Jim Parsonshas deservingly won several awards throughout his career,including Primetime Emmy Awardsand Golden Globes. He is best known for his brilliant and hilarious performance as Sheldon Cooper on thehit modern sitcomThe Big Bang Theory. With that said, Parsons has also had a very prominent stage and film career as well. He has the ability to play characters with very different ranges of emotions. With every performance that he takes on, Parsons completely transforms into his character and always delivers the goods. His career has spanned across several genres including drama, comedy, and even animation.
Parsons was born in Houston, Texas and had a very strong passion for acting from a very young age. He earned a B.A. degree in Theater from University of Houston and eventually moved to New York City, where he started to work in Off-Broadway productions. He also began to appear in both commercials and television shows likeJudging AmyandEd. After bit parts in films likeGarden State, Parsons landed his big break when cast inThe Big Bang Theory. Since then, Parsons has become a very prominent and successful actor. Let’s dive into his best performances, ranked.
6Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile
In the Netflix filmExtremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile, following the trial of serial killer Ted Bundy (Zac Efron), Parsons plays Larry Simpson, the Florida prosecutor determined to put Bundy behind bars. Parsons completely transforms into his character and gives a performance filled with passion. He is totally convincing as an experienced lawyer, proving that Parsons always does his homework before showing up on set. He does great work opposite Efron, and delivers an effective performance.
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5A Kid Like Jake
A Kid Like Jakecame out in 2018, and was based on the play of the same name. The film follows Greg Wheeler (Parsons), his wife Alex (Claire Danes), and their four-year-old son Jake (Leo James Davis). The couple struggles to get Jake into a prominent school while they deal with the societal issues of their son being transgender. It is a very thought-provoking film that is extremely current to the times. Parsons plays a passionate and endearing father who only wants the best for his son. At the same time, his chemistry with Danes is top-notch.
4Hidden Figures
In the acclaimed filmHidden Figures, which isbased on true events, Parsons plays a NASA engineer named Paul Stafford. Parsons proved, with this performance, that he is also capable of playing unlikable characters. His character stands as one of the film’s antagonists, for he is constantly preventing mathematician Katherine Johnson (played by Taraji P. Henson) from succeeding in her career. Parsons plays an ignorant character with ease, and it was refreshing to see him spread his wings and take a role such as this. He is an absolute scene-stealer inHidden Figures.
3The Normal Heart
The Normal Heart, which available tostream on HBO Max, is a film based on the play of the same name. It features an ensemble cast and follows the AIDS crisis in the 1980s. Parsons plays Tommy Boatwright, who works with his team to fight the crisis while also watching many of his friends die. It is a heartbreaking performance and Parsons is an absolute scene-stealer. In one particular scene, Parsons gives a monologue at a funeral depicting his true feelings about the situation. It was passionate and heartbreaking.
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2The Boys in the Band
AlthoughThe Boys in the Bandfeatures an ensemble cast, it could be argued that Parsons is the lead character. The film was adapted by the hit play of the same name and follows the emotional struggles of a group of gay men over the course of one party. Parsons is absolutely brilliant from beginning to end as a man struggling with love and life. He gives several dramatic moments and some brilliant monologues along the way. At the same time, he portrays a character struggling to stay away from alcohol very effectively. Parsons shines every minute that he is on-screen and has excellent chemistry with the rest of the cast.
1The Big Bang Theory
It should be no surprise that Parsons' performance as Sheldon Cooper inThe Big Bang Theorylands the number one spot on this list. He received multiple awards throughout the years for his brilliant and hilarious performance. Sheldon was no easy character to take on, but Parsons did it with ease. He plays a brilliant and socially awkward physicist who is constantly struggling in social situations. His character delivered memorable lines throughout the show’s run and his chemistry with the rest of the cast was always top-notch.
