Big Bang Theory’s Jim Parsons’ sad reason he ‘wouldn’t do it again’
Sheldon Cooper in The Big Bang Theory (Image: CBS)
The Big Bang Theory continues to go down in history as one of the best American sitcoms of the century and it boosted the careers of stars like Jim Parsons and Kaley Cuoco. The series, which aired between 2007 and 2019, follows the lives of a group of socially awkward scientists, with Parsons’ character Sheldon at the heart of it all.
It may have been one of his most notable credits to date, but the actor reflected negatively on his time on the show, explaining that the stress of his rising fame impacted his mental health. He shared on the All Out with Jon Dean podcast: “I look back now and realise that there were many ways, at some of the best moments of my life, I was miserable. I was not happy. I was stressed.” He went on to admit he “wouldn’t do that again and for any amount of money” as it was “stressful and miserable at times”.
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Jim Parsons said he would not reprise his Sheldon role (Image: Getty)
“I felt that there was so many plates I was supposed to be keeping in the air and that the success and the good things of life that were happening were only due to this overworking,” he shared.
“Maybe to a degree that was true. I don’t know. I can’t say because that’s how I was.”
The Big Bang Theory spin-off, Stuart Fails To Save The Universe, is about to launch and focuses on Kevin Sussman’s comic book store owner from the main show.
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Other actors reprising their roles from the flagship series include Lauren Lapkus as Denise, Brian Posehn as Bert Kibbler, and John Ross Bowie as Barry Kripke.
Parsons, on the other hand, is clearly not as keen to reprise his role, explaining that his work ethic impacted his mental state.
Jim Parsons opened up about his mental health (Image: CBS)
He shared: “It was really just obsessive behaviour, basically. Yes, I was disciplined. Yes, I had a good work ethic, but a lot of it was because it was kind of OCD in nature.”
The 53-year-old actor won four Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series during his time on the show.
When it was first announced that the show was coming to an end, it was widely reported that he was keen to walk away, but he did take to Instagram to thank his co-stars for supporting him over the years.
He wrote: “You are my playmates when we don’t feel like playing but have to because it’s our job to get out there and communicate and pretend we’re these other fictional people and we look into each other’s eyes and say these words and end up creating this weird, other reality that has enriched my life more than I will fully ever understand.”
“I will miss all of you and all of this more than I can say and more than I can know at this time.”