Riki Lindhome is an actress and musician who is known for being part of the comedy music duo Garfunkel and Oates and is also known for her role on The Big Bang Theory as ‘Ramona.’
Early Life
Lindhome was born in Coudersport, Pennsylvania on March 5th, 1979 to parents Cheryl and Rick Lindhome. Riki also has a brother, Tim Lindhome and the two of them were raised in Portville, New York.
In 1997, Lindhome graduated from Portville High School. That same year, she won the first place prize in the JFK Profiles Courage essay contest, which was awarded by the John F. Kennedy Library in Boston.
Following high school, Lindhome attended Syracuse University where she studied communications and film. She graduated from SU in 2000.
Acting Career
Lindhome started her acting career without an agent, by booking minor roles on various shows such as the sitcom Titus and series Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
In 2003, Lindhome joined The Actors’ Gang, an experimental theater and nonprofit group based in Culver City, California.
After joining, she appeared in the play Embedded. This opportunity led to her role in the 2004 film Million Dollar Baby, in which she played Mardell Fitzgerald.
Following these experiences, she began starring in larger, recurring roles, such as her role as Juliet on Gilmore Girls, and the role of Hillary in the My Best Friend’s Girl film.
Lindhome continued to book larger roles in movies such as Hell Baby, voice acting in The Lego Batman Movie, and the widely acclaimed mystery comedy film, Knives Out.
This movie made the top ten films lists of 2019 at the American Film Institute, the National Board of Review, and Time magazine.
Knives Out has an average approval rating of 97% on Rotten Tomatoes and the net profit of the film was calculated to be about $82 million.
Not only did she star in these well known movies, but Lindhome proceeded to make guest appearances on some of television’s most popular series.
These shows included Pushing Daisies, The Big Bang Theory, Criminal Minds, New Girl, The Muppets, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Modern Family, Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, and even Grace and Frankie.
Garfunkel and Oates
Arguably her most notable role has been that of Garfunkel in the singing songwriting duo Garfunkel and Oates, alongside her partner Kate Micucci, who performs as Oates.
Their folksy songs typically combine raunchy comedic observations with beautiful melodies and vocals. Lindhome and Micucci met during an improv show at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, and formed the duo shortly after this in 2007.
Initially, Garfunkel and Oates started releasing songs on YouTube. As their popularity spread rapidly, they started their own website, began releasing studio albums and even going on tour.
The duo has released one EP and 3 studio albums, so far. Following their success as singers and songwriters, the duo pursued a chance to produce and write a television series on IFC, loosely based on their experiences as a singer songwriter duo trying to make it big in the entertainment industry.
The series only aired for one season in 2014, before IFC decided not to renew it for a second season.
The two also released a comedy special in 2016 which was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics.
The Big Bang Theory
While Lindhome’s time on The Big Bang Theory was brief, only featured in a total of 3 episodes in the series, her character, Ramona Nowitzki, is hard to forget.
She plays a postdoctoral researcher and former graduate student of Caltech who is a huge fan of Sheldon’s work and has a seemingly obvious crush on him.
The entire group finds her to be extremely irritating, aside from Sheldon, who appreciates her attention and assistance, until he finally realizes why she gives him so much of her time.
In her later appearance in the show, she unintentionally ends up giving Sheldon the push he needs to propose to his girlfriend Amy by kissing him.
In the third episode she appears in, Amy thanks Ramona for getting Sheldon and her engaged and gives Lindhome’s character a big hug.
What is Riki Lindhome doing now?
Lindhome can still be seen acting, with voice acting roles in the adult animated sitcom Duncanville, alongside Amy Poehler.
Lindhome is also working with Poehler on Steps, an animated spin off on the Cinderella Story.
With Poehler producing, Lindhome writing, and both Lindhome and Micucci creating the film’s music, this film is sure to spark interest when it makes its way to Netflix.
She is also starring in the upcoming Nexflix series, Wednesday. The show will focus Wednesday Addams, from the Addams family, and her journey in attempting to master her newly emerging psychic abilities.
Lindhome will play the role of Dr. Valerie Kinbott, Wednesday’s therapist. This show is set to air on Netflix November 23rd of this year.
On March 4, 2022, Riki gave birth to her son at the age of 43. She made the announcement via her Instagram.