Kaley Cuoco

Kaley Christine Cuoco (/ˈkwoʊkoʊ/ KWOH-koh; Italian: [ˈkwɔːko]; born November 30, 1985)[1] is an American actress and producer. After a series of supporting film and television roles in the late 1990s, she landed her breakthrough role as Bridget Hennessy on the ABC sitcom 8 Simple Rules (2002–2005). Thereafter, Cuoco voiced Brandy Harrington on Brandy & Mr. Whiskers (2004–2006) and appeared as Billie Jenkins on the final season of the television series Charmed (2005–2006). She later starred as Penny on the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory (2007–2019), and received Satellite, Critics' Choice, and People's Choice Awards for the role.

Kaley Cuoco
Cuoco in July 2017
Born	Kaley Christine Cuoco (1985-11-30) November 30, 1985 Camarillo, California, U.S.
Other names	Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting
Occupation	Actress producer
Years active	1992–present
Spouse(s)	Ryan Sweeting ​ ( m. 2013; div. 2016) Karl Cook ( m. 2018)

Cuoco made her film debut in the thriller television film Quicksand: No Escape (1992). Her film work includes Virtuosity (1995), Toothless (1999), Can't Be Heaven (1999), Alley Cats Strike (2000), Growing Up Brady (2000), Crimes of Fashion (2004), The Hollow (2004), Lucky 13 (2005), To Be Fat like Me (2007), Cougar Club (2007), Killer Movie (2008), The Penthouse (2010), Hop (2011), Authors Anonymous (2014), and The Wedding Ringer (2015). She received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2014[2] and in October 2017 founded Yes, Norman Productions.

Early life

Cuoco was born in Camarillo, California, the elder daughter of Layne Ann (née Wingate), a homemaker, and Gary Carmine Cuoco, a realtor.[3] Her father is of Italian descent while her mother is of English and German ancestry.[4] Her sister, Briana, competed on the fifth season of The Voice. As a child, Cuoco was a regionally ranked amateur tennis player,[5] a sport she took up when she was 3 years old. She stopped playing at the age of 16.[6]

Career

Cuoco made her first feature film appearance as the young Karin Carter in the 1995 action thriller Virtuosity.[7] From 2000 to 2001, she appeared on the CBS sitcom Ladies Man and in 2000 she portrayed former The Brady Bunch star Maureen McCormick in the TV film Growing Up Brady as well as starring in the Disney Channel original film Alley Cats Strike. In September 2002, she began a starring role as Bridget Hennessy on the ABC sitcom 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter (afterwards 8 Simple Rules). Bridget was the oldest child, despite Cuoco being six years younger than Amy Davidson, who played her younger sister.

Cuoco at the San Diego Comic-Con in July 2009

In addition to the final season of 8 Simple Rules, Cuoco had starring roles on the NBC miniseries 10.5, the ABC Family original film Crimes of Fashion, the independent film Debating Robert Lee,[8] and in the film The Hollow at the same time. She also voiced the character of Brandy Harrington, a 14-year-old anthropomorphic mixed-breed dog, on the Disney Channel animated series Brandy and Mr. Whiskers. She voiced the character of Kirstee Smith in Bratz from 2004 to 2005. In the eighth season of the TV series Charmed, she appeared as Billie Jenkins, a powerful young witch with the powers of telekinesis and projection. Executive producer Brad Kern stated that Cuoco's character was initially brought in as a possible spin-off.

In September 2007, Cuoco began starring in the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory, playing Penny, a Cheesecake Factory employee and aspiring actress who lives across the hall from physicists Dr. Leonard Hofstadter and Dr. Sheldon Cooper. Prior to the 2010–2011 season, she earned US$60,000 an episode for the series, the same as her co-stars. In 2010, the cast negotiated a raise for each actor to make US$200,000 per episode.[9] As of August 2014, Cuoco and her co-stars from The Big Bang Theory Johnny Galecki and Jim Parsons each earned an estimated US$1 million per episode.[10]

Cuoco at PaleyFest in March 2013

In late October 2012, Cuoco enlisted the help of her sister Briana to organize a flash mob on the set of the show, in which she and the cast and crew surprised the studio audience by suddenly lip syncing and dancing to Carly Rae Jepsen's song "Call Me Maybe". A video of the event was posted on YouTube and became a viral success.[11][12] A clip from the performance was also played during Cuoco's January 8, 2013 appearance on the late-night talk show Conan.[13]

Cuoco starred in the Lifetime film To Be Fat like Me, which premiered on January 8, 2007.[14] She played a minor role in the Prison Break episodes "The Message" and "Chicago", as well as starring in the comedy horror spoof Killer Movie in 2008. She also appeared in the 2010 film The Penthouse. In 2011, she appeared in Allure magazine's annual "Naked Truth" feature.[15] That same year, she appeared in the films Hop and The Last Ride.[16] She was also chosen to host the Teen Choice Awards in 2011,[17] as well as the People's Choice Awards in 2012 and 2013.[18][19] She is a regular on Priceline.com commercials as the daughter of William Shatner's character.[20]

In October 2018, it was announced that Cuoco would voice Harley Quinn and executive produce the DC Universe adult animation, Harley Quinn.[21]

Personal life

In 2007, while working on The Big Bang Theory, Cuoco privately dated co-star Johnny Galecki for roughly two years, until December 2009. She later told CBS Watch in September 2010 that they have remained on good terms since ending their relationship.[22]

On September 13, 2010, Cuoco broke her leg in a horse-riding accident and missed the filming of two episodes of The Big Bang Theory.[23]

In October 2011, she became engaged to addiction specialist Josh Resnik, but ended their engagement by March 2012.[24] She became engaged to professional tennis player Ryan Sweeting in September 2013, after three months of dating. They married on December 31, 2013, in Santa Susana, California.[25] On September 25, 2015, it was announced that she and Sweeting had decided to divorce.[26] The divorce was finalized on May 9, 2016.[27]

In December 2014, Cuoco received significant media attention surrounding a remark she made in an interview with Redbook magazine while married to Ryan Sweeting. When asked if she considered herself a feminist, she responded: "Is it bad if I say no? I was never that feminist girl demanding equality, but maybe that's because I've never really faced inequality... I cook for Ryan five nights a week: it makes me feel like a housewife. I love that. I know it sounds old-fashioned, but I like the idea of women taking care of their men".[28][29]

In an interview in March 2016, Cuoco said she felt her words were misconstrued, telling Cosmopolitan magazine, "Of course I'm a fucking feminist. Look at me. I bleed feminism: I get equal pay to my male co stars on a big show, I have my own home, I'm as independent as you could possibly be. Maybe I didn't understand the question, but for me that's feminism. I'm killing the game, man".[30][31]

Cuoco began dating equestrian Karl Cook, son of billionaire Scott Cook, in late 2016.[32][33] They became engaged on November 30, 2017, Cuoco's 32nd birthday,[34] and were married on June 30, 2018.[35]

Production

Logo used by Cuoco's production company

In October 2017, Cuoco founded Yes, Norman Productions, a film and television production company which entered an exclusive multi-year first-look production deal with Warner Bros. Television. The company is named after her dog, Norman. Also in October 2017, The company optioned the rights to The Flight Attendant, a book written by author Chris Bohjalian, which will be developed into a limited series, with Cuoco to star and executive produce.[36]

In October 2018, it was announced that Cuoco would executive produce and voice Harley Quinn in the DC Universe adult animation, Harley Quinn.[21] In July 2019, Yes, Norman entered a two-year first look production deal with Warner Bros. Television, and announced that The Flight Attendant had been picked up by WarnerMedia's upcoming streaming platform, HBO Max.[37][38] In August 2019, it was announced that she would executive produce the upcoming CBS comedy, Pretty, which is written and also executive produced by Lindsey Kraft and Santina Muha.[39]

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1992	Quicksand: No Escape	Connie Reinhardt
1995	Virtuosity	Karin Carter
1997	Picture Perfect	Little girl
1997	Toothless	Lori
1998	Mr. Murder	Charlotte Stillwater
1999	Can't Be Heaven	Teresa Powers
2000	Alley Cats Strike	Elisa Bowers
2000	Growing Up Brady	Maureen McCormick
2004	Debating Robert Lee	Maralee Rodgers
2004	Crimes of Fashion	Brooke Sarto
2004	The Hollow	Karen
2005	Lucky 13	Sarah Baker
2006	Wasted	Katie Cooning
2006	Bratz Passion 4 Fashion – Diamondz	Kirstee Smith (voice)
2006	Bratz: Genie Magic
2007	To Be Fat like Me	Alyson Schmidt
2007	Cougar Club	Amanda
2008	Killer Movie	Blanca Champion
2010	The Penthouse	Erica Roc
2011	Hop	Samantha "Sam" O'Hare
2011	The Last Ride	Wanda
2014	Authors Anonymous	Hannah Rinaldi	Also executive producer
2014	A Million Ways to Die in the West	Woman in the Store	Unrated version
2015	The Wedding Ringer	Gretchen Palmer
2015	Burning Bodhi	Katy
2015	Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip	Eleanor (voice)
2016	Why Him?	Justine (voice)
2017	Handsome	Herself
2021	The Man from Toronto	TBA

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1994	My So-Called Life	Young Angela Chase	Episode: "Father Figures"
1994	Northern Exposure	Miranda	Episode: "Hello, I Love You"
1996	Ellen	Little Ellen Morgan	Episode: "The Bubble Gum Incident"
1998	The Tony Danza Show	Pammie Green	Episode: ″Mini-Pause″
2000	Don't Forget Your Toothbrush	Ashley	Episode: "12 March 2000"
2000–2001	Ladies Man	Bonnie Stiles	Season 2
2001	7th Heaven	Lynn	Episode: "Relationships"
2002	First Monday	Alyssa	Episode: "Pilot"
2002	The Ellen Show	Vanessa	Episode: "Shallow Gal"
2002	The Nightmare Room	Kristin Ferris	Episode: "My Name is Evil"
2002–2005	8 Simple Rules	Bridget Hennessy	Main role
2004	The Help	Carly Michaels	Episode: "Pilot"
2004	Complete Savages	Erin	Episode: "For Whom the Cell Tolls"
2004	Punk'd	Herself	Episode: "9 May 2004"
2004	10.5	Amanda Williams	2 episodes
2004–2006	Brandy & Mr. Whiskers	Brandy Harrington (voice)	Main role
2005–2006	Bratz	Kirstee Smith (voice)	Season 1
2005–2007	Loonatics Unleashed	Paula Hayes / Weather Vane (voice)	3 episodes
2005–2006	Charmed	Billie Jenkins	Season 8
2007	Prison Break	Sasha Murray	2 episodes
2007–2019	The Big Bang Theory	Penny	Main role
2012	Drew Peterson: Untouchable	Stacy Peterson	Television film
2016	Comedy Bang! Bang!	Herself	Episode: "Kaley Cuoco Wears a Black Blazer and Slip on Sneakers"
2016	Lip Sync Battle	Herself	Episode: "Josh Gad vs. Kaley Cuoco"[40]
2018	Best.Worst.Weekend.Ever.	Herself	Cameo
2019–present	Harley Quinn	Dr. Harleen Quinzel / Harley Quinn (voice)	Also executive producer
2019	Young Sheldon	Pool Water (voice)[41]	Episode: "Teenager Soup and a Little Ball of Fib"; uncredited cameo
TBA	The Flight Attendant	Cassandra "Cassie" Bowden	Also creator and executive producer

Video games

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2005	Bratz: Rock Angelz	Kirstee (voice)

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Work	Result
1993	Young Artist Award	Best Young Actress in a Cable Movie	Quicksand: No Escape	Nominated
2000	YoungStar Award	Best Young Actress in a Mini-Series/Made for TV Film	Growing Up Brady	Nominated
2003	Young Artist Award	Best Performance in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) – Leading Young Actress	8 Simple Rules	Nominated
	Teen Choice Awards	Choice TV Actress: Comedy	8 Simple Rules	Nominated
	Teen Choice Awards	Choice TV Breakout Star: Female	8 Simple Rules	Won
2004	Teen Choice Awards	Choice TV Actress: Comedy	8 Simple Rules	Nominated
	Young Artist Award	Best Young Adult Performer in a Teenage Role	8 Simple Rules	Nominated
2010	Teen Choice Awards	Choice TV Actress: Comedy	The Big Bang Theory	Nominated
2011	Teen Choice Awards	Choice TV Actress: Comedy	The Big Bang Theory	Nominated
2012	People's Choice Awards	Favorite TV Comedy Actress	The Big Bang Theory	Nominated
	Teen Choice Awards	Choice TV Actress: Comedy	The Big Bang Theory	Nominated
	Satellite Award	Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy[42]	The Big Bang Theory	Won
2013	Teen Choice Awards	Choice TV Actress: Comedy	The Big Bang Theory	Nominated
	People's Choice Awards	Favorite TV Comedy Actress	The Big Bang Theory	Nominated
	Critics' Choice Television Award	Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (tied with Eden Sher)	The Big Bang Theory	Won
2014	People's Choice Awards	Favorite TV Comedy Actress	The Big Bang Theory	Won
	Kids' Choice Awards	Favorite Funny Star	The Big Bang Theory	Nominated
	Critics' Choice Television Award	Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series	The Big Bang Theory	Nominated
2015	People's Choice Awards	Favorite Comedic TV Actress	The Big Bang Theory	Won
	Kids' Choice Awards	Favorite TV Actress	The Big Bang Theory	Nominated
	Teen Choice Awards	Choice TV Actress: Comedy	The Big Bang Theory	Nominated
2016	Golden Raspberry Awards	Worst Supporting Actress	The Wedding Ringer	Won
2019	Teen Choice Awards	Choice Comedy TV Actress	The Big Bang Theory	Nominated

References

1. "8 Interesting Facts About Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting: Actor Spotlight". CBS. Retrieved May 15, 2016.
2. Lombardi, Ken (October 30, 2014). "Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting gets emotional over Hollywood Walk of Fame star". CBS News. Retrieved November 3, 2014.
3. "Kaley Cuoco". Yahoo!. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
4. "5 Things You Don't Know About Kaley Cuoco". ET Online. Archived from the original on January 6, 2014. Retrieved October 2, 2013.
5. "Southern California Tennis Association 1998 Year-End Junior Rankings – Girls'_14_Singles". californiatennis.com. Retrieved October 7, 2012. No. 54 in Girls' 14 Singles.
6. Acuna, Kirsten (March 2, 2012). "25 Things You Don't Know About Newly Single Kaley Cuoco—CBS' 'Big Bang Theory' Sweetheart". Business Insider. Retrieved October 7, 2012. Cuoco has been an ace in Hollywood and on the tennis court, playing the sport since she was three years old. She finally made the full switch to acting in 2002
7. Entertainment Tonight. CBS. November 30, 2012.
8. "Debating Robert Lee (2006)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved August 29, 2014.
9. "Kaley Cuoco". kaleycuoco.org. Archived from the original on September 21, 2010. Retrieved September 15, 2010.
10. "Big Bang Theory stars sign new contracts". BBC News. August 4, 2014. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
11. Ratledge, Ingela (December 3, 2012) "Big Bang's Flash Mob Mentality". TV Guide. p. 6
12. "The Big Bang Theory Flash mob! [Full version compilation]". NommiXproductions. YouTube. November 16, 2012. Retrieved November 28, 2012.
13. "The Guy Who Drove a Hummer and Wasn't a Total A-Hole". Conan. Season 3. Episode 25. January 8, 2013. TBS.
14. "Movies — To Be Fat Like Me". lifetimetv.com. Archived from the original on March 3, 2007. Retrieved March 18, 2007.
15. Brown, Robyn (May 2011). "The Naked Truth: 4 Celebrities Go Nude for Allure". Allure. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
16. "Kaley Cuoco Signs For "I Hop," "Last Ride" – March 31, 2010". Dark Horizons. April 23, 2008. Retrieved May 7, 2010.
17. "Kaley Cuoco to Host 2011 Teen Choice Awards". J-14. Retrieved July 28, 2011.
18. "Kaley Cuoco to Host 2012 People's Choice Awards". People's Choice. Archived from the original on October 1, 2012. Retrieved October 9, 2012.
19. "Kaley Cuoco to host People's Choice Awards". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 27, 2012.
20. "Kaley Cuoco joins Shatner in Priceline ads". USA Today. January 9, 2013. Retrieved April 26, 2013.
21. Boucher, Geoff (October 4, 2018). "Kaley Cuoco To Voice Harley Quinn In DC Universe Series; Watch New York Comic Con Preview". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 30, 2019.
22. Morgan, Hudson (September 2010). "Justify Her Love". CBS Watch. Archived from the original on February 7, 2014.
23. Masters, Megan (October 12, 2010). "Kaley Cuoco Returns to Big Bang Theory After Injury as a-Pregnant Amputee Bartender?!". E!. Archived from the original on October 16, 2010. Retrieved November 7, 2010.
24. Weiner, David (March 2, 2012). "ET Exclusive: Kaley Cuoco No Longer Engaged". ET Online.
25. "'Big Bang Theory' star Kaley Cuoco gets married". Associated Press via Newsday. Archived from the original on January 2, 2014. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
26. Krauser, Emily (September 25, 2015). "Kaley Cuoco Divorcing Ryan Sweeting After 21 Months of Marriage". Entertainment Tonight.
27. Ungerman, Alex (May 9, 2016). "Kaley Cuoco Finalizes Divorce From Ryan Sweeting, Actress to Pay $165,000 in Spousal Support". Entertainment Tonight. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
28. "Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting Does Not Consider Herself a Feminist: I Love Feeling Like a Housewife". E! Online. December 30, 2014. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
29. "Kaley Cuoco: I'm Not a Feminist and I Love Feeling Like a Housewife". Gawker. December 30, 2014. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
30. Puente, Maria (January 2, 2015). "Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting apologizes for saying she's not a feminist". USA Today. Mclean, Virginia: Gannett Company. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
31. Brodesser-Akner, Taffy (March 4, 2016). "Kaley Cuoco: "Of Course I'm a F*cking Feminist"". Cosmopolitan. New York City: Hearst Magazines. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
32. Kile, Meredith B. (December 18, 2016). "Exclusive: Kaley Cuoco Gushes Over 'Perfect' Boyfriend Karl Cook at 'Why Him?' Premiere". Entertainment Tonight. Retrieved March 10, 2017.
33. Mehta, Maitri. "Kaley Cuoco Is Engaged & Her Fiancé Proposed In The Most Dramatic Way". Retrieved July 1, 2018.
34. Mizoguchi, Karen (November 30, 2017). "Kaley Cuoco Is Engaged to Boyfriend Karl Cook — Watch Her Emotional Reaction to the Proposal". People. New York City: Meredith Corporation. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
35. "Kaley Cuoco Marries Karl Cook". E! Online. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
36. Andreeva, Nellie (October 27, 2017). "Kaley Cuoco Launches Company, Inks Pod Deal With Warner Bros. TV & Set First Project – Limited Series She Would Star In". Deadline.
37. Andreeva, Nellie (July 1, 2019). "Kaley Cuoco To Star In 'The Flight Attendant' Drama Series Picked Up By WarnerMedia Streamer, Inks New Deal With Warner Bros. TV". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
38. Hayes, Dade; Andreeva, Nellie (July 9, 2019). "WarnerMedia Streaming Service Gets A Name, Will Include 'Friends' Library, Greg Berlanti & Reese Witherspoon Films, CW Series". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 9, 2019.
39. Andreeva, Nellie (August 1, 2019). "Comedy 'Pretty' Starring Lindsey Kraft & Santina Muha From Kaley Cuoco's Yes, Norman Prods. In Works At CBS". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
40. Bueno, Antoinette (January 26, 2016). "Most Bizarre 'Lip Sync Battle' Ever? Josh Gad Makes Out With Johnny Galecki as Kaley Cuoco Watches". ET Online. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
41. Schwartz, Ryan (February 20, 2020). "Kaley Cuoco's Young Sheldon Role Confirmed: The Inside Story Behind That Big Bang Theory Easter Egg". TVLine.
42. Kilday, Gregg. "'Silver Linings Playbook' Wins Five Satellite Awards, Including Best Picture". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 24, 2016.

External links

• Kaley Cuoco on IMDb
• Kaley Cuoco at Rotten Tomatoes

Media offices
Preceded by Queen Latifah	People's Choice Awards host 2012–2013	Succeeded by Beth Behrs & Kat Dennings
Preceded by Katy Perry	Teen Choice Awards host 2011	Succeeded by Demi Lovato & Kevin McHale