Character: Dr. Beverly Hofstadter

Dr. Beverly Hofstadter, Leonard’s mother, is a neuroscientist and psychiatrist who has written several books on parenting, though she’s not really the warm-and-fuzzy type of mother. While she may be smart, she has a terrible relationship with her son, as Beverly has a cold, analytical personality.

Leonard was never really looking forward to his mother’s visits to Pasadena. While she managed to make everyone uncomfortable with her lack of social skills, she found she had a lot in common with her son’s roommate, Sheldon. In fact, in one episode, Leonard becomes upset when he finds out that Sheldon is closer to his own mother than he is!