Kevin Sussman
A character actor with everyman charm who found lasting fame as the kindly, perpetually struggling comic book store owner Stuart Bloom.
Born 1970 (age 56)·American actor and comedian·Birthday: December 4·Generation X
Biography
Kevin Sussman built a career on being recognizably, relatably human. With a background in stand-up comedy and a face made for the guy behind the counter, he carved out a niche playing nuanced supporting roles long before his big break. Audiences might first remember him as the sweet, hapless cashier Walter on 'Ugly Betty,' a role that showcased his blend of warmth and comic timing. But it was his portrayal of Stuart on 'The Big Bang Theory' that made him a fixture in living rooms worldwide. As the owner of the comic book store where the protagonists hung out, Sussman brought a grounded, weathered sincerity to a world of theoretical physicists, making Stuart an underdog favorite. His performance was so resonant that he was promoted to a series regular, proving that sometimes the most memorable characters aren't in the spotlight, but quietly holding the scene together from the edges.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Kevin was born in 1970, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Kevin Was Born
The biggest hits of 1970
#1 Movie
Love Story
Best Picture
Patton
#1 TV Show
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Kevin's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1970Born
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1975Started school
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1983Became a teenager
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1986Could drive
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1988Could vote
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1991Turned 21
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
2000Turned 30
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2010Turned 40
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 50
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 56 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Portrayed Stuart Bloom across 12 seasons of the globally successful sitcom 'The Big Bang Theory,' becoming a series regular.
- Played a recurring role as Walter, the sweet-natured cashier, on the acclaimed series 'Ugly Betty'.
- Appeared in notable films including 'Sweet Home Alabama' and Steven Spielberg's 'A.I. Artificial Intelligence'.
- Maintained a parallel career as a stand-up comedian, performing at clubs across the United States.
Did You Know?
He is a licensed New York City sightseeing guide and has given tours of the city.
Before acting, he worked in a comic book store, much like his character Stuart.
He provided the voice for various characters in the popular video game 'The Last of Us'.
He is an avid photographer and has documented his travels and life extensively.
“I'm just trying to be a working actor, which is a victory in itself.”
