Mayim Bialik's Real Name: Mayim Bialik

Quick answer: Mayim Bialik is known by her own name. She was born on December 12, 1975, in San Diego, California, to Beverly and Barry Bialik. She starred in the title role of Blossom (1990–95), played Amy Farrah Fowler on The Big Bang Theory, earned a doctorate in neuroscience from UCLA, and co-hosted Jeopardy! (Britannica; Library of Congress).

Real name and early life

Britannica lists her as Mayim Bialik, born December 12, 1975, in San Diego, and names her parents as Beverly and Barry Bialik. The Library of Congress name authority files her as "Bialik, Mayim," with the citation "Mayim Bialik, b. Dec. 12, 1975; actress." One LOC note includes a middle name, but its spelling does not match other references, so this page uses the name she is credited under.

Britannica says Bialik was a child actor. Her first TV roles were in an episode of Beauty and the Beast in 1987 and two episodes of The Facts of Life the next year. Her first film part was a small role in the horror movie Pumpkinhead (1988). That same year her resemblance to Bette Midler made her a natural choice to play the young C.C. Bloom in Beaches.

Career highlights

In 1990 Bialik won the title role in Blossom, a coming-of-age sitcom about a teenage girl living with her father and two brothers. Britannica notes that her less glamorous look, compared with most teen stars of the era, helped make her one. After the show ended she did mostly voice work, on series such as Johnny Bravo and Kim Possible.

At the same time she studied neuroscience at UCLA, earning a bachelor's degree in 2000 and a doctorate in 2007. Her research looked at adolescent obsessive-compulsive disorder in children with Prader-Willi syndrome. She took time off from acting from 2003 for her marriage to Michael Stone, which lasted until 2013, and for motherhood.

She returned with a recurring role on Curb Your Enthusiasm (2005–07). In 2010 she joined The Big Bang Theory as neuroscientist Amy Farrah Fowler. She appeared in 203 episodes and earned four Emmy nominations and two Critics' Choice Awards. She starred in and executive produced Call Me Kat (2021–23).

After Alex Trebek's death, Bialik was one of the guest hosts of Jeopardy! in 2021. In 2022 she was named a permanent co-host with Ken Jennings, and she hosted Celebrity Jeopardy!. In December 2023 she announced that she would no longer host the show. Her podcast, Mayim Bialik's Breakdown, focuses on mental health, and her books include Girling Up (2017).

Name notes for searchers

Mayim is her given first name, not a nickname or stage name, and Bialik is her family surname. She uses both professionally and on her books.