Jim Parsons is an American actor from 2007 to 2019 Parsons played Sheldon Cooper in the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory born March 24th 1973 aged 51 years Houston Texas United States spouse Todd spiwak M 2017 height 1.86 M siblings Julie Parsons parents Judy Parsons Jack Parsons education University of Houston ba University of San Diego MFA Jim Parson's net worth $160 million early life and education Parsons was born at St Joseph Hospital in Houston Texas and was raised in one of its northern suburbs spring he is the son of Milton Joseph Mickey slj Parson Jr and teacher Judy and N mite his sister Julian Parsons is also a teacher after playing the role of the cola-cola bird in a School production of the elephant's child at age six Parsons was determined to become an actor he attended Klein o High School in Spring Parsons points to a role in noises off during his junior year as the first time I fully connected with the role I was playing and started to truly understand what it meant to be honest on stage the young Parsons was heavily influenced by sitcoms particularly threes company Family Ties and The Cosby Show after graduating from high school Parsons earned a ba degree in theater from the University of Houston he was prolific during this time appearing in 17 plays in 3 years he was a founding member of infernal bridegroom Productions and regularly appeared at the stages Repertory Theater Parsons enrolled in graduate school at the University of San Diego in 1999 he was one of seven students accepted into a special 2-year course in classical theater taught in partnership with the old Globe Theater program director Rick Seer recalled having reservations about admitting Parsons saying Jim is a very specific personality he's thoroughly original which is one reason he's been so successful but we worried does that adapt itself to classical theater does that adapt itself to the kind of training that we're doing but we decided that he was so talented that we would give him a try and see how it worked out Parsons enjoyed school and told an interviewer that he would have pursued a doctorate in acting if possible school was so safe you frequently would surprise yourself by what you were capable of and you were not surprised by some things Parsons graduated with a MFA degree in acting from old Globe Theater University of San Diego in 2001 and moved to New York Parsons traced his family's history on TLC's who do you think you are in September 2013 and discovered french Heritage from his father's side the French architect lisis franois truid 1729 to 1804 is Jim's 6th great-grandfather career 2003 to 2006 early roles in New York Parsons worked in off Bradway Productions and made several television appearances in a 2003 Quiznos commercial Parsons played a man who had been raised by wolves and continued to nurse from his wolf mother he had a recurring role on the television show Judging Amy and appeared on the television series Ed Parsons also had minor roles in several movies including Garden State and school for scoundrels personal life Parsons lives in the New York City neighborhood gersy park while also maintaining a residence in Los Angeles his father died in a car crash on April 29th 2001 on May 23rd 2012 an article in the New York Times noted that Parsons is gay and had been in a Rel relationship for the last 10 years his husband is art director Todd spiwak in October 2013 Parsons called their relationship an act of love coffee in the morning going to work washing the clothes taking the dogs out a regular life boring love Parsons and spiwak wet in New York in May 2017 Parson supported Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton in the runup for the 2016 United States presidential election on September 28th 2020 Parsons revealed on an episode of The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon that he and his husband had contracted covid-19 in March 2020 and detailed their experience with it