Another beloved supporting player is joining the upcoming Max spin-off of "The Big Bang Theory" — Barry Kripke, the character portrayed by John Ross Bowie in 25 episodes of Chuck Lorre's hit CBS sitcom. Deadline reported this news as an exclusive.

Bowie, who originally auditioned to play Leonard Hofstadter before Johnny Galecki got the lead role but was later asked back to audition for the part of Barry Kripke, is officially on board for the currently untitled spin-off. Kevin Sussman, Lauren Lapkus, and Brian Posehn, who also all played supporting parts on "The Big Bang Theory," have been attached to this mysterious project since it was first announced.

So, what do you need to remember about Barry Kripke before this show starts airing? A colleague of Leonard and Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons) who also works at the California Institute of Technology, Barry is a plasma physicist and string theorist who has...