Jim Parsons, born on March 24, 1973, is an American actor widely known for his role as Sheldon Cooper on the CBS sitcom "The Big Bang Theory" from 2007 to 2019. Parsons received multiple awards for his portrayal, including four Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series and a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Television Series Musical or Comedy. His notable achievements include being named the world's highest-paid television actor by Forbes in 2018, with an estimated annual salary of $26.5 million.
Parsons was born in Houston, Texas, and raised in the suburb of Spring. He developed an interest in acting at a young age after participating in a school play. He attended the University of Houston, where he earned a B.A. degree in Theater, and later pursued an M.F.A. degree in acting from the Old Globe Theatre/University of San Diego.
Before his breakthrough on "The Big Bang Theory," Parsons appeared in Off-Broadway productions, television shows like "Judging Amy" and "Ed," and had minor roles in films such as "Garden State" and "School for Scoundrels." Despite auditioning for numerous television pilots, he struggled to find success until landing the role of Sheldon Cooper.
His audition for the role impressed the creators of "The Big Bang Theory," particularly due to his ability to handle the fast-paced, rhythmic dialogue characteristic of the character. Parsons portrayed Sheldon Cooper, a socially apathetic physicist with remarkable intelligence, winning praise for his impeccable delivery of lines and physical comedy akin to silent film stars.
Parsons' portrayal of Sheldon earned critical acclaim, leading to numerous award nominations and wins, including Television Critics Association awards and Golden Globe recognition. He renegotiated his contract multiple times throughout the series, eventually earning $1 million per episode for the eighth, ninth, and tenth seasons.
In August 2018, Parsons declined a contract worth $50 million for seasons 13 and 14, leading to the decision to end "The Big Bang Theory" after 279 episodes. Despite the show's conclusion, Parsons continued as the narrator of the prequel series, "Young Sheldon."
Jim Parsons has had a diverse career in addition to his renowned role on "The Big Bang Theory." Here are some of his notable works and ventures:
Film and Theater:
- In 2011, Parsons appeared in the comedy film "The Big Year" alongside Jack Black, Owen Wilson, Steve Martin, and Rashida Jones. He also played the human alter ego of Walter in "The Muppets" the same year.
- Parsons portrayed Elwood P. Dowd in a revival of "Harvey" on Broadway in 2012.
- He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2015.
- Voiced the character Oh in DreamWorks Animation's comedy film "Home" (2015) alongside Rihanna.
- Starred as God in the Broadway production of "An Act of God" in 2015.
- Played a supporting role as STG head engineer Paul Stafford in the biographical drama film "Hidden Figures" in 2016.
- Nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for his portrayal of Henry Willson in "Hollywood" in 2020.
- Hosted his own SiriusXM talk show, "Jim Parsons Is Too Stupid for Politics," in 2017.
- Voiced the audiobook "A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo" in 2018.
Producer:
- Parsons and Todd Spiewak founded That's Wonderful Productions in 2015. Their work includes productions such as "Special," "Equal," "Call Me Kat," "A Kid Like Jake," and serving as Executive Producers of "Young Sheldon" and the miniseries "Hollywood."
Personal Life:
- Parsons lives in the Gramercy Park neighborhood in New York City and also maintains a residence in Los Angeles.
- His father passed away in a car crash on April 29, 2001.
- In 2012, it was revealed that Parsons is gay and had been in a relationship with art director Todd Spiewak for ten years. The couple married in May 2017.
- He supported Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton during the 2016 United States presidential election.
- Parsons disclosed on an episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in September 2020 that he and his husband had contracted COVID-19 in March 2020, detailing their experience with the virus.
Tags
Actor