Why did Jim Parsons quit The Big Bang Theory?

There are multiple reasons for Jim Parsons’ departure from The Big Bang Theory. Two of the main reasons were his dog’s passing and his exhaustion.

James Joseph Parsons, popularly known as Jim Parsons is an American actor best known for his role as Sheldon Cooper in the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory. Parsons made his acting debut in the 2002 show ED. He then made his movie debut in 2004 through the film Garden State. In 2007, Jim Parsons joined the sitcom as a main cast.

The Big Bang Theory went on to be one of the most loved sitcoms with Jim Parsons being lauded for his performance as Sheldon Cooper. The star went on to become one of the highest-paid television actors. as per Forbes. For his role as the senior theoretical physicist, he has won various awards, including four Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series and the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Television Series Musical or Comedy.

Why did The Big Bang Theory end?

The Big Bang Theory ended after 12 seasons because Jim Parsons decided to walk away from the show. After joining the sitcom back in 2007, the actor took the hard and shocking decision of leaving the show after its 12th season. This turned out to be the main reason for the makers to end the show and not renew it for season 13.

During his time at the "David Tennant Does a Podcast With ..." Jim Parsons opened up on making the tough decision of leaving the show. The actor revealed how he was suspicious of seasons 11 and 12 being his last. Referring to the decision, Parsons said, "It was a complicated road, as you can imagine.” He revealed that he was exhausted with the workload and how one of his commitments forced him to work on a week off. "I had a contract with Intel and so I'd scheduled that," he said. "I was exhausted."

Not just the frantic work schedule, Jim Parsons also revealed that he was also upset about the fact that his 14-year-old pet dog was unwell and that he could not give time to his ailing dog too. Parsons said, "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 was like, 'We've got to go. We've scheduled this. They fit everything around your schedule.' And I just started crying."

"It makes me upset now. I was like, 'This dog's gonna die while I'm off working. I feel so bad,'" Jim Parsons added. The Big Bang Theory fame and his husband Todd had to later put their pet dog down due to the severity of his sickness, leaving Parsons heartbroken.

Aslo read: Big bang theory cast where are they now

Did Jim Parsons leave The Big Bang Theory due to his father’s death?

Apart from exhaustion and his dog’s passing, another reason that solidified Jim Parsons's decision to leave The Big Bang Theory was his father’s death. Discussing the same during the podcast, Jim Parsons said, "My dad had passed years before, but he was 52. And I realized that at the end of season 12, I would be 46. I'm not superstitious or anything like that. It was just a context thing." This made Parsons make the hard decision and communicate the same with TBBT creators Chuck Lorre and writer Steve Molaro.

"I said, '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 know what they are, but I can tell that I need to try,'" said Parsons.

Why did the makers not continue The Big Bang Theory without Jim Parsons?

The news of Jim Parsons's departure from The Big Bang Theory was not just a shocker to the fans but also the makers and the rest of the cast members. As per People, Parsons believed that the show could continue despite his absence. But that was proved wrong when the makers decided to call the 12th season its last as they did not wish to continue without Sheldon in it. Speaking about the same, showrunner Steve Molaro said, "There was never a question about continuing on without him. The show was this ensemble and the thought of doing some strange version without him didn't seem right.

The show makers, Steve Molaro and Chuck Lorre called a meeting to disclose Parsons’ exit and the show’s end, leaving the other cast members stunned and emotional. Recalling the details of the emotional meeting, Lorre said "There was a lot of crying in the room. Kaley [Cuoco], in particular. It was a blow. And there was no way to soften it by giving them a heads-up. I didn't know any other way to do it."

Johnny Galecki who played Leonard H in The Big Bang Theory also recalled the events and said, "I was shocked. We were just blindsided that day. And not necessarily shocked by Jim's decision, but that he hadn't had that conversation with his castmates first to prepare us. So yes, it could have been handled better. We're a family; have a conversation. And I don't even disagree with how Jim felt, because in many ways, I felt the same way. I just disagreed with how it was managed."