Big Bang Theory star Jim Parsons opens up about ‘complicated’ reason why he quit sitcom
'I kind of had a suspicion in my heart that was going to be it,' actor said
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Jim Parsons has opened up about his decision to quit The Big Bang Theory.
The CBS sitcom came to an end after 12 seasons when the actor, who played Sheldon Cooper, said he was leaving.
Production designer John Shaffner has since revealed that the show was set to run for another two seasons before Parson announced his decision.
Now, in an interview on David Tennant's podcast, the actor described the process as "a complicated road".
"In retrospect, it was just happening before my eyes," he said. "Our final contract was for the last two years, but no one knew when we signed it what that would mean. I kind of had a suspicion in my heart that was going to be it for me when I did sign that contract. You never say never, who knows?"
It was after an "intense" summer, in which his dog was approaching the end of his life while he starred in Broadway play Boys in the Band, that the actor began to think about his future plans.
Parsons said he was left "beaten down" by the experience and started to think about the death of his father, who died when he was 52 – just five years older than Parsons's current age.
"I realised that at the end of season 12, I would be 46," Parsons continued. "I’m not superstitious, or anything like that, but it was just a context thing. If you told me that, like my father, I had six years left to live, I think there’s other things I need to try and do. I don’t even know what they are, but I can tell that I need to try."
He also said a concern with quitting the series was that the cast and crew members would all be out of a job.
"There’s always that part of it, that other people who are like I could use the work, dude.' That’s just the way this business is, and that part’s hard."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments