Jim Parsons has cemented himself among the talented actors in Hollywood thanks to portraying Sheldon Cooper in the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory. Cooper is undoubtedly one of the fascinating characters of the show, known for his high intelligence and academic achievements. But, when it comes to social interactions, he quite struggles with it.
While the character possesses great charms, Parsons’ acting skills were key in making this character widely popular. However, it would surprise many that Parsons wasn’t considered for smart roles before securing Cooper’s role in TBBT.
Jim Parsons Got Candid About His Roles Before Becoming Sheldon Cooper
His performance as Sheldon Cooper was pivotal to the success of The Big Bang Theory, which particularly became known for its comedic brilliance. The show’s humor often revolved around the characters’ nerdy friendships and romance, with Cooper’s character usually becoming the limelight.
However, this journey of portraying the role of a genius person was not something that Jim Parsons was offered frequently.
In an old interview with Variety, Jim Parsons got candid about his career trajectory, reflecting on when he often got cast as a “dumb” person. He shared,
“I used to get cast frequently as dumb people. Or rather, they were either not bright or had a certain idiot savant quality about them. There is great joy in playing someone who doesn’t know what the hell is happening.”
While he would enjoy playing a “dumb” character, he’s more than grateful for what Cooper brought to him. He added,
“If I’m recognized, people are very polite. They’ll call out to me: ‘Sheldon!’ But I’m more amazed when people know my name, when I hear ‘Jim.’ Even at this late stage in the game, I’m not used to it, I always wonder how I know them. Because people are so sweet and I’m only that sweet to people I’ve met before!”
Playing the intelligent role has its own perks! He continued to serve as the face of the adult Sheldon for 12 seasons and reprised his role in the cameo of Young Sheldon. He once reflected on what led him to eventually put an end to his TBBT era.
Jim Parsons Explained Why He Quit The Big Bang Theory
Things were not really well for Parsons when he decided to eventually say adios to the sitcom that rose him to prominence. He reflected on what led him to exit the long-running show during an episode of David Tennant Does a Podcast with…via Radio Times.
After a “really intense summer” in 2018 where he had to bid farewell to his dog and broke his leg on stage, he was not feeling feel.
“It was the scariest moment for the next couple of days because I felt like I was at the edge of a cliff. I was teetering and I saw something really dark below between the death of the dog.”
He continued,
“I had this moment of clarity that I think you’re very fortunate to get in a lot of ways, of going ‘Don’t keep speeding by’. You know? ‘Use this time to take a look around.’ And I did.”
He eventually decided to move away from his big role to explore further. He added, “I think there’s other things I need to try and do. I don’t even know what they are, but I can tell that I need to try.”
He went on to have a successful career in television, film, and theater. Having portrayed several roles, he eventually cemented himself as a versatile actor. He even executively produced and narrated its spin-off prequel series, which came to an end after its seventh season this week.
The Big Bang Theory is available on Max.
