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Jim Parsons
American race-car driver

Jim Parsons

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American race-car driver
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Gender
Male
Place of birth
Muscatine, United States of America
The details (from wikipedia)

Biography

James Joseph Parsons (born March 24, 1973) is an American actor and producer. Parsons is known for playing Sheldon Cooper in the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory (2007–2019). He has received several awards for his performance, including four Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series and the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Television Series Musical or Comedy. In 2018, Forbes estimated his annual salary to be $26.5 million and named him the world's highest-paid television actor.

Parsons made his Broadway debut in 2011 portraying Tommy Boatwright in the play The Normal Heart, for which he shared a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Ensemble Performance. He reprised the role in the film adaptation of the play, and received his seventh Emmy nomination, this time in the category of Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie. In film, Parsons has voiced the lead character in Home (2015) and played supporting roles in Hidden Figures (2016) and Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile (2019).

Early life

Jim Parsons was born at St. Joseph Hospital in Houston, Texas, and was raised in one of its northern suburbs, Spring. He is the son of Milton Joseph "Mickey/Jack" Parsons, Jr. and teacher Judy Ann (née McKnight). His sister Julie Ann Parsons is also a teacher. After playing the role of the Kola-Kola bird in a school production of The Elephant's Child at age six, Parsons was determined to become an actor. He attended Klein Oak High School in Spring. Parsons points to a role in Noises Off during his junior year as the first time "I fully connected with the role I was playing and started to truly understand what it meant to be honest on stage." The young Parsons was heavily influenced by sitcoms, particularly Three's Company, Family Ties, and The Cosby Show.

After graduating from high school, Parsons received a B.A. degree in Theater from the University of Houston. He was prolific during this time, appearing in 17 plays in 3 years. He was a founding member of Infernal Bridegroom Productions and regularly appeared at the Stages Repertory Theatre. Parsons enrolled in graduate school at the University of San Diego in 1999. He was one of seven students accepted into a special two-year course in classical theater, taught in partnership with the Old Globe Theater. Program director Rick Seer recalled having reservations about admitting Parsons, saying, "Jim is a very specific personality. He's thoroughly original, which is one reason he's been so successful. But we worried, 'Does that adapt itself to classical theater, does that adapt itself to the kind 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 enjoyed school and told an interviewer that he would have pursued a doctorate in acting if possible: "school was so safe!.....you frequently would surprise yourself by what you were capable of, and you were not surprised by some things." Parsons graduated with obtaining a M.F.A. degree in Acting from Old Globe Theatre/University of San Diego in 2001 and moved to New York.

Parsons traced his family's history on TLC's Who Do You Think You Are? in September 2013 and discovered French heritage from his father's side. One of his ancestors was the French architect Louis-François Trouard (1729–1804).

Career

Early career

In New York, Parsons worked in Off-Broadway productions and made several television appearances. In a much-discussed 2003 Quiznos commercial, Parsons played a man who had been raised by wolves and continued to nurse from his wolf "mother". He had a recurring role on the television show Judging Amy and appeared on the television series Ed. Parsons also had minor roles in several movies, including Garden State and School for Scoundrels.

Breakthrough role in The Big Bang Theory

Parsons and The Big Bang Theory co-stars Kaley Cuoco and Johnny Galecki in 2013
Jim Parsons' Hollywood Walk of Fame Star

Parsons has estimated that he auditioned for between 15 and 30 television pilots, but on many of the occasions when he was cast, the show failed to find a television network willing to purchase it. The exception came with The Big Bang Theory. After reading the pilot script, Parsons felt that the role of Sheldon Cooper would be a very good fit for him. Although he did not feel any sort of relationship with the character, he was enchanted by the dialogue structure, the way the writers "brilliantly use those words that most of us don't recognize to create that rhythm. And the rhythm got me. It was the chance to dance through that dialogue, and in a lot of ways still is."

In his audition, Parsons so impressed series creator Chuck Lorre that Lorre insisted on a second audition to see if Parsons could replicate the performance. Parsons was cast as Sheldon Cooper, a physicist with social apathy who frequently belittles his friends and the waitress who lives across the hall. The role requires Parsons to "rattle off line after line of tightly composed, rhythmic dialogue, as well as then do something with his face or body during the silence that follows." Parsons credits his University of San Diego training with giving him the tools to break down Sheldon's lines.

Television critic Andrew Dansby compares Parsons's physical comedy to that of Buster Keaton and other silent film stars. Lorre praises Parsons' instincts, saying that "You can't teach that." Lorre describes Parsons' "great sense of control over every part of his body, the way he walks, holds his hands, cocks his head, the facial tics as 'inspired'." Reviewer Lewis Beale describes Parsons' performance as "so spot-on, it seems as if the character and the actor are the same person." Parsons admits that the work is "more effort than I ever thought a sitcom would take. And that's really the fun of it."

In August 2009, Parsons won the Television Critics Association award for individual achievement in comedy, beating Alec Baldwin, Tina Fey, Steve Carell, and Neil Patrick Harris. Parsons was nominated for Primetime Emmy Awards in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, winning in 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2014. In September 2010, Parsons and co-stars Johnny Galecki and Kaley Cuoco signed new contracts, guaranteeing each of them $200,000 per episode for the fourth season of The Big Bang Theory, with substantial raises for each of the next three seasons. The three were also promised a percentage of the show's earnings. In January 2011, Parsons won the Golden Globe award for Best Actor in a Television Series – Comedy (the award was presented by co-star Cuoco). From August 2013, Parsons, Cuoco and Galecki each earned $325,000 per episode. In August 2014, Parsons, Galecki and Cuoco once again signed new contracts, guaranteeing each of them $1,000,000 per episode for the eighth, ninth, and tenth seasons of The Big Bang Theory, as well as quadrupling their percentage of the show's earnings to over 1% each.

In August 2018, Parsons announced his refusal of a contract worth $50 million for seasons 13 and 14. The producers simultaneously announced that, after 279 episodes, the most of any multi-camera series in TV history, the show will come to an "epic, creative close" in May 2019. Parsons is expected to remain in his role as narrator of the prequel series, Young Sheldon.

Other works

In 2011, Parsons appeared with Jack Black, Owen Wilson, Steve Martin, and Rashida Jones in the comedy film The Big Year. It was released in October. That same year, he appeared as the human alter ego of Walter, the newest Muppet introduced in The Muppets. On May 18, 2012, Parsons began appearing on Broadway as Elwood P. Dowd in a revival of Harvey.

Parsons received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on March 11, 2015. He voiced Oh, one of the lead roles in the DreamWorks Animation comedy film Home (2015), alongside Rihanna. On January 29, 2015, it was announced that Parsons would star as God in the Broadway production of An Act of God, a new play by David Javerbaum and directed by Joe Mantello. The play began previews at Studio 54 on May 5, 2015 and closed August 2, 2015, to positive reviews.

In 2017, Parsons started hosting his own SiriusXM talk show, Jim Parsons Is Too Stupid for Politics. The show ran for six weeks.

In 2018, Parsons was one of the actors who voiced the audiobook A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo.

Personal life

Parsons lives in New York City neighborhood Gramercy Park while also maintaining a residence in Los Angeles.

His father died in a car crash on April 29, 2001.

On May 23, 2012, an article in The New York Times noted that Parsons is gay and had been in a relationship for the last ten years. His husband is art director Todd Spiewak. In October 2013, Parsons called their relationship "an act of love, coffee in the morning, going to work, washing the clothes, taking the dogs out—a regular life, boring love". Parsons and Spiewak wed in New York in May 2017.

Parsons supported Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton in the run-up for the 2016 United States presidential election.

Filmography

Parsons at the 2009 San Diego Comic Con International

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2003Happy EndCasting Assistant
2004Garden StateTim
2005HeightsOliver
2005The Great New WonderfulJustin
2005The King's InnSidneyShort film
200610 Items or LessReceptionist
2006School for ScoundrelsClassmate
2007On the Road with JudasJimmy Pea
2007Gardener of EdenSpim
2011The Big YearCrane
2011The MuppetsHuman WalterCameo
2012Sunset StoriesPrince
2014Wish I Was HerePaul
2015HomeOhVoice
2015VisionsDr. Mathison
2016Hidden FiguresPaul Stafford
2018A Kid Like JakeGreg WheelerAlso producer
2019Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and VileLarry Simpson
2020The Boys in the BandMichaelPost-production

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2002EdChetEpisode: "The Road"
2004Why Blitt?MikeUnsold Fox pilot
2004TasteKrisUnsold CBS pilot
2004–2005Judging AmyRob Holbrook7 episodes
2007–2019The Big Bang TheorySheldon CooperMain role
2009Family GuySheldon CooperVoice
Episode: "Business Guy"
2010Glenn Martin, DDSDravenVoice
Episode: "Jackie's Get-Witch-Quick Scheme"
2011The Super Hero Squad ShowNightmareVoice
Episode: "Blind Rage Knows No Color"
2011Pound PuppiesMilton FeltwaddleVoice
2 episodes
2011iCarlyCalebEpisode: "iLost My Mind"
2011EurekaCarl the JeepVoice
Episode: "Do You See What I See"
2012Family GuyGay-JackerVoice
Episode: "Joe's Revenge"
2012The High Fructose Adventures of Annoying OrangeHenry ApplesauceVoice
Episode: "Generic Holiday Special"
2012Kick Buttowski: Suburban DaredevilLarry WilderVoice
Episode: "Jock Wilder's Nature Camp"
2013Who Do You Think You Are?HimselfSeason 4, Episode 8
2014Saturday Night LiveHostEpisode: "Jim Parsons/Beck"
2014The Normal HeartTommy BoatwrightTelevision film
2014Elf: Buddy's Musical ChristmasBuddyVoice
2016SuperMansionMr. SkibumpersVoice
Episode: "SuperMansion: War on Christmas"
2017Michael Jackson's HalloweenHay ManVoice
2017–presentYoung SheldonAdult Sheldon Cooper (voice)Narrator; also executive producer

Video games

YearTitleRoleNotes
2010Marvel Super Hero Squad: The Infinity GauntletNightmare (voice)

Stage

YearTitleRoleLocations
1993The BalconyTorturer (Arthur)
1994Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are DeadRosencrantz
1995La RondeAlfred
1995EndgameClovInfernal Bridegroom Productions
1995Marat/SadeSteveInfernal Bridegroom Productions
1996Guys and DollsRusty CharlieInfernal Bridegroom Productions
1996Eddie Goes to Poetry CityEddieNew York Theatre
1996Jack and the Future Is In EggsJack
1996OthelloIagoInfernal Bridegroom Productions
1996Suicide in B-flatInfernal Bridegroom Productions
1996WoyzeckDoctor / Horse's HeadInfernal Bridegroom Productions
1997The Cherry OrchardYashaInfernal Bridegroom Productions
1997Chili QueenBuddyStages Repertory Theatre
1997Camino RealBaronInfernal Bridegroom Productions
1997Last RitesTiger CleanInfernal Bridegroom Productions
1998Threepenny OperaMacHeathInfernal Bridegroom Productions
1998Below the BeltDobbitt
1998In the Jungle of the CitiesJ. FinnayInfernal Bridegroom Productions
1998Tamalalia 3: The Cocktail PartyPsychotic psychiatristInfernal Bridegroom Productions
1998King Ubu is KingTom, Mister Nice GuyInfernal Bridegroom Productions
1998The Pitchfork DisneyPresley StrayStages Repertory Theatre
1999Marie and BruceHerb / Fred / WaiterInfernal Bridegroom Productions
1999Tamalalia 4: The Camp-OutRalfInfernal Bridegroom Productions
2001DaOld Globe Theatre
2002What Happened WasJackieThe Paradise Theatre
2001The CastleJeremiahManhattan Ensemble Theatre
2002TartuffeValèreLa Jolla Playhouse
2004The Love for Three Oranges (Gozzi)Prince TartagliaLa Jolla Playhouse
2011The Normal HeartTommy BoatwrightJohn Golden Theatre
2012HarveyElwood DowdStudio 54
2015An Act of GodGodStudio 54
2018The Boys in the BandMichaelBooth Theatre

Awards and nominations

YearAwardsCategoryWorkResult
2009Satellite AwardsBest Actor – Television Series Musical or ComedyThe Big Bang TheoryNominated
TCA AwardsIndividual Achievement in ComedyWon
Primetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy SeriesNominated
2010Satellite AwardsBest Actor – Television Series Musical or ComedyNominated
Teen Choice AwardsChoice TV Actor: ComedyNominated
People's Choice AwardsFavorite TV Comedy ActorNominated
TCA AwardsIndividual Achievement in ComedyNominated
Online Film & Television AssociationBest Actor in a Comedy SeriesWon
Primetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy SeriesWon
2011Critics' Choice Television AwardsBest Actor in a Comedy SeriesWon
Golden Globe AwardsBest Actor– Television Series: Musical or ComedyWon
Primetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy SeriesWon
Online Film & Television AssociationBest Actor in a Comedy SeriesWon
People's Choice AwardsFavorite TV Comedy ActorNominated
Screen Actors Guild AwardsOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy SeriesNominated
2012Primetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy SeriesNominated
Online Film & Television AssociationBest Actor in a Comedy SeriesWon
Critics' Choice Television AwardsBest Actor in a Comedy SeriesNominated
People's Choice AwardsFavorite TV Comedy ActorNominated
TCA AwardsIndividual Achievement in ComedyNominated
Satellite AwardsBest Actor – Television Series Musical or ComedyNominated
2013Golden Globe AwardsBest Actor – Television Series: Musical or ComedyNominated
Critics' Choice Television AwardsBest Actor in a Comedy SeriesNominated
TV Guide AwardFavorite ActorWon
Teen Choice AwardsChoice TV Actor: ComedyWon
Primetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy SeriesWon
People's Choice AwardsFavorite TV Comedy ActorNominated
2014Golden Globe AwardsBest Actor – Television Series Musical or ComedyNominated
Screen Actors Guild AwardsOutstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy SeriesNominated
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy SeriesNominated
Critics Choice Television AwardsBest Actor in a Comedy SeriesWon
Online Film & Television AssociationBest Actor in a Comedy SeriesWon
Teen Choice AwardsChoice TV Actor: ComedyNominated
Primetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy SeriesWon
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or MovieThe Normal HeartNominated
2015People's Choice AwardsFavorite TV Comedic ActorThe Big Bang TheoryNominated
Screen Actors Guild AwardsOutstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy SeriesNominated
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy SeriesNominated
Kids' Choice AwardsFavorite TV ActorNominated
Teen Choice AwardsChoice TV Actor: ComedyNominated
2016People's Choice AwardsFavorite TV Comedic ActorWon
Screen Actors Guild AwardsOutstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy SeriesNominated
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy SeriesNominated
Kids' Choice AwardsFavorite TV Actor - Family ShowWon
Satellite AwardsBest Ensemble – Motion PictureHidden FiguresWon
2017Screen Actors Guild AwardsOutstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion PictureWon
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy SeriesThe Big Bang TheoryNominated
People's Choice AwardsFavorite TV Comedic ActorWon
2018Kids' Choice AwardsFavorite TV ActorNominated
GLAAD Media AwardsStephen F. Kolzak AwardHimselfWon
People's Choice AwardsComedy TV Star of the YearThe Big Bang TheoryWon
2019Critics' Choice AwardsBest Actor in a Comedy SeriesNominated
Emmy AwardsOutstanding Short Form Comedy or Drama SeriesSpecialPending
Teen Choice AwardsChoice Comedy TV ActorThe Big Bang TheoryNominated
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