Melissa Rauch is an American actress and comedian best known for playing Bernadette Rostenkowski-Wolowitz on The Big Bang Theory and Judge Abby Stone on Night Court.

Rauch's early television credits included work as a contributor on VH1’s Best Week Ever, along with roles on Kath & Kim, True Blood and The Office.

Rauch first appeared on The Big Bang Theory during the show’s third season as Bernadette, a co-worker of Penny’s at The Cheesecake Factory who begins dating Howard Wolowitz. She was promoted to the main cast in season four and remained with the show through its final season.

In 2015, Rauch co-wrote, co-produced and starred in the film The Bronze, playing a former gymnastics medalist still clinging to her past fame. Her other film credits include I Love You, Man, Are You Here, Ode to Joy and Steven Soderbergh’s The Laundromat. Rauch has also provided voices for projects including Ice Age: Collision Course, Batman and Harley Quinn, Marvel’s Ant-Man and Animaniacs.

After The Big Bang Theory, Rauch starred in and executive produced NBC’s revival of Night Court. She played Judge Abby Stone, the daughter of Judge Harry Stone from the original series. The show ran for three seasons.

View Bernadette Rostenkowski character profile