American actor Jim Parsons was born on March 24, 1973 in Houston, Texas. He studied at the University of Houston, taking up a theater degree. During the time, he acted in several stage productions, and also helped establish Infernal Bridegroom Productions, a not-for-profit theater company. He made his television acting debut in 2002, playing a guest role in the comedy series Ed. In 2004, he took a recurring role in the drama series Judging Amy, playing the role of Rob Holbrook.
Parsons also made his name in films. He made his film debut in 2003, playing a minor role in the romantic comedy Nowhere to Go But Up. His other films include Garden State, Heights, Taste, The Great New Wonderful, School for Scoundrels, 10 Items or Less, On the Road with Judas and Gardener of Eden.
Parsons’ first regular television role came in 2007, when he joined the cast of the comedy The Big Bang Theory. He is one of the show’s lead characters: he played the role of Sheldon Cooper, a theoretical physicist who holds a master’s degree and two PhDs. A child prodigy, he has an inflated ego and is socially inept, two factors that go into play in dealing with his new neighbor Penny (Kaley Cuoco). He isn’t swayed at her beauty, and he thinks his friend Leonard (Johnny Galecki) is setting himself up for disappointment whenever he deals with her.
