Chuck Lorre ( born Charles Michael Levine on October 18 , 1952 ) is a writer , director , producer and composer who has worked on many American sitcoms , including Grace Under Fire , Dharma & Greg , Two and a Half Men , The Big Bang Theory and Mike & Molly . Chuck Lorre ( born Charles Michael Levine October 18 , 1952 ) is a writer , director , producer and composer who has created many American sitcoms , including Grace Under Fire , Cybill , Dharma & Greg , Two and a Half Men and The Big Bang Theory .