Jim Parsons says he was “miserable” at height of ‘The Big Bang Theory’ fame

The star said he "wouldn’t do that again and for any amount of money"

Jim Parsons has revealed he was “miserable” at the height of his Big Bang Theory fame.

The actor rose to prominence as Sheldon Cooper on the sitcom, which aired between 2007 and 2019 and follows the lives of a group of young socially awkward scientists.

Reflecting on his time on the show, Parsons explained that the stress of his rising fame took a toll on him mentally.

“I look back now and realize that there were many ways, at some of the best moments of my life, I was miserable,” he shared on the All Out with Jon Dean podcast. “I was not happy. I was stressed.

“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… Maybe to a degree that was true. I don’t know. I can’t say because that’s how I was.”

Parsons admitted he “wouldn’t do that again and for any amount of money” as it was “stressful and miserable at times” and he made himself “miserable”.

Recommended

Dean then suggested it could have been due to his own work ethic, the actor responding: “It was really just obsessive behavior, 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.”

Speaking further on how young actors could balance things these days, Parsons added: “I wouldn’t be where I am right now if I hadn’t had that time of life and the somewhat self-tortured nature was part of it. I don’t know what to tell people.”

The Big Bang Theory has produced spin-offs Young Sheldon, which has itself come to an end, and Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage – the third season of which lands later this year.

The next spin-off, Stuart Fails To Save The Universe, premieres this week, and focuses on Kevin Sussman’s titular comic book store owner from the main show. The series sees him try to save the world from a multiverse Armageddon.

Other returnees include Lauren Lapkus as Denise, Brian Posehn as Bert Kibbler, and John Ross Bowie as Barry Kripke.

Meanwhile, back in 2024 Penny actress Kaley Cuoco admitted she would “100 per cent” do a reboot of The Big Bang Theory.

“I would absolutely reprise that role. 100 per cent. I love that character, and I always will,” she told PEOPLE.