Jim Parsons is an American actor most notably known for playing the role of Sheldon Cooper on the CBS show “The Big Bang Theory,” which initially aired in 2007 and aired for a total of 12 episodes. As an actor, Jim Parsons is a recipient of various awards, such as four Primetime Emmys.
Parsons is also notable for starring in films such as “Garden State” (2004), “The Big Year” (2011), “Hidden Figures” (2016), “Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile” (2019), and many more.
Jim Parsons' Appearance (Height, Hair, Eyes & More)
| Height | 6 ft 1 in 1.86 m |
|---|---|
| Weight | 145 pounds 66 kg |
| Hair Color | Brown |
| Eye Color | Blue |
| Body Type | Fit |
| Sexual Orientation | Gay |
Facts About Jim Parsons
| Nationality | American |
|---|---|
| Estimate Net Worth | $160 million |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Zodiac Sign | Aries |
| Birthplace | Houston, Texas |
| Birthday | March 24, 1973 |
Jim Parsons' Net Worth
In 2023, Jim Parsons was estimated to be worth around $160 million. (1) Most of his net worth can be tied to the salary he got while doing “The Big Bang Theory” for 12 years in a row.
Parsons can be called the face of “The Big Bang Theory” because of his outstanding contribution to the show as the sitcom’s lead, and because of that, the show’s producers willingly splurged on Parsons to keep him.
Jim Parsons’ initial contract with the producers reportedly entitled him to $60,000 per season. But this would increase as the popularity of the sitcom increased exponentially. By season 8, he was already making $300,000.
This drastically increased in 2017 when it was said that he was earning $1 million per episode. (2) His insanely high salary placed him among some of the highest-paid television actors. Forbes reported that Jim Parsons made $27.3 Million in The Big Bang Theory in 2017.
In addition to his acting career, Jim Parsons also earns money for being a producer. As a matter of fact, he and his husband, Todd Spiewak, are one of the executive producers of the coming-of-age sitcom “Young Sheldon,” starring Iain Armitage. It is unclear how much he earns from the sitcom because he also plays a minor role on the show as a voice-over actor.
See the net worth of other famous actors and actresses here.
Jim Parsons' Early Life
Jim Parsons was born James Joseph Parsons in Houston, Texas. He was born on March 24, 1973, which makes him 49 years old as of writing.
Jim Parsons was raised in the Spring, a northern suburb under the jurisdiction of Houston in Texas. He lived a normal life as a child. Jim Parsons’ parents were Milton Joseph Parsons Jr., who also goes by Mickey Parsons or Jack Parsons, and Judy Ann McKnight Parsons. His mother, Judy Ann Parsons, was a teacher.
At just six years old, Jim Parsons already knew that he wanted to pursue a career in acting after he played the role of the Kola-Kola bird in their school play called “The Elephant Child.”
He has a sister named Julie Ann Parsons, a teacher like their mother. In 2001, their father died in a car accident, which devastated the two.
Jim Parsons' Education
Despite knowing from a young age that he wanted to pursue acting, Jim Parsons still deemed it necessary to go to college and obtain a degree. Jim Parsons studied at the University of Houston in Texas, where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Theater. While a student at the University of Houston, Parsons honed his acting skills by appearing in 17 plays for three consecutive years. (3)
As a matter of fact, Jim Parsons was a founding member of Infernal Bridegroom Productions, a theater company in Houston, Texas, founded in 1993 but dissolved in 2007. In addition, he was also a regular at Stages Repertory Theatre.
After graduating from the University of Houston, Jim Parsons went to the University of San Diego in 1999 to pursue his postgraduate degree. Parsons was among the seven students accepted into a special two-year classical theatre course. The program was taught in partnership with the Old Globe Theatre.
Jim Parsons also attended Klein Oak High School, a public high school in Harris County, Texas.
Jim Parsons' Husband and Family Life
Jim Parsons is married to Todd Spiewak. The pair tied the knot on May 13, 2017, but their relationship was longer than that. Jim Parsons and Todd Spiewak met in November of 2002 on a blind date set by the couple’s friends. The pair have been inseparable ever since.
The couple’s first date was in a karaoke bar. Two women, friends of the couple, had set up the date for them. One of the women was Parsons’ best friend, whom he met in grad school. She happened to be Spiewak’s boss. Spiewak, who was working as a graphic designer at that time, felt an instant connection with Parsons.
In August 2010, Jim Parsons took home his first-ever Emmy Award for playing the role of Sheldon Cooper in “The Big Bang Theory.” In his acceptance speech, he thanked his mom and a couple of other names, which included Todd Spiewak. This sparked a lot of speculation from fans.
Two years later, he came out as gay after an article by Patrick Healy claimed that the actor was “gay and in a 10-year relationship.” Todd Spiewak’s name will not be made public until his acceptance speech in September 2013. A portion of his speech was directed at Spiewak, which Parsons claimed was his “favorite person on Earth.” (4)
Spiewak and Parsons would only appear in public together in October 2013. The couple attended the Respect Awards by GLSEN, an LGBT youth advocacy organization.
After years of getting grilled on when they would tie the knot, Parsons and Spiewak finally wed in May 2017 at Rainbow Room in New York. One of the attendees at the wedding was his co-star Mayim Bialik, who played the role of Parsons’ wife in “The Big Bang Theory.”
Jim Parsons' Career
Jim Parsons’s career in acting can be traced back to his undergraduate studies majoring in Theatre. He has appeared in 17 plays as a student. After graduating, he went to New York and found himself in Off-Broadway productions while appearing in some tv shows. One of his earliest projects was in the TV show, “Judging Amy.” He also appeared in the series “Ed” as well as in movies like “Garden State” and “School for Scoundrels.”
Parsons’s biggest break in his entire career is in the tv sitcom “The Big Bang Theory.” Parsons claims that he instantly felt that the character was a good fit for him upon reading the scripts, and he was right because he impressed the creator Chuck Lorre when he auditioned for the part of Sheldon Cooper.
Although he was impressed with Parsons on the first audition, Chuch Lorre insisted on a second audition to see if Parsons could replicate his initial performance. After the second audition, Parsons became the Sheldon Cooper that everyone loved.
Jim Parsons’ iconic character, Sheldon Cooper, has earned him several awards, and he deserves all of them. In 2009, Jim Parsons was awarded the Television Critics Association Award for Individual Achievement in Comedy. The same year, he was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. This would go on until 2014.
“The Big Bang Theory” aired its last episode on May 16m 2019. The main reason for the show’s end was the refusal of Parsons to renew his contract for seasons 13 and 14, amounting to $50 Million. Despite the show’s end, Sheldon Cooper, Leonard Hofstadter (Johnny Galecki), Penny Hofstadter (Kaley Cuoco), Howard Wolowitz (Simon Helberg), Raj Koothrapalli (Kunal Nayyar), Amy Fowler (Mayim Bialik), and the others will forever be in the minds of those who find the show very comforting.
Now, Jim Parsons focuses on being a voice-over actor and executive producer of “Young Sheldon.”
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Jim Parsons's Real Estate
In 2018, Jim Parsons has sold his Hollywood Hill Mansion for $8.95 million. (5)
References
- Celebrity Net Worth, Jim Parsons Net Worth, retrieved from https://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-celebrities/actors/jim-parsons-net-worth/
- Nikita Mahato, The Big Bang Theory: Actors’ rumoured salaries explored, retrieved from https://www.sportskeeda.com/pop-culture/salaries-the-big-bang-theory-actors-explored\
- Wikipedia, Jim Parsons, retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Parsons
- Gregory E. Miller,Jim Parsons and Todd Spiewak Have an Absolutely Beautiful Love Story, retrieved from https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/entertainment/a44642/jim-parsons-todd-spiewak-relationship-timeline/
- Annie Galaxy, Houston Proud Jim Parsons is Leaving the Hollywood Hills, Selling His Cozy Mansion for $8.95 Million: Inside the House that Sheldon Cooper Built, Retrieved from https://www.papercitymag.com/real-estate/jim-parsons-leaving-hollywood-hills-selling-mansion-los-feliz-houston-proud/