Wilmer Valderrama came of age as Fez on “That ‘70s Show.” The out-of-place foreign exchange student amuses with his awkward attempts to fit in with American culture. He was most certainly out-cooled by the likes of Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis, and Laura Prepon, that’s for sure.
In real life, he’s so cool that he’s dated a virtual catalog of A-listers, including Ashlee Simpson, Mandy Moore, Lindsay Lohan, and Demi Lovato. Not to mention the fact that Valderrama looks nothing like his fictional counterpart in real life. Since his role as Fez, Wilmer has starred in movies such as “Encanto” and “Murder Mystery 2.”
Matthew Gray Gubler – Criminal Minds
Dr. Spencer Reid is superhero-smart on "Criminal Minds." With an IQ of 187 and an ability to read at lightning speed, he is one very special asset for the FBI team. Time and time again, he would be able to crack the case in an almost annoyingly predictable way.
Actor Matthew Gray Gubler is not a real-life certified genius, but he is cool nonetheless. His cool credentials include modeling for A-list designers like Tommy Hilfiger, painting, and writing children's books. Just look at those luscious locks. Does that scream out "nerd" to you? We most certainly do not think so!
Mayim Bialik – The Big Bang Theory
Amy Farrah Fowler is married to the nerdiest of them all — Sheldon Cooper, so we know her nerd credentials are solid. From the moment she burst onto the scene during the early seasons of "The Big Bang Theory," she proved to be a real nerd match for Sheldon and the gang.
But Mayim Bialik does not just play a neurobiologist on TV; she is a verifiable scientist with a Ph.D. in neuroscience. Don't believe anything those kids in middle school told you. We all know that advanced degrees instantly make you a cool person. And it only takes some stylish clothes to see she’s beautiful on the outside too.
Gillian Anderson – The X Files
Dr. Dana Scully from "The X Files" is one of our favorite TV nerds. This offbeat character is a legend in geekdom. Gillian Anderson grew up as an outsider. Her coolness was actually apparent from a very young age. As a teen, she moved from England to a small conservative town called Grand Rapids.
She said, “There were only six punks there. We were weird. It’s not like London.” Underneath the tough punk exterior, which included dyed and shaved hair, plus piercings (before the look was a global trend), was this gorgeous face. She even played Margaret Thatcher in Netflix's "The Crown."
Zachary Levi – Chuck
In this "Slacker"-meets-Stanford television series, Chuck Bartowski is a geeky software whiz who ends up as a CIA asset. His character gets kicked out of Stanford (not his fault), and he ends up living with his sister and working an electronic superstore at the Geek Tech desk.
Zachary Levi certainly made the nerdy role his own. But that's not exactly what this actor is like in reality. Like, seriously, look at him. He’s no geek. Not only that but he's also played two iconic cinematic roles: Flynn Rider in "Tangled" and the title character in the DC superhero movie "Shazam!"