From ‘Big Bang Theory’ To Entrepreneur: Melissa Rauch Raises Awareness On Pediatric Cancer
Nov 3, 2021
From ‘Big Bang Theory’ To Entrepreneur: Melissa Rauch Raises Awareness On Pediatric Cancer
With fame and fortune, celebrities have the opportunity to use their platforms to impact the lives of others. One famed actress decided to use her star power to bring awareness and funding to a rare form of pediatric cancer, Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG). Between 10% to 20% of pediatric brain tumors are DIPG. It is more common in children and affects the brainstem that controls breathing, heart rate, and the nerves and muscles that help people see, hear, walk, talk and eat.
Melissa Rauch, an actress best known for playing Bernadette on the Big Bang Theory, and a producer and director, opened a U.S. chapter of Oscar’s Kids to contribute to the ongoing research and resources for DIPG. The organization aims to help support and enrich the lives of children and families who are navigating pediatric cancer and other childhood diseases. It was created to continue and honor Oscar Keogh’s legacy, a boy from Ireland who passed away from DIPG at the age of five.
“Starting a nonprofit is a complete departure for me, and starting with a blank slate from nothing is something that has been exciting and also been a learning curve,” Rauch states. “As far as my background, and not having experience running a charity, the only thing I can authentically say is that I had the passion for becoming an advocate for this cause based on one of the most inspirational friendships in my life with Oscar Keogh’s family. It’s an enterprise and philanthropy, but as with any business, it starts with a passion and a drive that motivates you. And that’s what this cause is very much to me. I feel like with having the platform that I do, and being so grateful to have that, it was paramount to me that I do something good with that and try and make a difference.”
Rauch’s goal of working in entertainment began during childhood, imitating characters she saw on television. She used her ability to perform as a way to express herself. While studying acting in college, she started auditioning. However, she didn’t like the idea of always relying on others to give her a job. So she began writing her own material.
She partnered with her now-husband, Winston Rauch, on writing a one-woman show for Rauch to star in about a character navigating the phase of life after graduating college. The project ultimately turned into exploring the George W. Bush presidency from the perspective of Jenna Bush while also exploring becoming an adult through a fictionalized version of her. It was recognized by a few film festivals, which led Rauch and Winston to write a pilot on it for CBS; however, the show never got green-lit.
Rauch faced many rejections as she entered the industry. “There was a lot of driving around and crying in my car,” she humbly shares. “I remember actually pulling out of the Paramount lot crying in my car after an audition. I saw a girl who looked exactly like me, almost in the exact same outfit pulling out in her car. We both looked at each other like, ‘Yeah, this is par for the course.’”
Eventually, she had the opportunity to audition for what was supposed to be a one-time guest star role on the Big Bang Theory. The ten-year run on the series launched Rauch into the A-list celebrity category with six Screen Actor Guild nominees for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series. During this time, Rauch saw a message from Oscar’s mom on Instagram. She explained how her son had just been diagnosed with DIPG and what it meant. She also explained how much of a fan Oscar was of Bernadette. Her friendship with the Keogh family began then and there.
After Oscar’s passing, Rauch wanted to be an advocate and support system. The two families discussed starting a charity where the Keogh’s would manage the chapter in Ireland, and Rauch and her husband would manage the U.S. chapter.
Since the September launch, it has already organized the fundraiser Oscar’s PJ Party presented by I Love Ice Cream Cakes virtually taking place this Friday. Participating sponsors include Carvel, luxury PJ brand Lilysilk, Untamed Humans and Chicken of The Sea with additional corporate donations from NFL as well as Four Seasons Maui at Wailea. All funds raised this year by Oscar’s Kids U.S. will go to the lab of Dr. Michelle Monje at Stanford University who is working on groundbreaking treatments and a cure for DIPG.
As Rauch navigates being a new entrepreneur and executive producing and staring in the reboot of NBC’s Night Court, she focuses on the following essential steps:
- Find a mentor. Seek guidance from those who have already done what you want to do.
- Research as much as possible before jumping into a new role. Understand what you’re getting yourself into.
- Embrace the fire fueling your passion. Don’t dismiss a feeling. Explore it and turn it into a career.
“I liken Bernadette to a big sister in many ways,” Rauch concludes. “The fact that there was so many big life events for Bernadette that happened before me, I was almost able to dip my toe in the water of what that would be before I experienced it myself. She became a mother before me. She experienced work-life balance before I did, that push and pull. The guilt, self-doubt, love, and navigating those first few months of postpartum were all explored so beautifully in the Bernadette storylines that the writers crafted for her. When I experienced it myself, it couldn’t prepare me for it fully, but there was a little bit of a dress rehearsal element to it.”