Big Bang Theory’s Jim Parsons weighs on straight actors playg gay characters: ‘The fight is to ensure that all parts are open to all actors’ | The Inpennt

Contents:

• 'BIG BANG THEORY' MYSTERY: IS SHELDON GAY?
• WHY JIM PARSONS WAS SRED TO COME OUT AS A GAY ACTOR HOLLYWOOD AND HOW HE MANAGED TO STAY ON TOP
• BIG BANG THEORY'S JIM PARSONS SCRIB HIS JOURNEY TO PUBLICLY G OUT AS GAY
• ‘BIG BANG THEORY’S’ JIM PARSONS OUT AS GAY
• GUS WHO'S NOT GAY ON THE BIG BANG THEORY!
• JIM {LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:600;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:0.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.25REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}} A{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:HER;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;} A:HOVER{LOR:#A00000;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}ACTOR JIM PARSONS ROSE TO FAME AS SHELDON ON THE POPULAR S 'THE BIG BANG THEORY' AND HAS RECEIVED PRAISE FOR HIS STAGE {MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;} SPAN{LE-HEIGHT:1.6;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;}{FONT-STYLE:NORMAL;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;FONT-FAY:RALAS,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;LOR:#323232;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.3;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;TEXT-TRANSFORM:PALIZE;}{DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;MARG-LEFT:0.625REM;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}UPDATED: JUN 23, {DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;}{MARG-BOTTOM:0.9375REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 64REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(100VW - (1REM * 2));MARG-LEFT:1REM;MARG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(-1 * 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - (LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 2 * 1REM)) / -2);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 90REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / 2);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / -2) - 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 2);MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 + 1REM)) / -2) - LC(2 * 1REM));}[DATA-HAS-SPONSOR] {MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);MARG-RIGHT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);}}{JTIFY-SELF:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG-LEFT:-50VW;MARG-RIGHT:-50VW;WIDTH:100VW;LEFT:50%;RIGHT:50%;}}{HEIGHT:TO;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO LC(50% - 50VW);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO;}}{POSN:RELATIVE;HEIGHT:TO;}{POSN:RELATIVE;--POSN:ABSOLUTE;HEIGHT:TO;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:TO;} A{POSN:ABSOLUTE;}{POSN:RELATIVE;WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;VERTIL-ALIGN:TOP;}{BACKGROUND:#C92228;BOTTOM:0;PADDG:.5REM;RIGHT:0;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG:0.39REM;}}{DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:1REM;WIDTH:1REM;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{WIDTH:1.063REM;HEIGHT:1.063REM;}}{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{PADDG-LEFT:3.5REM;PADDG-RIGHT:3.5REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MAX-WIDTH:45.25REM;MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 73.75REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 100REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;}{CLEAR:BOTH;NTENT:" ";DISPLAY:BLOCK;FONT-SIZE:0.7REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.5REM;HEIGHT:0REM;VISIBILY:HIDN;}{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;}(1973-){LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:800;LETTER-SPACG:0.02EM;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;MARG-TOP:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}} B, STRONG{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM, I{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;}WHO IS JIM PARSONS?ACTOR JIM PARSONS STUDIED HIS CRAFT AT THE UNIVERSY OF HOTON AND THE UNIVERSY OF SAN DIEGO. FOLLOWG A SERI OF SMALL FILM AND TV ROL, HE ROCKETED TO FAME AS THE SOCIALLY STUNTED BUT BRILLIANT THEORETIL PHYSICIST SHELDON COOPER ON THE BIG BANG THEORY, WNG FOUR LEAD ACTOR EMMY AWARDS DURG THE H S'S 12-YEAR N. ALONG WH APPEARG FILMS LIKE THE MUPPETS AND HIDN FIGUR, PARSONS HAS EARNED ACCLAIM FOR HIS PERFORMANC BROADWAY PRODUCTNS OF THE NORMAL HEART AND THE BOYS THE BAND.EARLY LIFE & EDUTNJAM JOSEPH PARSONS WAS BORN ON MARCH 24, 1973, HOTON, TEXAS. HE GREW UP HOTON WH HIS SISTER, JULIE, AS THE CHILDREN OF A SCHOOL TEACHER AND THE PRINT OF A PLUMBG SUPPLY PANY. PARSONS SHOWED AN TERT PERFORMG AT AN EARLY AGE, BEGNG WH STUDYG THE PIANO KRGARTEN. A BUDDG ACTOR NEARLY OM THE START, HE EVENTUALLY VELOPED HIS OWN SCRIPTS AND STAGED PRODUCTNS AT HOME. AT KLE OAK HIGH SCHOOL, PARSONS STOOD OUT SCHOOL PRODUCTNS. AFTER ATTENDG THE UNIVERSY OF HOTON, PARSONS NTUED TO STUDY HIS CRAFT AT THE UNIVERSY OF SAN DIEGO, S GRADUATE PROGRAM WH THE OLD GLOBE THEATER, PLETG HIS MASTER'S GREE 2001. MOVI AND TV SHOWS'JUDGG AMY,' 'GARN STATE'PARSONS THEN MOVED TO NEW YORK CY, WHERE HE TRIED TO LNCH HIS ACTG REER. AT FIRST, HE FOUND HIMSELF STGGLG TO FD WORK, APPEARG OFF-BROADWAY PLAYS. HE ALSO LAND A RECURRG ROLE ON THE TV SHOW JUDGG AMY AND A B PART THE 2004 FILM GARN STATE. PARSONS MANAGED TO W OVER CHUCK LORRE, THE -CREATOR OF THE BIG BANG THEORY, HIS DN FOR THE NEW S 2006. LORRE TOLD THE TORONTO STAR THAT PARSONS "NAILED OM THE MOMENT HE WALKED TO THE ROOM. HE NAILED SO MUCH, I HAD TO ASK HIM TO E BACK AND DO AGA, BEE I WASN'T SURE IF HE HAD SIMPLY GOTTEN LUCKY."'THE BIG BANG THEORY'IN SEPTEMBER 2007, PARSONS MA HIS FIRST APPEARANCE AS THEORETIL PHYSICIST SHELDON COOPER ON THE BIG BANG THEORY. HE AND -STAR JOHNNY GALECKI, SHELDON'S ROOMMATE LEONARD, HAD GREAT IC CHEMISTRY OM THE START, PLAYG IENDS AND SOMETIM CLASHG SCIENTISTS. THE S'S ENSEMBLE ST ALSO CLUD SIMON HELBERG, WHO PLAYED ENGEER HOWARD WOLOWZ, AND KUNAL NAYYAR, WHO PLAYED ASTROPHYSICIST RAJ KOOTHRAPALLI. {-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:#A00000;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;}{LOR:#595959;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}KALEY CUO ROUND OUT THE ST AS THEIR MON SENSE NEIGHBOR AND LEONARD'S LOVE TERT, PENNY. MAYIM BIALIK JOED THE SHOW LATER ON, PLAYG SHELDON'S AFFECTN-STARVED SIGNIFINT OTHER, AS DID MELISSA RCH, AS BERNATTE. REAL-LIFE SCIENTISTS BILL NYE, STEPHEN HAWKG AND NEIL GRASSE TYSON, AMONG OTHER GUT STARS, ALSO MA APPEARANC ON THE SERI. THE BIG BANG THEORY GREW TO BEE TV'S TOP-RATED S, THANKS PART TO PARSONS' BRILLIANT JOB OF HANDLG THE DIFFICULT SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNIL JARGON ED ON THE SHOW. HIS PELLG AND NVCG PORTRAYAL OF A QUIRKY BOY GENI HAD SOME FANS WONRG IF PARSONS BOASTED A SIAR IQ TO HIS CHARACTER'S. "PEOPLE ALWAYS WANT TO KNOW IF I'M AS SMART AS SHELDON," PARSONS EXPLAED TO THE TORONTO STAR. "IT'S SWEET THAT THEY FEEL PELLED TO ASK. BUT SADLY, NO." PARSONS RECEIVED HIS FIRST EMMY AWARD 2010, FOR HIS WORK ON THE BIG BANG THEORY, BEATG OUT SUCH TABLISHED STARS AS STEVE CARELL AND ALEC BALDW TO W ONE OF TV'S TOP HONORS. HIS WNG STREAK NTUED OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS, WH HIM TAKG HOME THREE MORE EMMYS FOR OUTSTANDG LEAD ACTOR A COMEDY SERI 2011, 2013 AND 2014.THE POPULARY OF HIS QUIRKY CHARACTER LED TO THE CREATN OF THE SPOFF YOUNG SHELDON 2016, WH IA ARMAGE STARRG AS THE NE-YEAR-OLD VERSN OF SHELDON HIGH SCHOOL, AND PARSONS VOLVED AS THE SHOW'S NARRATOR.IN AUGT 2018 WAS ANNOUNCED THAT THE BIG BANG THEORY WOULD SIGN OFF THE FOLLOWG MAY, AFTER AIRG S 12TH SEASON FALE. ENTERTAMENT WEEKLY REPORTED THAT THE SHOW WAS ENDG LARGELY DUE TO THE WISH OF PARSONS, WHO WAS LOOKG TO MOVE ON OM PLAYG SHELDON COOPER. THE BIG BANG THEORY WRAPPED S LONG N WH EPISO NO. 279 ON MAY 16, 2019.'THE MUPPETS,' 'WISH I WAS HERE'DURG PRODUCTN BREAKS ON HIS H S, PARSONS PURSUED OTHER CREATIVE OPPORTUNI. HE SURFACED AS THE HUMAN VERSN OF THE PUPPET WALTER THE MUPPETS (2011), AND 2014 HE APPEARED ZACH BRAFF'S DRAMATIC EDY WISH I WAS HERE AND LENT HIS VOICE TO THE LOVABLE ALIEN OH THE ANIMATED MOVIE HOME.'VISNS,' HIDN FIGUR,' 'A KID LIKE JAKE,' 'EXTREMELY WICKED' FOLLOWG HIS ROLE THE DARK THRILLER VISNS (2015), PARSONS WAS AMONG THE ST OF THE OSR-NOMATED BPIC HIDN FIGUR (2016). HE THEN -STARRED WH CLAIRE DAN THE DIE DRAMA A KID LIKE JAKE (2018), AS A PARENT ADAPTG TO HAVG A TRANSGENR CHILD.'EXTREMELY WICKED,' 'HOLLYWOOD'IN 2019 PARSONS PORTRAYED A PROSECUTG ATTORNEY THE TED BUNDY BPIC EXTREMELY WICKED, SHOCKGLY EVIL AND VILE. THE FOLLOWG YEAR HE LIVERED A WELL-RECEIVED TURN THE NETFLIX MISERI HOLLYWOOD AS HENRY WILLSON, AN AGENT WH MAFIA TI WHO HELPED LNCH THE SCREEN REERS OF CLOSETED GAY STARS LIKE ROCK HUDSON AND TAB HUNTER.THEATER WORK'THE NORMAL HEART' PARSONS HAS APPEARED ON BROADWAY SEVERAL TIM, CLUDG A 2011 REVIVAL OF LARRY KRAMER'S AIDS DRAMA, THE NORMAL HEART. A GAY MAN, PARSONS FOUND WORKG ON THE PLAY TO BE PECIALLY APPEALG. NOT LONG AFTER PERFORMG THE THEATER PRODUCTN, PARSONS WAS ST ALONGSI JULIA ROBERTS, MATT BOMER AND MARK RUFFALO THE TV ADAPTATN OF THE NORMAL HEART.'AN ACT OF GOD,' 'THE BOYS THE BAND'IN 2015 PARSONS RETURNED TO THE GREAT WHE WAY THE EDIC PLAY AN ACT OF GOD, STARRG AS THE TULAR CREATOR. IN 2018 HE JOED ANOTHER CELEBRATED BROADWAY PRODUCTN WH THE ROLE OF MICHAEL THE BOYS THE BAND, A REVIVAL OF THE GROUNDBREAKG 1968 PLAY ABOUT THE LIV OF GAY MEN. IN APRIL 2019 WAS ANNOUNCED THAT PARSONS AND THE RT OF THE BROADWAY ST WOULD JO A NETFLIX ADAPTATN OF THE PLAY.PARSONS RECEIVED A STAR ON THE HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME 2015. HE BEGAN HOSTG HIS OWN SHOW, JIM PARSONS IS TOO STUPID FOR POLICS, ON SIRIXM 2017.PERSONAL LIFE AND HBANDFOR MORE THAN A , PARSONS HAS BEEN A RELATNSHIP WH GRAPHIC SIGNER TODD SPIEWAK. IN SPEAKG ABOUT THEIR LIFE TOGETHER, PARSONS SAID 2013, "I'VE NEVER NSIRED MYSELF AN ACTIVIST. I'VE NEVER NSIRED MY RELATNSHIP WH TODD TO BE AN ACT OF ACTIVISM. RATHER SIMPLY, 'S AN ACT OF LOVE, FFEE THE MORNG, GOG TO WORK, WASHG THE CLOTH, TAKG THE DOGS [OUT] — A REGULAR LIFE, BORG LOVE.” PARSONS AND SPIEWAK MARRIED ON MAY 13, 2017, AT THE RABOW ROOM NEW YORK CY. {BORR:0;BORR-BOTTOM:TH SOLID BLACK;MARG:1.875REM 0;CLEAR:BOTH;}QUICK FACTS
• BIG BANG THEORY’S JIM PARSONS WEIGHS ON STRAIGHT ACTORS PLAYG GAY CHARACTERS: ‘THE FIGHT IS TO ENSURE THAT ALL PARTS ARE OPEN TO ALL ACTORS’

'BIG BANG THEORY' MYSTERY: IS SHELDON GAY?

Gay?

WHY JIM PARSONS WAS SRED TO COME OUT AS A GAY ACTOR HOLLYWOOD AND HOW HE MANAGED TO STAY ON TOP

Straight, gay or… “other”?

While Jim Parsons never flat-out nied his sexualy, he admted to The Hollywood Reporter 2020 that he was "sred enough to make [his] missn not to talk about , " as he thought news of him beg gay "might e trouble" for the succs of The Big Bang Theory. Neverthels, a role 2011's Broadway n of The Normal Heart, a show about gay men dyg durg the AIDS crisis, seemed to shake his fens. In a 2012 terview wh The New York Tim, he matter-of-factly revealed he was gay and a 10-year relatnship.

BIG BANG THEORY'S JIM PARSONS SCRIB HIS JOURNEY TO PUBLICLY G OUT AS GAY

Invisn/Invisn/East NewsIn 2012, Jim Parsons quietly me out as a gay man. In a new profile  the New York Tim, The Big Bang Theory star matter-of-factly scribed that he was “gay and  a 10-year relatnship.

Parsons, 49, said that “the majory” of the rol he gets offered are for gay characters: “I wouldn’t necsarily ll  a lot of LGBTQ+ ntent, but there are a lot of gay characters that I get offered, ” Parsons said when asked what kd of scripts he’s sent. “The majory, I would say, that I get offered are gay. ”He had a role discsg beg openly homosexual  Hollywood, Parsons said he “grew up  a time where the first thg I thk of every time is when Ellen [DeGener] me out.

‘BIG BANG THEORY’S’ JIM PARSONS OUT AS GAY

” Then he add that  was so excg and as much as  helped him ultimately,  was still so sry for him as a gay person who wanted a reer on the same road,  the same dtry. ”In The Big Bang TheoryJim was ncerned that g out as gay while filmg The Big Bang Theory might “e trouble.

” He stated that tim have changed and that ’s way easier now to tell somebody you are gay “than  was 20 years ago.

What do you thk of this huge step  g out as gay  the Hollywood world?

GUS WHO'S NOT GAY ON THE BIG BANG THEORY!

The Big Bang Theory star Jim Parsons has reflected on g out as gay at the height of his Emmy-wng s's Parsons's iends and fay knew he had been a relatnship wh partner Todd Spiewak for many years, the actor discsed his sexualy publicly for the first time 2012 after playg an HIV-AIDS advote The Normal a wi-rangg discsn on the new seri of ‎David Tennant Do a Podst Wh…, Parsons told the former Doctor Who star that his upbrgg the Bible Belt fluenced him to separate his personal and profsnal liv for years. I mean, I uld feel off her, and maybe she even said to different gre, of like, 'How would work to be a succsful actor… pay your bills wh , and be gay?

"I'm not aaid to be my quirks on stage and brg who I am and my sensiv, but I am aaid of revealg [I'm] gay, " he said of that time Kle//Getty ImagRelated: Big Bang Theory star Jim Parsons adms he "wouldn't have been able to handle" fame if he was youngerTennant asked whether Parsons felt prsure bee he was qutng his sexualy at the time, but Parsons explaed: "That would have been around the time I was g out, so I don't thk there was much more hidg , as far as that go. "I do thk I was aaid of not beg able to play anythg but gay parts, not only if I me out, but bee I would appear effemate. ‘The Big Bang Theory’ star Jim Parsons is gay.

JIM {LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:600;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:0.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.25REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}} A{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:HER;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;} A:HOVER{LOR:#A00000;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}ACTOR JIM PARSONS ROSE TO FAME AS SHELDON ON THE POPULAR S 'THE BIG BANG THEORY' AND HAS RECEIVED PRAISE FOR HIS STAGE {MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;} SPAN{LE-HEIGHT:1.6;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;}{FONT-STYLE:NORMAL;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;FONT-FAY:RALAS,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;LOR:#323232;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.3;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;TEXT-TRANSFORM:PALIZE;}{DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;MARG-LEFT:0.625REM;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}UPDATED: JUN 23, {DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;}{MARG-BOTTOM:0.9375REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 64REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(100VW - (1REM * 2));MARG-LEFT:1REM;MARG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(-1 * 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - (LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 2 * 1REM)) / -2);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 90REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / 2);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / -2) - 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 2);MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 + 1REM)) / -2) - LC(2 * 1REM));}[DATA-HAS-SPONSOR] {MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);MARG-RIGHT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);}}{JTIFY-SELF:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG-LEFT:-50VW;MARG-RIGHT:-50VW;WIDTH:100VW;LEFT:50%;RIGHT:50%;}}{HEIGHT:TO;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO LC(50% - 50VW);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO;}}{POSN:RELATIVE;HEIGHT:TO;}{POSN:RELATIVE;--POSN:ABSOLUTE;HEIGHT:TO;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:TO;} A{POSN:ABSOLUTE;}{POSN:RELATIVE;WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;VERTIL-ALIGN:TOP;}{BACKGROUND:#C92228;BOTTOM:0;PADDG:.5REM;RIGHT:0;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG:0.39REM;}}{DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:1REM;WIDTH:1REM;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{WIDTH:1.063REM;HEIGHT:1.063REM;}}{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{PADDG-LEFT:3.5REM;PADDG-RIGHT:3.5REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MAX-WIDTH:45.25REM;MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 73.75REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 100REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;}{CLEAR:BOTH;NTENT:" ";DISPLAY:BLOCK;FONT-SIZE:0.7REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.5REM;HEIGHT:0REM;VISIBILY:HIDN;}{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;}(1973-){LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:800;LETTER-SPACG:0.02EM;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;MARG-TOP:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}} B, STRONG{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM, I{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;}WHO IS JIM PARSONS?ACTOR JIM PARSONS STUDIED HIS CRAFT AT THE UNIVERSY OF HOTON AND THE UNIVERSY OF SAN DIEGO. FOLLOWG A SERI OF SMALL FILM AND TV ROL, HE ROCKETED TO FAME AS THE SOCIALLY STUNTED BUT BRILLIANT THEORETIL PHYSICIST SHELDON COOPER ON THE BIG BANG THEORY, WNG FOUR LEAD ACTOR EMMY AWARDS DURG THE H S'S 12-YEAR N. ALONG WH APPEARG FILMS LIKE THE MUPPETS AND HIDN FIGUR, PARSONS HAS EARNED ACCLAIM FOR HIS PERFORMANC BROADWAY PRODUCTNS OF THE NORMAL HEART AND THE BOYS THE BAND.EARLY LIFE & EDUTNJAM JOSEPH PARSONS WAS BORN ON MARCH 24, 1973, HOTON, TEXAS. HE GREW UP HOTON WH HIS SISTER, JULIE, AS THE CHILDREN OF A SCHOOL TEACHER AND THE PRINT OF A PLUMBG SUPPLY PANY. PARSONS SHOWED AN TERT PERFORMG AT AN EARLY AGE, BEGNG WH STUDYG THE PIANO KRGARTEN. A BUDDG ACTOR NEARLY OM THE START, HE EVENTUALLY VELOPED HIS OWN SCRIPTS AND STAGED PRODUCTNS AT HOME. AT KLE OAK HIGH SCHOOL, PARSONS STOOD OUT SCHOOL PRODUCTNS. AFTER ATTENDG THE UNIVERSY OF HOTON, PARSONS NTUED TO STUDY HIS CRAFT AT THE UNIVERSY OF SAN DIEGO, S GRADUATE PROGRAM WH THE OLD GLOBE THEATER, PLETG HIS MASTER'S GREE 2001. MOVI AND TV SHOWS'JUDGG AMY,' 'GARN STATE'PARSONS THEN MOVED TO NEW YORK CY, WHERE HE TRIED TO LNCH HIS ACTG REER. AT FIRST, HE FOUND HIMSELF STGGLG TO FD WORK, APPEARG OFF-BROADWAY PLAYS. HE ALSO LAND A RECURRG ROLE ON THE TV SHOW JUDGG AMY AND A B PART THE 2004 FILM GARN STATE. PARSONS MANAGED TO W OVER CHUCK LORRE, THE -CREATOR OF THE BIG BANG THEORY, HIS DN FOR THE NEW S 2006. LORRE TOLD THE TORONTO STAR THAT PARSONS "NAILED OM THE MOMENT HE WALKED TO THE ROOM. HE NAILED SO MUCH, I HAD TO ASK HIM TO E BACK AND DO AGA, BEE I WASN'T SURE IF HE HAD SIMPLY GOTTEN LUCKY."'THE BIG BANG THEORY'IN SEPTEMBER 2007, PARSONS MA HIS FIRST APPEARANCE AS THEORETIL PHYSICIST SHELDON COOPER ON THE BIG BANG THEORY. HE AND -STAR JOHNNY GALECKI, SHELDON'S ROOMMATE LEONARD, HAD GREAT IC CHEMISTRY OM THE START, PLAYG IENDS AND SOMETIM CLASHG SCIENTISTS. THE S'S ENSEMBLE ST ALSO CLUD SIMON HELBERG, WHO PLAYED ENGEER HOWARD WOLOWZ, AND KUNAL NAYYAR, WHO PLAYED ASTROPHYSICIST RAJ KOOTHRAPALLI. {-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:#A00000;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;}{LOR:#595959;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}KALEY CUO ROUND OUT THE ST AS THEIR MON SENSE NEIGHBOR AND LEONARD'S LOVE TERT, PENNY. MAYIM BIALIK JOED THE SHOW LATER ON, PLAYG SHELDON'S AFFECTN-STARVED SIGNIFINT OTHER, AS DID MELISSA RCH, AS BERNATTE. REAL-LIFE SCIENTISTS BILL NYE, STEPHEN HAWKG AND NEIL GRASSE TYSON, AMONG OTHER GUT STARS, ALSO MA APPEARANC ON THE SERI. THE BIG BANG THEORY GREW TO BEE TV'S TOP-RATED S, THANKS PART TO PARSONS' BRILLIANT JOB OF HANDLG THE DIFFICULT SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNIL JARGON ED ON THE SHOW. HIS PELLG AND NVCG PORTRAYAL OF A QUIRKY BOY GENI HAD SOME FANS WONRG IF PARSONS BOASTED A SIAR IQ TO HIS CHARACTER'S. "PEOPLE ALWAYS WANT TO KNOW IF I'M AS SMART AS SHELDON," PARSONS EXPLAED TO THE TORONTO STAR. "IT'S SWEET THAT THEY FEEL PELLED TO ASK. BUT SADLY, NO." PARSONS RECEIVED HIS FIRST EMMY AWARD 2010, FOR HIS WORK ON THE BIG BANG THEORY, BEATG OUT SUCH TABLISHED STARS AS STEVE CARELL AND ALEC BALDW TO W ONE OF TV'S TOP HONORS. HIS WNG STREAK NTUED OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS, WH HIM TAKG HOME THREE MORE EMMYS FOR OUTSTANDG LEAD ACTOR A COMEDY SERI 2011, 2013 AND 2014.THE POPULARY OF HIS QUIRKY CHARACTER LED TO THE CREATN OF THE SPOFF YOUNG SHELDON 2016, WH IA ARMAGE STARRG AS THE NE-YEAR-OLD VERSN OF SHELDON HIGH SCHOOL, AND PARSONS VOLVED AS THE SHOW'S NARRATOR.IN AUGT 2018 WAS ANNOUNCED THAT THE BIG BANG THEORY WOULD SIGN OFF THE FOLLOWG MAY, AFTER AIRG S 12TH SEASON FALE. ENTERTAMENT WEEKLY REPORTED THAT THE SHOW WAS ENDG LARGELY DUE TO THE WISH OF PARSONS, WHO WAS LOOKG TO MOVE ON OM PLAYG SHELDON COOPER. THE BIG BANG THEORY WRAPPED S LONG N WH EPISO NO. 279 ON MAY 16, 2019.'THE MUPPETS,' 'WISH I WAS HERE'DURG PRODUCTN BREAKS ON HIS H S, PARSONS PURSUED OTHER CREATIVE OPPORTUNI. HE SURFACED AS THE HUMAN VERSN OF THE PUPPET WALTER THE MUPPETS (2011), AND 2014 HE APPEARED ZACH BRAFF'S DRAMATIC EDY WISH I WAS HERE AND LENT HIS VOICE TO THE LOVABLE ALIEN OH THE ANIMATED MOVIE HOME.'VISNS,' HIDN FIGUR,' 'A KID LIKE JAKE,' 'EXTREMELY WICKED' FOLLOWG HIS ROLE THE DARK THRILLER VISNS (2015), PARSONS WAS AMONG THE ST OF THE OSR-NOMATED BPIC HIDN FIGUR (2016). HE THEN -STARRED WH CLAIRE DAN THE DIE DRAMA A KID LIKE JAKE (2018), AS A PARENT ADAPTG TO HAVG A TRANSGENR CHILD.'EXTREMELY WICKED,' 'HOLLYWOOD'IN 2019 PARSONS PORTRAYED A PROSECUTG ATTORNEY THE TED BUNDY BPIC EXTREMELY WICKED, SHOCKGLY EVIL AND VILE. THE FOLLOWG YEAR HE LIVERED A WELL-RECEIVED TURN THE NETFLIX MISERI HOLLYWOOD AS HENRY WILLSON, AN AGENT WH MAFIA TI WHO HELPED LNCH THE SCREEN REERS OF CLOSETED GAY STARS LIKE ROCK HUDSON AND TAB HUNTER.THEATER WORK'THE NORMAL HEART' PARSONS HAS APPEARED ON BROADWAY SEVERAL TIM, CLUDG A 2011 REVIVAL OF LARRY KRAMER'S AIDS DRAMA, THE NORMAL HEART. A GAY MAN, PARSONS FOUND WORKG ON THE PLAY TO BE PECIALLY APPEALG. NOT LONG AFTER PERFORMG THE THEATER PRODUCTN, PARSONS WAS ST ALONGSI JULIA ROBERTS, MATT BOMER AND MARK RUFFALO THE TV ADAPTATN OF THE NORMAL HEART.'AN ACT OF GOD,' 'THE BOYS THE BAND'IN 2015 PARSONS RETURNED TO THE GREAT WHE WAY THE EDIC PLAY AN ACT OF GOD, STARRG AS THE TULAR CREATOR. IN 2018 HE JOED ANOTHER CELEBRATED BROADWAY PRODUCTN WH THE ROLE OF MICHAEL THE BOYS THE BAND, A REVIVAL OF THE GROUNDBREAKG 1968 PLAY ABOUT THE LIV OF GAY MEN. IN APRIL 2019 WAS ANNOUNCED THAT PARSONS AND THE RT OF THE BROADWAY ST WOULD JO A NETFLIX ADAPTATN OF THE PLAY.PARSONS RECEIVED A STAR ON THE HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME 2015. HE BEGAN HOSTG HIS OWN SHOW, JIM PARSONS IS TOO STUPID FOR POLICS, ON SIRIXM 2017.PERSONAL LIFE AND HBANDFOR MORE THAN A , PARSONS HAS BEEN A RELATNSHIP WH GRAPHIC SIGNER TODD SPIEWAK. IN SPEAKG ABOUT THEIR LIFE TOGETHER, PARSONS SAID 2013, "I'VE NEVER NSIRED MYSELF AN ACTIVIST. I'VE NEVER NSIRED MY RELATNSHIP WH TODD TO BE AN ACT OF ACTIVISM. RATHER SIMPLY, 'S AN ACT OF LOVE, FFEE THE MORNG, GOG TO WORK, WASHG THE CLOTH, TAKG THE DOGS [OUT] — A REGULAR LIFE, BORG LOVE.” PARSONS AND SPIEWAK MARRIED ON MAY 13, 2017, AT THE RABOW ROOM NEW YORK CY. {BORR:0;BORR-BOTTOM:TH SOLID BLACK;MARG:1.875REM 0;CLEAR:BOTH;}QUICK FACTS

PHOTOS: Gay celebri Although Parsons has had an extensive reer the theater, ’s his role as Sheldon Cooper on ‘The Big Bang Theory’ that’s ma him a star. ’ Last year, he spent the break starrg the drama ‘The Normal Heart, ’ about gay men dyg of AIDS. Some argue he is gay, some say a-sexual.

The followg year he livered a well-received turn the Netflix miseri Hollywood as Henry Willson, an agent wh mafia ti who helped lnch the screen reers of closeted gay stars like Rock Hudson and Tab Hunter.

BIG BANG THEORY’S JIM PARSONS WEIGHS ON STRAIGHT ACTORS PLAYG GAY CHARACTERS: ‘THE FIGHT IS TO ENSURE THAT ALL PARTS ARE OPEN TO ALL ACTORS’

A gay man, Parsons found workg on the play to be pecially appealg. In 2018 he joed another celebrated Broadway productn wh the role of Michael The Boys the Band, a revival of the groundbreakg 1968 play about the liv of gay men. Get our ee weekly email for all the latt cematic news om our film cric Clarisse LoughreyGet our The Life Cematic email for eeJim Parsons has offered his opn on the stg of straight actors LGBTQ+ an terview wh The LA Tim, Parsons opened up about LGBTQ+ reprentatn film, as well as the bate surroundg whether straight actors should portray gay characters.