“I’m going to help you recast my role.” Johnny Galecki almost left The Big Bang Theory after 4 seasons
Johnny Galecki may have parted ways with The Big Bang Theory prematurely. He feared that health problems would prevent him from continuing his acting career.
Today, it is hard to imagine that The Big Bang Theory could be missing one of its main characters or that he could be played by someone else, especially from season 2 or even later. Yet such a risk occurred after season 4, when Johnny Galecki became frightened that his health might not allow him to continue his TBBT adventure.
In a book The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series, Galecki recounted how one day he woke up with half of his face drooping (via Slashfilm). He feared that this could be symptoms of a stroke and that half of his face would remain paralyzed, which would prevent him from continuing his acting career.
On the way to the hospital, the actor thought about the fact that he would not be able to continue acting on The Big Bang Theory, and therefore called the series' creator, Chuck Lorre, to warn him that it would be necessary to find someone to replace him. He also wanted to ask that he be allowed to continue working on the show, only in a slightly different role.
My sister burst into tears, and as we were on our way to the hospital, I called Chuck and told him I was paralyzed on my right side. I said, “I’m going to help you recast my role, and I would love if you would also consider me for a staff writing position on the show.”
Lorre, however, was not about to give up so easily and decided to help the star of his show. He called around various doctors, learning that Galecki's symptoms pointed to Bell's palsy. This diagnosis was later confirmed by Galecki’s doctor. The actor did not have to part with his role, in which he starred until the very end of The Big Bang Theory, although, as he confessed, he continued to struggle from time to time with “feeling some weakness on that side.”
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