Jim Parsons
Jim Parsons | |
---|---|
Houston, Texas, U.S. | |
Alma mater | ) |
Occupations |
|
Years active | 1993–present |
Spouse |
Todd Spiewak (m. 2017) |
James Joseph "Jim" Parsons (born March 24, 1973) is an American actor and producer. From 2007 to 2019, he played
Parsons made his Broadway debut portraying Tommy Boatwright in the Larry Kramer play The Normal Heart (2011). He has since returned to Broadway acting in the plays Harvey (2012), An Act of God (2015), The Boys in the Band (2018), and Mother Play (2024).
In film, Parsons has voiced the lead character in Home (2015) and played supporting roles in Hidden Figures (2016), A Kid Like Jake (2018), Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile (2019), The Boys in the Band (2020), and Spoiler Alert (2022). On television he was Emmy-nominated for playing Tommy Boatwright in the HBO film The Normal Heart (2011) and Henry Willson in the Netflix series Hollywood (2020).
Early life and education
Parsons was born at
After playing the role of the Kola-Kola bird in a school production of
After graduating from high school, Parsons earned a BA degree in Theater from the
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."
Career
2003–2006: Early roles
In New York, Parsons worked in Off-Broadway productions and made several television appearances. In a 2003 Quiznos commercial, Parsons played a man who had been raised by wolves and continued to nurse from his wolf "mother".[12] He had a recurring role on the television show Judging Amy[15] and appeared on the television series Ed.[12] Parsons also had minor roles in several movies, including Garden State and School for Scoundrels.[16]
2007–2019: The Big Bang Theory and theatre roles
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.[12] 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.[7] 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."[11] In his audition, Parsons 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. The role required 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."[12] Parsons credits his University of San Diego training with giving him the tools to break down Sheldon's lines.[7]
Television critic Andrew Dansby compares Parsons's physical comedy to that of
In 2011, Parsons appeared with
Parsons and Todd Spiewak founded That's Wonderful Productions in 2015 with the intention of raising distinct voices and producing work with an underlying sense of purpose and social consciousness. Their work includes Special, Equal, Call Me Kat and A Kid Like Jake. Parsons and Spiewak are also Executive Producers of Young Sheldon.[30] 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.[31] The play began previews at Studio 54 on May 5, 2015[32] and closed August 2, 2015, to positive reviews.[33] In 2016, Jim Parsons played a supporting role as STG (special task group) head engineer Paul Stafford in the biographical drama film Hidden Figures. The film was directed by Theodore Melfi, who had previously worked with Parsons in commercials for Intel.[34]
In 2017, Parsons started hosting his own SiriusXM talk show, Jim Parsons Is Too Stupid for Politics. The show ran for six weeks.[35] 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 would come to an "epic, creative close" in May 2019. Parsons was expected to remain in his role as narrator of the prequel series, Young Sheldon.[36][37] In 2018, Parsons was one of the actors who voiced the audiobook A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo.[38] Parsons starred as party host Michael in the 50th anniversary Broadway production of The Boys in the Band, which won the 2019 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play, reprising his performance (with the whole Broadway anniversary cast) in the 2020 film adaptation.[39][40]
2020–present: Return to theatre
In 2020, he portrayed of
Personal life
Parsons lives in the New York City[44] neighborhood Gramercy Park[45] while also maintaining a residence in Los Angeles.[46]
His father died in a car crash on April 29, 2001.[8]
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.[47] 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".[48] Parsons and Spiewak wed in New York in May 2017.[44]
Parsons supported Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton in the run-up for the 2016 United States presidential election.[49]
On September 28, 2020, Parsons revealed on an episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon that he and his husband had contracted COVID-19 in March 2020, and detailed their experience with it.[50]
Acting credits
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2003 | Happy End | Casting Assistant | |
2004 | Garden State | Tim | |
2005 | Heights | Oliver | |
2005 | The Great New Wonderful | Justin | |
2005 | The King's Inn | Sidney | Short film |
2006 | 10 Items or Less | Receptionist | |
2006 | School for Scoundrels | Classmate | |
2007 | On the Road with Judas | Jimmy Pea | |
2007 | Gardener of Eden | Spim | |
2011 | The Big Year | Crane | |
2011 | The Muppets | Human Walter | Cameo |
2012 | Sunset Stories | Prince | |
2014 | Wish I Was Here | Paul | |
2015 | Home | Oh | Voice |
2015 | Visions | Dr. Mathison | |
2016 | Hidden Figures | Paul Stafford | |
2018 | A Kid Like Jake | Greg Wheeler | Also producer |
2019 | Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile | Larry Simpson | |
2020 | The Boys in the Band | Michael | |
2022 | Spoiler Alert | Michael Ausiello | Also producer |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2002 | Ed | Chet | Episode: "The Road" |
2004–2005 | Judging Amy | Rob Holbrook | 7 episodes |
2007–2019 | The Big Bang Theory | Sheldon Cooper | Main role |
2009, 2012 | Family Guy | Sheldon Cooper / Gay-Jacker (voice) | Episodes: "Business Guy" and "Joe's Revenge" |
2010 | Glenn Martin, DDS | Draven (voice) | Episode: "Jackie's Get-Witch-Quick Scheme" |
2011 | The Super Hero Squad Show | Nightmare (voice) | Episode: "Blind Rage Knows No Color" |
2011 | Pound Puppies | Milton Feltwaddle (voice) | 2 episodes |
2011 | iCarly | Caleb | Episode: "iLost My Mind" |
2011 | Eureka | Carl the Jeep (voice) | Episode: "Do You See What I See" |
2012 | The High Fructose Adventures of Annoying Orange | Henry Applesauce (voice) | Episode: "Generic Holiday Special" |
2012 | Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil | Larry Wilder (voice) | Episode: "Jock Wilder's Nature Camp" |
2013 | Who Do You Think You Are?
|
Himself[51] | Season 4; Episode 8 |
2014 | Saturday Night Live | Host[52] | Episode: "Jim Parsons/Beck" |
2014 | The Normal Heart | Tommy Boatwright | Television film |
2014 | Elf: Buddy's Musical Christmas | Buddy (voice) | |
2016 | SuperMansion | Mr. Skibumpers (voice) | Episode: "SuperMansion: War on Christmas" |
2017 | Michael Jackson's Halloween[53] | Hay Man (voice) | |
2017–present | Young Sheldon | Adult Sheldon Cooper (voice) | Narrator; also executive producer |
2019–2021 | Special | — | Executive producer |
2020 | The Simpsons | Himself (voice) | Episode: "Frinkcoin" |
2020 | Hollywood | Henry Willson | Main role; also executive producer |
2021 | Staged | Himself | Episode: "The Warthog and the Mongoose: Part Two" |
2021–2023 | Call Me Kat | — | Executive producer |
Theatre
Year | Title | Role | Venue | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
1993 | The Balcony | Torturer (Arthur) | ||
1994 | Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead | Rosencrantz | ||
1995 | La Ronde | Alfred | ||
1995 | Endgame | Clov | Infernal Bridegroom Productions | [54] |
1995 | Marat/Sade | Steve | Infernal Bridegroom Productions | [54] |
1996 | Guys and Dolls | Rusty Charlie | Infernal Bridegroom Productions | [54] |
1996 | Eddie Goes to Poetry City | Eddie | Zocalo Theatre | |
1996 | Jack and the Future Is in Eggs | Jack | ||
1996 | Othello | Iago | Infernal Bridegroom Productions | [54] |
1996 | Suicide in B-flat | Petrone | Infernal Bridegroom Productions | [54] |
1996 | Woyzeck | Doctor / Horse's Head | Infernal Bridegroom Productions | [54] |
1997 | The Cherry Orchard | Yasha | Infernal Bridegroom Productions | [54] |
1997 | Chili Queen | Buddy | Stages Repertory Theatre | [54] |
1997 | Camino Real | Baron | Infernal Bridegroom Productions | [54] |
1997 | Last Rites | Tiger Clean | Infernal Bridegroom Productions | [54] |
1998 | Threepenny Opera
|
MacHeath | Infernal Bridegroom Productions | [54] |
1998 | Below the Belt | Dobbitt | ||
1998 | In the Jungle of the Cities
|
J. Finnay | Infernal Bridegroom Productions | [54] |
1998 | Tamalalia 3: The Cocktail Party | Psychotic psychiatrist | Infernal Bridegroom Productions | [54] |
1998 | King Ubu is King | Tom, Mister Nice Guy | Infernal Bridegroom Productions | [54] |
1998 | The Pitchfork Disney | Presley Stray | Stages Repertory Theatre | |
1999 | Marie and Bruce | Herb / Fred / Waiter | Infernal Bridegroom Productions | [54] |
1999 | Tamalalia 4: The Camp-Out | Ralf | Infernal Bridegroom Productions | [54] |
2001 | Da | Young Charlie | Old Globe Theatre | [55] |
2002 | What Happened Was | Jackie | The Paradise Theatre | |
2001 | The Castle | Jeremiah | Manhattan Ensemble Theatre | [56] |
2002 | Tartuffe | Valère | La Jolla Playhouse | [57] |
2004 | The Love for Three Oranges (Gozzi) | Prince Tartaglia | La Jolla Playhouse | [58] |
2011 | The Normal Heart | Tommy Boatwright | John Golden Theatre | [59] |
2012 | Harvey | Elwood Dowd | Studio 54 | [60] |
2015 | An Act of God | God | Studio 54 | [61] |
2018 | The Boys in the Band | Michael | Booth Theatre | [62] |
2022 | A Man of No Importance | Alfie Byrne | Classic Stage Company | [63] |
2024 | Mother Play | Carl | Helen Hayes Theatre
|
[64] |
2024 | Our Town | Stage Manager | Ethel Barrymore Theatre | [65] |
Video games
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2010 | Marvel Super Hero Squad: The Infinity Gauntlet | Nightmare | Voice |
Awards and nominations
See also
- Character actor
- LGBT culture in New York City
- List of LGBT people from New York City
- Television sitcom
References
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- ^ "Order of Golden Globe Awards presentations". Los Angeles Times. January 16, 2011. Archived from the original on October 1, 2013. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
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- ^ "HBO Max Picks Up "Equal," Groundbreaking Four-Part Docu-Series Chronicling Landmark Events and Forgotten Heroes of LGBTQ+ Movement" (Press release). Los Angeles: Warner Brothers Entertainment. Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. October 16, 2019. Archived from the original on August 4, 2021. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
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External links
- Jim Parsons at IMDb
- Jim Parsons at the Internet Broadway Database
- Jim Parsons at the Internet Off-Broadway Database
- Jim Parsons at AllMovie
- CBS Biography
- Movieline interviews Big Bang Theory's Jim Parsons On Learning Lines, Emmy Nods and Cast Ping Pong Deathmatches
- Fresh Air Interview: Jim Parsons On The Science Of Sheldon, 'Big Bang'