Mayim Bialik facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mayim Bialik
Bialik in 2018
Born	Mayim Chaya Bialik (1975-12-12) December 12, 1975 (age 49) San Diego, California, U.S.
Education	University of California, Los Angeles (BS, PhD)
Occupation	Actress author
Years active	1987–present
Spouse(s)	Michael Stone ​ ​ (m. 2003; div. 2013)​
Children	2
Scientific career
Fields	Neuroscience
Thesis	Hypothalamic Regulation in Relation to Maladaptive, Obsessive-Compulsive, Affiliative, and Satiety Behaviors in Prader-Willi Syndrome (2007)

Mayim Chaya Bialik (born December 12, 1975) is an American actress, author, and former game show host. She is well-known for her roles in popular TV shows. From 1991 to 1995, she starred as the main character in the NBC sitcom Blossom. Later, from 2010 to 2019, she played the neuroscientist Amy Farrah Fowler on the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory. For this role, she received several awards and nominations. Bialik also shared hosting duties for the game show Jeopardy! with Ken Jennings from August 2021 to December 2023.

Early Life and Education

Mayim Chaya Bialik was born on December 12, 1975, in San Diego, California. Her parents were Beverly and Barry Bialik. Her family came from Jewish immigrant backgrounds, with grandparents from Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Hungary. She grew up in a Jewish home and later described herself as a Modern Orthodox Jew. Mayim's first name, which means "water" in Hebrew, was a family nickname for her great-grandmother.

Bialik finished high school in 1993 at North Hollywood High School in Los Angeles. She was accepted into the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where she studied while continuing her acting career. In 2000, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in neuroscience. She also studied Hebrew and Jewish studies.

After getting her bachelor's degree, Bialik continued her studies to earn a doctorate in neuroscience. She took a break from her studies in 2005 to return to acting. However, she went back to UCLA and earned her PhD degree in neuroscience in 2007. Her research focused on how the brain's hypothalamus works in relation to certain behaviors, especially in people with Prader–Willi syndrome.

Career Highlights

Starting as a Child Actress (1987–2009)

Bialik at the 1989 Academy Awards rehearsal

Mayim Bialik began acting when she was a child in the late 1980s. Her first acting job was in the 1988 horror film Pumpkinhead. She also made guest appearances on TV shows like The Facts of Life and Beauty and the Beast. She played a character named Frieda in eight episodes of the sitcom Webster.

In 1988, Bialik appeared in the movie Beaches, playing a younger version of Bette Midler's character. Many people praised her performance in the film. She also appeared in the music video for Michael Jackson's song "Liberian Girl". In 1990, she got the lead role in two TV pilots: Molloy and Blossom. Blossom became a popular show and aired from 1991 to 1995.

After Blossom ended, Bialik mostly did voiceover work for cartoons. These included The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest, Disney's Recess and Kim Possible, and Nickelodeon's Hey Arnold!. She also appeared in the film Kalamazoo? (2005) and had a recurring role in the TV series Curb Your Enthusiasm.

Starring in The Big Bang Theory (2010–2019)

Bialik at the 36th Annual Gracie Awards in 2011

In 2010, Mayim Bialik joined the cast of The Big Bang Theory as Dr. Amy Farrah Fowler. Her character was a neurobiologist, which was a fun connection to Bialik's real-life PhD in neuroscience. Amy became a love interest for the character Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons). She started as a recurring character and then became a main cast member in season 4.

Bialik's performance on The Big Bang Theory earned her several Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. Before she joined the show, there was a funny line in an episode where a character suggested recruiting the real-life Bialik for their Physics Bowl team, mentioning her PhD in neuroscience.

During her time on The Big Bang Theory, Bialik also hosted a revival of Candid Camera and appeared in a Lifetime Christmas movie called The Flight Before Christmas. In 2019, she signed a deal with Warner Bros. Entertainment to produce new shows. One of these shows is Call Me Kat, where she stars as the main character. This show premiered in January 2021.

Bialik also wrote several books during this period. She co-authored Beyond the Sling, which is about attachment parenting, and Mayim's Vegan Table, a cookbook with vegan recipes. Her third book, Girling Up, talks about the challenges girls face as they grow up. Its follow-up, Boying Up (2018), explores the science and changes boys experience during adolescence.

Hosting Jeopardy! and Directing (2021–2023)

From May to June 2021, Bialik was a guest host of the popular game show Jeopardy!. In August 2021, it was announced that she would host the show's special primetime episodes and spin-offs. After a change in hosts, Bialik began sharing hosting duties for the regular syndicated show with Ken Jennings. They continued to host together for the 2021–22 and 2022–23 seasons. In May 2023, Bialik competed as a contestant on Celebrity Wheel of Fortune, winning money for a mental health charity.

Bialik also wrote and directed her first film, As They Made Us (2022). The movie is about a divorced mom dealing with her family and looking for love. It starred Dustin Hoffman, Candice Bergen, and her former The Big Bang Theory co-star Simon Helberg. The film was released on April 8, 2022.

In May 2023, Bialik temporarily stepped away from Jeopardy! to support the Writers Guild of America strike. Ken Jennings hosted the rest of that season. In December 2023, it was announced that she would no longer host the syndicated version of Jeopardy!.

Advocacy and Interests

Grok Nation

In August 2015, Bialik started a website called Grok Nation. The goal was to create a space for people of different ages and backgrounds to discuss important topics. She wanted to encourage online conversations that could lead to real-world action and community change. The word "grok" means to understand something deeply. The website later relaunched as a women's lifestyle site in March 2018 but stopped updating in March 2019.

Supporting Israel

Bialik has spoken out in support of Israel. During the 2014 Gaza Conflict, she donated money to the Israel Defense Forces. She has also spoken against hate towards Jewish people on college campuses in the United States. In November 2023, Bialik stated her view that Israel has a right to protect itself.

Vegan Lifestyle

Mayim Bialik is a vegan, meaning she does not eat animal products. She is also a founding member of the Shamayim V'Aretz Institute, a Jewish organization that promotes the ethical treatment of animals. In 2017, she and a vegan chef opened a vegan restaurant in Los Angeles called Bodhi Bowl. However, it closed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Discussing the Entertainment Industry

In 2017, Bialik wrote an article for The New York Times about the entertainment industry. She discussed how the industry often takes advantage of women. She also shared her personal approach to protecting herself, which included dressing modestly. This part of her article caused some debate, with critics saying it suggested that a person's clothing could prevent harassment. Bialik later clarified her comments, expressing regret that her words were misunderstood.

Personal Life

In 2014, Bialik received an honorary degree from Boston University.

Marriage and Family

Mayim Bialik married Michael Stone on August 31, 2003. Their wedding had a Victorian theme and included traditional Jewish customs. Stone converted to Judaism before their marriage. They have two sons together. Bialik decided to return to television acting in 2010 so she could spend more time with her children. Bialik and Stone announced their divorce in November 2012, and it was finalized six months later.

Religious Beliefs

Bialik identifies as an "aspiring Modern Orthodox Jew." She has appeared in online videos where she discusses Jewish beliefs. She also often writes for the Jewish parenting website Kveller.

Vaccination Views

In 2009, Bialik mentioned that her family did not vaccinate. However, in October 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, she stated that she planned to get vaccinated against the flu and the SARS-CoV-2 virus. She also clarified that while her children might not have had every vaccine, they have since received a "delayed" vaccination schedule.

Film and Television Roles

Film

Television

Web Series

Video Games

Podcast

Books by Mayim Bialik

Non-Academic Books

• Bialik, Mayim (2017) Girling Up: How to be Strong, Smart and Spectacular. Philomel Books. ISBN: 978-0399548604.
• Bialik, Mayim (2018) Boying Up: How to be Brave, Bold and Brilliant. Philomel Books. ISBN: 978-0525515975.
• Bialik, Mayim (2021) Flash Facts. DC Comics. ISBN: 9781779503824.

Academic Work

• Bialik, Mayim Chaya (2007) Hypothalamic regulation in relation to maladaptive, obsessive-compulsive, affiliative, and satiety behaviors in Prader-Willi syndrome. PhD thesis, University of California, Los Angeles.

Awards and Recognitions

See also

In Spanish: Mayim Bialik para niños

• List of artists and entertainers with advanced degrees