"Was so happy to see him": When Young Sheldon star Iain Armitage let his feelings be known on working with the TBBT's Jim Parsons 

Young Sheldon on CBS is a love note to The Big Bang Theory. The bond between its main star, Iain Armitage, and Jim Parsons, who played Sheldon Cooper in the OG show, is just as sweet when the cameras aren't rolling.

In a 2017 interview with Entertainment Tonight, Armitage talked about their time together and said he:

"Was so happy to see him [Parsons]."

Their friendship helped keep the spirit of Sheldon Cooper going in both shows.

When Armitage was just nine, he showed he was something special. Parsons said that during auditions, Armitage did a tough scene that wasn't even in the script. This wowed everyone, including creators Chuck Lorre and Steve Molaro.

The connection between them went beyond just work.

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Jim Parsons calls Iain Armitage ‘inspirational’

Jim Parsons had a lot of good things to say about Iain Armitage, the actor who plays a younger version of Sheldon Cooper in the show Young Sheldon. Both of them were being interviewed together by Entertainment Tonight on August 4, 2017.

Jim talked about how Iain's audition tape impressed him and made him stand out from the rest. He said:

"Chuck and Steve wrote this ridiculously long, complicated monologue, which wasn’t even in the script."

Before praising Armitage's "mind-blowing" delivery, it's important to note the young actor's perfect fit for playing a younger version of Parsons' iconic character.

Armitage's natural grasp of the material and his spirited confidence truly stood out. Apart from their work connection, Parsons was also struck by Armitage's passion for acting. He saw in Armitage the pure excitement for performing that he once had. Armitage's enthusiasm reminded Parsons of the unbridled joy that comes from being on stage.

He noted:

"It’s been really inspirational to watch."

Even though Armitage was young, he had a surprising maturity.

Parsons, who worked with him, said his presence on set was "such fun." Because of this, Parsons believed he was the perfect person to take over the role of Sheldon Cooper in the new show. His good opinion showed that Armitage could do a great job with the spinoff series.

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The Young Sheldon stars' Broadway connection

One of the best things about Jim Parsons and Iain Armitage's friendship is their mutual passion for theater. With Entertainment Tonight, Parsons talked about how they watched Broadway shows together during the summer.

Reflecting on their time in New York, Parsons said,

"I was just so happy to see him."

Armitage had a strong love for the theater before he became a Hollywood star. At the event, people in the audience knew him better than they knew Parsons.

Jim Parsons joked about this, showing that Armitage was getting famous in places other than just on Young Sheldon:

"You had so many more people recognize you in the theater than recognize me. They love you there."

The connection between Armitage and Parsons wasn't just by chance. Armitage's early career in theater, where he reviewed Broadway shows, gave him a special view on acting. He used this in Young Sheldon for the character's quirks.

Parsons also loved the theater, which made him enjoy Armitage's style. Their shared passion for live shows made their friendship strong.

What you see on Young Sheldon is as good as their friendship in real life. Both actors came from the theater world, which helped them connect well.

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Watch Young Sheldon on CBS and stream past seasons on Paramount+.

Next up: Young Sheldon stars took an 80s pop quiz | Parsons praised Armitage