Summary

• Mrs. Wolowitz's absence from The Big Bang Theory was a deliberate choice by the writers, paying homage to famous sitcom characters who were known for their voices but never their image.
• The decision to keep Mrs. Wolowitz off-screen was also influenced by a character from the show Rhoda, Carlton the Doorman, who was always heard but never seen.
• The character of Mrs. Wolowitz was written off the show following the death of actress Carol Ann Susi, who portrayed her. This was done as a tribute to both the character and the actress.

One of the longest-running gags on The Big Bang Theory was that the writers never showed Howard's mom, Mrs. Wolowitz (Carol Ann Susi) — and while it's a fun recurring joke, their reasoning behind it is surprisingly deep. Mrs. Wolowitz was the stereotypical overbearing mother who didn't want her son to advance in his life for fear of losing him. Throughout the show's entirety, Howard chose to live with his mother or in the same house as her because of their bond, regardless of how annoyed he was by her suffocating ways. As much of a presence as she was in his life, however, Mrs. Wolowitz was never seen.

Howard's friends may have made fun of him about his close relationship with his mother, but it was a comfort to him having someone close who could be there for him in tough times like when Howard and Bernadette broke up. For all their teasing, Mrs. Wolowitz also acted as a second mother to many of Howard's friends, including Raj. With Mrs. Wolowitz's strong presence in The Big Bang Theory, it became an ongoing joke why she was never shown on camera, only heard.

Mrs. Wolowitz Was Hidden As A Shoutout To Other Sitcoms

Keeping Mrs. Wolowitz Off-Screen Was Inspired By A Character From Rhoda

The Big Bang Theory writers did a great job of describing Mrs. Wolowitz without showing her. Her firm, loud New York accent also helped. There were faint glimmers of Mrs. Wolowitz from far away, like sitting at the end of the row at Howard and Bernadette's wedding, but her image was never what made Mrs. Wolowitz beloved. Her history with Howard deserves a TBBT spinoff for how famous she became without being seen.

The creator of The Big Bang Theory, Chuck Lorre, told actor Carol Ann Susi the direction he was going for with her character (via The Plain Dealer). There were famous sitcom characters who were known for their voices but never their image. Susi told the publication that she wasn't sure if Mrs. Wolowitz was a recurring character or not.

"Then, when I did a second episode, Chuck Lorre said to me, 'Carlton the Doorman. That's the kind of thing we're going for here,'"

Carlton the Doorman was a famous character in Rhoda who was always heard but never seen — giving a faint nod to characters before her.

Mrs. Wolowitz Was Killed Off Because The Actress Also Died

Carol Ann Susi's Tragic ing Led To The Character Being Written Out The Show

In season 8, episode 15, "The Comic Book Regeneration," Mrs. Wolowitz was killed off TBBT. The scene showed Howard getting an unexpected phone call from his aunt and finding out his mother died in his sleep. Howard and his friends mourned her loss, and in many ways, his wife Bernadette became a new version of his mother — even sounding like her.

The reason The Big Bang Theory writers killed off Mrs. Wolowitz is because Susi died from cancer in 2014 (via Deadline). To pay tribute to the character and actress, showrunner Steve Molaro explained that they wouldn't replace the actress and sent Mrs. Wolowitz off the right way (via THR). Today, Mrs. Wolowitz is still one of the more famous "faceless" characters of television.