JIM PARSONS

Name & Birth Details

Full Name: James Joseph Parsons
Born: March 24, 1973 (age 52, as of June 2025)
Birthplace: Houston, Texas, U.S., raised in the Spring suburb

Family & Early Life

Parsons is the son of Milton Joseph “Mickey” Parsons Jr. (deceased 2001), a plumbing-supply executive, and Judy Ann McKnight, a schoolteacher. He has one sister, Julie Ann. From a young age he showed creative promise—playing piano in kindergarten and becoming determined to act after performing at age six .

Education & Theatrical Training

He attended Klein Oak High School, where pivotal drama roles sparked his passion. Parsons built a strong theater résumé in 17 college productions while earning a B.A. in Theater from the University of Houston. In 1999, he enrolled in a prestigious two-year classical acting MFA program at University of San Diego’s Old Globe Theatre, graduating in 2001 .

Early Career on Stage & Screen

After graduating, Parsons performed in Off‑Broadway and regional theater. His first on-screen role was a Quiznos commercial. Between 2003 to 2006, he appeared in recurring TV spots (Judging Amy, Ed) and small film roles (Garden State, School for Scoundrels) .

Breakthrough Role – Sheldon Cooper

In 2007, Parsons landed the iconic role of Sheldon Cooper on The Big Bang Theory, showcasing his comedic precision and physicality. Over 12 seasons and 279 episodes, he won four Primetime Emmy Awards and two Golden Globes. At the peak in 2015, he earned around US $1 million per episode and was among the highest-paid actors on television .

Expanding Television & Voice Work

Post-Big Bang, Parsons became a major creative force:

• Narrator and executive producer on Young Sheldon (2017–2024)

• Voice actor in shows like Family Guy and specials including Elf: Buddy’s Musical Christmas

• Star and producer of Netflix’s Hollywood (2020), earning an Emmy nomination .

Broadway & Stage Comebacks

A respected stage actor, Parsons made his Broadway debut in The Normal Heart (2011), followed by roles in Harvey (2012), An Act of God (2015), The Boys in the Band (2018), and most recently Mother Play and Our Town in 2024 .

Film Performances

His film credits include voice roles (Home, 2015), plus dramatic turns in Hidden Figures (2016), A Kid Like Jake (2018, also produced), Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile (2019), The Boys in the Band (2020), and Spoiler Alert (2022), which he also produced. He’s slated to voice Snowball in the upcoming animated Animal Farm (2025) .

Awards & Recognition

Parsons has received:

• 4 Primetime Emmy Awards for Lead Actor in a Comedy (2010, 2011, 2013, 2014)

• 2 Golden Globe Awards (2011, 2014)

• Critics’ Choice Television Awards and Screen Actors Guild recognition
  He also earned nominations for roles in The Normal Heart and Hollywood .

Personal Life & Off‑Screen Projects

Openly gay, Parsons has been with art director Todd Spiewak since around 2002; they married in New York in May 2017. The couple lives between Gramercy Park, New York, and Los Angeles. Parsons is politically engaged, supporting Hillary Clinton in 2016 .

Together they co-founded That's Wonderful Productions in 2015, championing inclusive storytelling (Special, Call Me Kat, A Kid Like Jake) and Parsons serves as executive producer on many of these projects .

Summary

Jim Parsons is a multifaceted talent—an award-winning actor revered for portraying Sheldon Cooper, a seasoned stage performer, a thoughtful producer, and a respected voice in the industry. With a powerful mix of stage gravitas, on-screen versatility, and impactful creative leadership, he continues to shape the entertainment landscape, all while staying true to his roots and partnerships.