He owes his international fame to The Big Bang Theory after becoming best known for playing science enthusiast, Howard Wolowitz. 

Yet six years on from the finale of the cult TV show, Simon Helberg looks unrecognisable from his geeky character. 

Recognized for his iconic bowl cut hairdo and smooth, clean-shaven face, the 44-year-old actor made a striking appearance at the AMC Networks Upfront in New York on Wednesday.

Completely changing his look Simon’s dark locks have grown out in curly waves over his head and he also sports a slightly greying full beard. 

He also opted for a quirky outfit as he paired a pale blue denim blazer with a mustard shirt and brown striped tie. 

Simon completed the ensemble with brown tweed trousers and suede camel loafers with blue laces. 

Big Bang Theory star Simon Helberg is best known for playing geeky science enthusiast Howard Wolowitz… but the actor doesn’t look like that any more (pictured on the show in 2019)

Six years on from the finale of the cult TV show, the actor, 44, looked unrecognisable as he attended the AMC Networks Upfront in New York on Wednesday

He was joined by fellow actors Billy Magnussen, Nicholas Denton and Amandaland’s Lucy Punch. 

Simon starred in The Big Bang Theory from the beginning of the sitcom back in 2007 alongside Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons and Kaley Cuoco. 

The star went on to win the Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for the role in 2013. 

Simon previously revealed he nearly bypassed the opportunity to be part of the CBS smash hit. 

Appearing on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert back in 2016 he explained he’d been reticent to take the part of Howard Wolowitz because he was tired of being typecast.

At the time, he had been playing a supporting role on the Aaron Sorkin show Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. 

‘But,’ Simon conceded, ‘people weren’t watching it, and I hear that’s part of the equation.’

However, when a call for The Big Bang Theory came up the star thought: ‘I don’t wanna play nerds anymore.’

Completely changing his look Simon’s dark locks have grown out in curly waves over his head and he also sports a slightly greying full beard

He also opted for a quirky outfit as he paired a pale blue denim blazer with a mustard shirt and brown striped tie.

Simon completed the ensemble with brown tweed trousers and suede camel loafers with blue laces (pictured with fellow actor Billy Magnussen)

He was joined by fellow actors Nicholas Denton and Amandaland’s Lucy Punch

Simon is married to actress Jocelyn Towne after the pair tied the knot in 2007. The couple share a daughter Adeline, 12, and son Wilder, 10 (pictured January 2023) 

He joked that his reasoning was: ‘Pretty soon I’ll be a distinguished grey, and that’s pretty hot. So I’ll pass on the nerd show.

‘And I just got convinced to go in, and I think I made a good choice.’

Simon went on to star in the film Florence Foster Jenkins in 2016 and received a Golden Globe nomination for his performance as Cosmé McMoon.

He has also had roles in comedy series MADtv and other films including Old School, Good Night, and Good Luck, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, A Serious Man and Annette. 

Simon is married to actress Jocelyn Towne after the pair tied the knot in 2007. The couple share a daughter Adeline, 12, and son Wilder, 10.

In 2013, he gushed to TVFanatic.com about becoming a dad for the first time.

He said, ‘It’s just every day there’s something completely new and amazing and you’re watching sort of mirrored evolution in some way.

‘It’s actually pretty incredible. You’re just watching this little, tiny blob become a person… it’s an amazing time.’