It's safe to say that The Big Bang Theory wouldn't be the same without Sheldon Cooper. Indeed, Sheldon was central to the show. Of course, it was Jim Parsons who brought Sheldon to life.
Sheldon Cooper had a lot in common with his friends but he was still different. He had a unique way of approaching life and his problems. Sheldon could be selfish and greedy, but also a caring friend. There were many different sides to him. For instance, Sheldon is a brilliant scientist but doesn't know how to drive. He can solve complicated equations but can't understand basic manners. Sheldon doesn't hide his feelings and is often blunt.
Jim Parsons and the rest of the cast all became world-famous stars. They were even the highest-paid actors on TV at one point. Of course, Parsons was the breakout star of the group. His portrayal of Sheldon Cooper helped to make him a household name. However, Parsons isn't an open book. There are a few facts about Parsons that might shock some fans.
Jim Parsons and Sheldon Cooper have a few things in common. They're also complete opposites in many other ways. It's time to take a closer look at Jim Parsons. Here are 17 Surprising Facts About Big Bang Theory Star, Jim Parsons.
17 Jim Has Never Seen An Episode Of Star Trek Or Doctor Who
Sheldon Cooper has a long list of favorite TV shows. At the very top of the list is Star Trek and Doctor Who. Of course, both shows are two of the most popular sci-fi TV series of all time. However, Jim Parsons and Sheldon don't have that in common. Parsons is not a fan of Star Trek or Doctor Who. He's never seen an episode of either show. That only makes his performance all the more impressive!
Most fans and viewers assumed he must be a die-hard fan of both shows. Instead, Parsons is a fan of shows such as Grey's Anatomy, LOST, and American Idol.
16 His Audition For Sheldon Was So Good He Had To Do It Twice To Prove It Wasn't A Fluke
Jim Parsons's performance as Sheldon Cooper turned him into one of the highest-paid actors on TV. Parson's success as Sheldon resulted in a spin-off, Young Sheldon, which Parsons narrates.
Parsons was always meant to play the character and nailed the audition. However, his audition was so good that the series creator, Chuck Lorre, thought it might be a fluke. Lorre actually asked Parsons to audition a second time to ensure that Jim could embody the character more than once. Parsons nailed the second audition and the rest is history.
15 Father's Tragic Accident
Sheldon Cooper and Jim Parsons share a similar tragedy. When Sheldon was younger, his father suddenly passed away from a heart attack. Parsons suffered through a similar tragedy in his late 20s.
On April 29, 2001, Parsons' father, Milton Joseph Parsons Jr., suddenly passed away at the age of 52. He was involved in a tragic car accident, which took his life. In 2016, Parsons appeared on Long Island Medium in an attempt to send a message to his father. Parsons often speaks fondly of his late father.
14 He Can't Whistle
Sheldon Cooper isn't an easy person to live with, and it takes a very patient human to be his roommate. Of course, Sheldon hates a lot of things, and whistling is number one. Indeed, there's a 'no whistling' provision in the roommate agreement.
Jim Parsons doesn't hate whistling. He just doesn't know how to do it. Well, it turns out that Parsons isn't the only one. He came clean about the no whistling thing when he discovered that his Home co-star, Rihanna, also can't whistle. If a pop sensation can't whistle then, it's okay that Parsons can't.
13 Big Fan Of Tennis, Baseball And Basketball
Sheldon Cooper is a big fan of comic books, Star Trek, Doctor Who, Star Wars, and Battlestar Galactica. He's not a big fan of any sports because he's all about geek culture. Of course, he also grew up in Texas, which means he watched a lot of football because his dad forced him to.
Jim Parsons is a huge fan of sports. Indeed, he's a big fan of tennis, baseball, and basketball. He's a particularly massive fan of the Houston Rockets. Sheldon probably doesn't know anything about those sports, unless his father made him watch those teams.
12 The Acting Bug
Jim Parsons wasn't an overnight success. He spent years working on his craft and climbing up the ladder in Hollywood. Parsons participated in roughly seventeen plays while at university. However, he was bitten by the acting bug when he was six years old. Parsons played the Kolokola bird in a stage adaptation of Rudyard Kipling's, The Elephant Child. After that performance, Parsons became determined to become an actor.
11 Jim Parsons Is A Distant Relative Of Architect Louis Francois Trouard
In 2013, Jim Parsons appeared in an episode of Who Do You Think You Are? The show traces the ancestry of various celebrities and reveals plenty about their family histories. Parsons discovered that he's a distant relative of the late French architect, Louis Francois Trouard.
Trouard lived from 1729 to 1804 and was world-famous for his architectural designs. Many of his famous works are still around, including Maison Trouard, Versailles Cathedral, and the Church of Saint Symphorien. It turns out that the creative gene runs in the family.
10 He Loves To Play The Piano
In The Big Bang Theory episode, "The Grasshopper Experiment," Sheldon becomes intoxicated and plays the piano. This was no surprise, since Sheldon's good at so many things, except for driving. However, Jim Parsons was playing the piano himself in the episode.
Parsons' been playing piano for over fourteen years. Of course, he's not the only musician in the cast to show off his talent on the show. Johnny Galecki (Leonard) and Mayim Bialik (Amy) know how to play the cello and harp, respectively.
9 He Invented Sheldon's Creepy Smile
Sheldon Cooper always had a tough time being happy for his friends' achievements. When Raj discovered a planet, he became a bit of a celebrity around the university. Raj even got a bigger office and a great deal of attention. That attention went to his head and he annoyed all of his friends.
Sheldon had the toughest time pretending to be happy. He pretended to be happy for his friend with the creepiest smile in the world. The smile became one of Sheldon's trademarks. It was Jim Parsons that invented the smile. The script asked for a fake smile, but Parsons came up with this terrifying one instead.
8 Bazinga Bees And Jellyfish
As noted, Sheldon Cooper has a lot of trademarks and catchphrases. Of course, "bazinga" is one of his favorite lines to utter. Indeed, Sheldon often yells. "bazinga", when he successfully pulls off a prank. The term became so popular that two different species take their name from it.
The Bazinga Bee (Euglosssa bazinga) is an endangered bee commonly found in Brazil. However, the term also found its way under the sea. Bazinga reiki is a type of jellyfish that also took part of its name from the popular sitcom.
7 He Learned How To Play The Theremin For Big Bang Theory
Sheldon Cooper could be tough to work with on projects. Indeed, his friends found it difficult to give him orders. Sheldon usually took over their projects. At one point, he takes up playing the theremin as a way to distract himself and annoy his friends.
As noted, Jim Parsons is an excellent piano player. However, he learned to play the theremin for the episode. The theremin's one of the toughest instruments to play. Regardless, Parsons learned to play the instrument for the role.
6 Jim Parsons And Todd Spiewak Awarded GLESN's Inspiration Award/Most Inspiring Couple
In 2013, Jim Parsons and his partner, art director Todd Spiewak, received the GLESN Most Inspiring Couple Award. Parsons and Spiewak have been together since 2002. Parsons felt honored by the award but never thought they were inspirational. They're simply in love.
Parsons said, "I've never considered my relationship with Todd to be an act of activism. Rather simply, it's an act of love, coffee in the morning, going to work, washing the clothes, taking the dogs (out) - a regular life, boring love."
5 Acting Teacher Thought He Wasn't Going To Make It As An Actor
In 2018, Jim Parsons ranked high on Forbes magazine's list of highest-paid actors on TV. However, there was a time when some doubted his ability. Parsons attended the University Of San Diego acting program. The University wasn't sure if he would make it as an actor.
The University's acting director Rick Seer said, "Jim is a very specific personality. He's thoroughly original, which is one of the reasons he's been so successful. But we worried. 'Does that adapt itself to classic theater? Does that adapt itself to the type of training that we're doing?' But we decided that he was so talented that we would give him a try and see how it worked out."
Parsons won four Primetime Emmy Awards for his role as Sheldon.
4 He Panicked The Day Before Each Big Bang Theory Taping
Jim Parsons is one of the most famous actors today. He delivered stellar performances week after week on The Big Bang Theory. However, Parsons was the most nervous out of the cast. Parsons panicked the night before each taping and was sure he would forget his lines.
Despite winning awards and becoming a household name, Parsons still got 'stage fright'. Parsons would stress out the night before but would show up and be the consummate professional. He delivered each time.
3 He Decided To Leave Big Bang Theory At The End Of Season 12 - That Resulted In The Series' Cancellation
As noted, Sheldon Cooper was a central part of The Big Bang Theory. Of course, the entire cast all became stars. They all played their roles and added to the hit CBS show. However, Sheldon was the heart and soul of the series.
After twelve seasons, Jim Parsons felt it was time to move on to another phase in his life. The network, cast, and crew realized the show couldn't go on without Sheldon. Parsons leaving The Big Bang Theory resulted in the series' cancellation.
2 Jim Misses Simon Heldberg The Most
It wasn't easy for Sheldon Cooper to make friends. However, Sheldon and Leonard were truly best friends in every sense of the word. Sheldon also had a very close relationship with Penny. In real-life, Jim Parsons had a close friendship with Kaley Cuoco (Penny) and Johnny Galecki (Leonard).
However, Parsons admits that he misses Simon Helberg (Howard) the most. Of course, on-screen Sheldon thought that Howard wasn't a real scientist. Parsons noted, "I'll particularly miss Simon Helberg; we spent a lot of time together, we go back and forth to our dressing rooms, we've talked for almost 12 years now. Six months down the road after we finished, I will be like, I haven't talked to Simon in a deep way in a long time. And that will be hard."
1 Appeared In 15 Failed Pilots Before Starring In Big Bang Theory
Jim Parsons is best known for his outstanding performance as Sheldon Cooper on The Big Bang Theory. As noted, Parsons went on a long journey before reaching the top of the television world. Indeed, Parsons appeared in fifteen failed pilots. He participated in a few pilots before landing a holding deal with CBS. Parsons then had roles in several more pilots before his big break.
Parsons said, "That's the way it goes. That's what's so rare about it. I tested for several that year, and I just didn't get them. That's why I had to prepare for this one because I felt this was probably the one that was going to fit, so you've got to be ready if doors open."