrieved 2011-03-12.
- ^ Mayim Bialik; Playing the Role Of an American in Paris Michael E. Hill; The Washington Post; Sep 19, 1993; Y.07;
- ^ 'Science vs. Religion: Mayim Bialik and the Other Big Bang Theory', Jew in the City, October 31, 2011.
- ^ 'Mayim Bialik to Guest Star on a Very Special Jew in the City!', Jew in the City, May 20, 2009
- ^ "Alumni Stories - Notable Alumni". Uclalumni.net. http://www.uclalumni.net//AlumniStories/Notable/Bialik.cfm. Retrieved 2011-03-12.
- ^ "Mayim Bialik Talks Attachment Parenting with CBB – Moms & Babies – Moms & Babies - People.com". Celebrity-babies.com. 2010-11-15. http://celebrity-babies.com/2009/06/04/mayim-bialik-talks-attachment-parenting-with-cbb/. Retrieved 2011-03-12.
- ^ "Life After Child Stardom - Not by the Numbers". Abcnews.go.com. 2006-11-24. http://abcnews.go.com/2020/print?id=2677187. Retrieved 2011-03-12.
- ^ Bialik, Mayim C. "Hypothalamic regulation in relation to maladaptive, obsessive-compulsive, affiliative, and satiety behaviors in Prader-Willi syndrome" (PhD Diss., UCLA, 2007).
- ^ "Featured Wedding: Mayim Bialik & Mike Stone". Jewishweddingnetwork.com. http://www.jewishweddingnetwork.com/featured-wedding-mayim-bialik-mike-stone. Retrieved 2011-03-12.
- ^ http://www.kveller.com/blog/parenting/mayim-bialiks-husband-was-a-mormon/
- ^ http://kveller.com/parent/Grandparents/From_Mormon_to_Jew.shtml
- ^ "Mayim Bialik Welcomes Second Son, Frederick Heschel". Celebrity-babies.com. 2010-11-15. http://celebrity-babies.com/2008/11/11/mayim-bialik-bl/. Retrieved 2011-03-12.
- ^ "Meet Mayim Bialik: Actress and Holistic Mom". Holisticmoms.org. 2009-07-07. http://www.holisticmoms.org/category/aboutus/spokesperson/. Retrieved 2011-03-12.
- ^ Roth, Matthue (2009-05-06). "Mayim Bialik: From ‘Blossom’ to Brachot". Jewcy.com. http://www.jewcy.com/post/mayim_bialik_blossom_brachot. Retrieved 2011-03-12.
- ^ "Exclusive: Mayim Bialik Gets Her Eco On At The Go Green Expo In Los Angeles". Ecorazzi.com. 2010-01-20. http://www.ecorazzi.com/2010/01/20/exclusive-mayim-bialik-gets-her-eco-on-at-the-go-green-expo-in-los-angeles. Retrieved 2011-03-12.
External links
Categories:- 1975 births
- Actors from California
- Actors from San Diego, California
- American child actors
- American child singers
- American female singers
- American film actors
- American Jews
- American television actors
- American vegans
- American voice actors
- Jewish actors
- Living people
- People from San Diego, California
- University of California, Los Angeles alumni
- American people of Polish-Jewish descent
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