Jim Parson's Story Of Leaving The Big Bang Theory Is Darker Than You Think

Summary:

• The Big Bang Theory was an iconic CBS sitcom that ran for 12 seasons from 2007 to 2019.
• The show ended after Jim Parsons informed the showrunners of his intention to leave after season 12.
• It turned out that the actor's decision was influenced by a strong sense of mortality following the loss of his dog.

To say that the job of an actor is demanding would be an understatement. Although we, as viewers, only see the end result and get to cry, laugh, fall in love and have our hearts broken with TV and film characters, there's a lot more to it than meets the eye.

With all the pressure to stay relevant, try something new, and keep up the great performance at your current job, it's not surprising that many actors burn out and take a break from their careers.

Sometimes, however, these breaks can be fatal for fan-favorite productions.

This is exactly what happened to Jim Parsons and his decision to leave The Big Bang Theory, which was enough to end the show altogether. However, Parsons' reasoning was so heartfelt and touching that fans were quick to forgive the actor and stick by him for all of his subsequent projects.

Why Did Jim Parsons Leave The Big Bang Theory?

When it was announced that Jim Parsons had decided not to renew his contract with CBS, there wasn't much to go on at first. However, during a chat with David Tennant on his podcast, much more clarity came to light.

It turns out that when he signed his two-year contract for seasons 11 and 12 of the show, the actor already thought it might be his last.

But nothing was certain until the summer between seasons, when Parsons suffered the loss of his beloved dog, causing him to reflect on mortality.

“I'll never forget that walk around the park to let him go to the bathroom before we went to the commercial shoot. He just looked so bad and I was so tired and Todd [Parson’s husband] was like, 'We've got to go. We've scheduled this. They fit everything around your schedule.' And I just started crying," the actor recalled.

Sadly, the dog passed away soon, and the devastation of that loss was enough to push the actor to the breaking point of leaving The Big Bang Theory and regaining control of his own life and schedule.

Luckily for viewers, things were able to be wrapped up nicely in season 12, and the sitcom still managed to give its fans one of the best, most heartfelt endings ever.

After all, no matter how hard the journey has been for Jim Parsons, the appreciation he has shown his fans over the years has always been genuine.

If you want to re-watch The Big Bang Theory in honour of Sheldon Cooper's journey, you can stream the show on MAX.

Source: David Tennant Does a Podcast