Jim Parsons celebrates his birthday today, but how much do you know about the Big Bang Theory star – here are some facts you might not know about him.
The Big Bang Theory has been arguably the most successful comedy of this century so far. The story of the adventures and tribulations of a group of scientists and their friends captured the imagination of fans across the world over 12 series and made international stars of cast members such as Kaley Cuoco and Jim Parsons.
Since the show ended after 279 episodes, it has spawned several spin-offs, including Young Sheldon, which followed the adventures of Sheldon as a child prodigy – and was narrated by Jim.
Jim, who played Sheldon Cooper, was one of the favourites on the show for his straight talking and mix of genius and lack of social skills.
But as Jim turns 52 today, how much do you know about him? Here are some facts about Jim Parsons that you might not know.
He got the acting bug early
Like many famous actors, Jim got the acting bug at a young age. For Jim, playing the Kold-Kola bird in his school’s production of The Elephant’s Child at the age of six was the catalyst for his desire to become an actor.
As a youngster, Jim was influenced by various sitcoms, including Three’s Company, Family Ties and The Cosby Show.
He completed his schooling
Jim didn’t do any professional acting as child. After graduating high school, he studied for a degree in Theater at the University of Houston – although he made sure he was in every show possible while he was there, appearing in 17 plays during his three years there.
he then went onto the University of San Diego where he completed a two-year classical theater course.
It was only after this that Jim moved to New York to try and make it as an actor, appearing in various off-Broadway productions.
An early role was in a Quiznos advert
One of Jim’s earliest on-screen roles was in an advert for fast-food chain Quiznos, where he played a man who had been raised by wolves and still nursed from his wolf ‘mother’. Hey, it helped to pay the bills.
He spent years auditioning before getting his big break
In his first years in New York, as well as his theater work, Jim also tried to get into TV and movie work. For instance, he had minor roles in Garden State and School for Scoundrels.
Jim also auditioned for, in his estimate, between 15 and 30 TV pilots in this time. However, even when he was cast in a role, the series never made it past the pilot stage – where a trial episode is made and then TV networks decide if they want to pick it up as a show.
The exception was, of course, The Big Bang Theory.
He is an accomplished piano player
Jim took piano lessons for 14 years, so is an accomplished player. So whenever you saw Sheldon playing piano in The Big Bang Theory – Jim was actually playing the tune for real.
Jim is happily married
Jim generally keeps his private life, well, private. It wasn’t until 2012 that a newspaper reported that Jim was gay and had been in a relationship for 10 years.
But after that, that relationship turned into a marriage – in 2017, Jim married art director Todd Spiewak in New York. In an interview with E! in 2013, Jim said that their relationship was founded on the everyday, and about “coffee in the morning, going to work, washing the clothes, taking the dogs out – a regular life, boring love.”
Jim also owns a production company, That’s Wonderful Productions, with his husband.
