LOS ANGELES — Actress Carol Ann Susi, whose brash Brooklyn accent reverberated on the hit television series “The Big Bang Theory,” has died after a battle with cancer. She was 62.
Susi played the mother of Simon Helberg’s character, Howard Wolowitz, in the CBS comedy.
Though she never appeared on camera and was largely unseen, she routinely hollered Howard’s name, making her overbearing, husky voice a big part of the show.
“The Big Bang Theory family has lost a beloved member today,” the show’s executive producers said in a statement following her death Tuesday.
“Unseen by viewers, the Mrs. Wolowitz character became a bit of a mystery throughout the show’s eight seasons. What was not a mystery, however, was Carol Ann’s immense talent and comedic timing, which were on display during each unforgettable appearance.”
The comedy about smart but socially awkward physicists is in its eighth season.
Since she moved to Los Angeles from New York in the 1970s, Susi has appeared in a variety of shows including “Cheers,” “Mad About You,” “Just Shoot Me” and “Seinfeld.”
In a statement, her publicist described her as a “spunky Italian gal from Brooklyn” who was passionate about Halloween horror mazes and cooking.
“Carol Ann drew fervent circles of followers,” the statement said. “She was a force of nature who didn’t suffer fools and was fiercely loyal to her friends.”
Cast members tweeted their condolences, including Kunal Nayyar, who plays Raj, one of Howard’s friends.
“My heart is broken,” he said.
