Jim Parsons

Biography

Jim Parsons continues to skillfully navigate the entertainment industry as an award-winning actor and producer.

A four-time Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award winner, Parsons has become a fan favorite for his role as Sheldon Cooper in THE BIG BANG THEORY. His performance has garnered him a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination and several People's Choice Award nominations for Favorite TV Comedy Actor. In 2010 Parsons received the NAB Television Chairman's Award, which honors significant breakthroughs in television. Additionally, he received the Broadcast Television Journalists Association's Award for Best Actor in a Comedy Series from the Critics' Choice Television Awards. He has twice been nominated for the TCA Award for Individual Achievement in Comedy, winning the prize in 2009.

In 2017 Parsons produced and lent his voice as a narrator to the three-part docuseries "First in Human," which aired on the Discovery Channel. In 2014 Parsons starred opposite Taylor Kitsch, Julia Roberts, Mark Ruffalo and Matt Bomer in "The Normal Heart," HBO's original movie adaptation of the Tony Award-winning Larry Kramer play, written by Kramer. Parsons portrayed gay activist Tommy Boatwright, reprising his role from the 2011 Broadway revival. Parsons received an Emmy nomination for his role, and the film won an Emmy for Outstanding Television Movie. Also, he voiced the lead character Buddy in NBC's animated holiday special "Elf: Buddy's Musical Christmas."

Parsons starred in the film "A Kid like Jake," a family drama in which a couple navigates the competitive world of New York City kindergarten admissions while trying to understand what is best for their son. In addition to starring alongside Claire Danes and Octavia Spencer, Parsons serves as a producer on the film along with Todd Spiewak, through their shingle, That's Wonderful Productions, along with Eric Norsoph. The film made its world premiere at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival.

On the big screen, Parsons starred in "Hidden Figures" as Paul Stafford, alongside Kevin Costner and Taraji P. Henson. The film, which earned an Oscar nomination for Best Picture, won the National Board of Review award for Best Ensemble as well as the NAACP award for Outstanding Motion Picture. Previously, he voiced the lead role in the animated box office hit "Home," co-starring singer/actress Rihanna. To date, the film has grossed over $368 million worldwide.

Coming up, Parsons will star in "Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile," opposite Zac Efron, John Malkovich, Lilly Collins and Jeffrey Donovan. The film chronicles the life of the infamous serial killer Ted Bundy, focusing on how a routine traffic stop eventually led to the revelation of Bundy's horrific crimes.

Parsons' many film credits include "Visions," opposite Isla Fisher, Gillian Jacobs and Anson Mount; Todd Phillips' "School for Scoundrels," opposite Billy Bob Thornton and Jon Heder; and Chris Terrio's "Heights," opposite Glenn Close and James Marsden. Also, he has created scene-stealing roles in several independent films, such as Zach Braff's "Wish I Was Here" and "Garden State," Kevin Connolly's "Gardner of Eden" and Danny Leiner's "The Great New Wonderful."

Currently, Parsons can be seen in the Broadway revival "The Boys in the Band," alongside Zachary Quinto, Andrew Rannells and Matt Bomer. The play is directed by two-time Tony winner Joe Mantello and produced by Ryan Murphy and David Stone. Parsons last starred on Broadway in the comedy "An Act of God," where God and His devoted angels answer some of the deepest questions that have plagued mankind since Creation. Also on the stage, Parsons starred in the Broadway revival of Mary Chase's Pulitzer Prize winning play "Harvey," in the role of Elwood Dowd, the genial eccentric who claims to see a six-foot-tall white rabbit named Harvey. Parsons' other stage performances include "The Castle" for the Manhattan Ensemble Theater, "The Countess" for the Globe Theater, and "The Tempest" and "As You Like It" for the Houston Shakespeare Festival.

Parsons made his Broadway debut in 2011, receiving a Theatre World Award for his performance as Tommy Boatwright in the revival of "The Normal Heart," starring opposite Ellen Barkin, John Benjamin Hickey and Joe Mantello. "The Normal Heart" received five Tony Award nominations and won the Tony for Best Revival of a Play. Also, it won The Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Revival of a Play and Outstanding Ensemble Performance, and received a nomination from The Outer Critics Circle for Outstanding Revival of a Play.

In January 2017, Parsons began hosting the SIRIUS XM Radio talk show "Jim Parsons Is Too Stupid for Politics" on Andy Cohen's channel. The radio show features experts on politics and international affairs and gives listeners the opportunity to call in to get a better idea of what goes on in Washington, D.C.

Parsons earned a Master of Fine Arts degree from the Old Globe Theater/University of San Diego and a B.A. from the University of Houston. Born and raised in Houston, he now resides in Los Angeles. His birthday is March 24. Follow him on Instagram @therealjimparsons.