What is the name of the actress who voiced Howard's mother?

Carol Ann Susi was the actress who voiced Howard Wolowitz's mother, Mrs. Wolowitz, on The Big Bang Theory. Although Mrs. Wolowitz is a major off-screen presence, viewers hear her voice frequently without seeing her face during the original series.

Susi played the character from 2007 through 2014, contributing the loud, distinctive voice that became one of the show's recurring comic devices. Howard's conversations with his mother often involve shouting from different rooms, embarrassing personal questions, and arguments about his independence. The character's voice-only presentation became an especially recognizable part of Howard's home life.

Susi was an established character actress whose television career began decades before The Big Bang Theory. She died in November 2014 at age 62. The show later addressed both Susi's death and Mrs. Wolowitz's absence: the character died in season eight, and the episode ended with the main characters quietly toasting her memory. This is why the role is often described as both a voice performance and a defining supporting part.