Photo of Jim Parsons Jim Parsons

A breakout TV star who rose to fame playing übergeek Sheldon Cooper on the hit sitcom "The Big Bang Theory," Jim Parsons was born March 24, 1973, in Houston. The acting bug nipped him in first grade, and he went on to study the craft at the University of Houston, later earning a master's degree from the University of San Diego.

Parsons got his career start with a 2002 guest appearance on "Ed" and then shifted gears to feature films with a small but memorable part in director Zach Braff's Garden State (2004), among other projects. A recurring role on "Judging Amy" followed, but Parsons wouldn't hit the big time, critically speaking, until joining the "Big Bang" cast, playing opposite Johnny Galecki in a priceless odd-couple pairing that garnered Parsons an Emmy in 2010 and a Golden Globe Award the next year.

Other screen credits on the actor's résumé include the zany 2006 comedy School for Scoundrels.

Jim Parsons in Hidden Figures

Hidden Figures

2016 PG

In the race to space between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War, three black female mathematicians play a key role in launching astronaut John Glenn into outer space, making him the first American to orbit Earth.

  • Jim Parsons in The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory
  • Jim Parsons in Home Home
  • Jim Parsons in The Big Year The Big Year
  • Jim Parsons in For the Love of Spock For the Love of Spock
  • Jim Parsons in Wish I Was Here Wish I Was Here
  • Jim Parsons in The Normal Heart The Normal Heart
  • Jim Parsons in Garden State Garden State
  • Jim Parsons in Visions Visions
  • Jim Parsons in Heavy Metal: Louder Than Life Heavy Metal: Louder Than Life
  • Jim Parsons in Elf: Buddy's Musical Christmas Elf: Buddy's Musical Christmas