Jim Parsons was ‘Miserable’ During Peak ‘Big Bang Theory’ Popularity: ‘I Wouldn’t Do That Again and For Any Amount of Money’

Jul 18, 2026 10:06am PT Jim Parsons recently told the “All Out with Jon Dean” podcast (via People) that he was “miserable” during the height of his long-running TBS sitcom “The Big Bang Theory.” “I look back now and realize that there were many ways, at some of the best moments of my life, I was miserable,” Parsons said. “I was not happy.

I was stressed.” He added, “I felt that there was so many plates I was supposed to be keeping in the air and that the success and the good things of life that were happening were only due to this overworking… discipline and whatever.

Maybe to a degree that was true. I don’t know. I can’t say because that’s how I was.”

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“It’s evolving, and it gets better all the time. What I feel is better, what I feel is healthier. It’s not something that I think probably anybody, but I was certainly not equipped to, looking back,” Parsons explained.

“The Big Bang Theory” ran for 279 episodes from 2007 to 2019, and followed the misadventures of a group of socially awkward science geeks and their much cooler female neighbors. Parsons starred alongside Johnny Galecki, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar, Melissa Rauch and Mayim Bialik. The show earned 10 Emmys during its run, including four best lead actor in a comedy wins for Parsons.

Jump to Comments Jim Parsons recently told the “All Out with Jon Dean” podcast (via People) that he was “miserable” during the height of his long-running TBS sitcom “The Big Bang Theory.” “I look back now and realize that there were many ways, at some of the best moments of my life, I was miserable,” Parsons said. “I was not happy.

I was stressed.” He added, “I felt that there was so many plates I was supposed to be keeping in the air and that the success and the good things of life that were happening were only due to this overworking… discipline and whatever.

Maybe to a degree that was true. I don’t know. I can’t say because that’s how I was.”

Popular on Variety Related Stories 'The Odyssey' First Reactions Are Raves for Christopher Nolan's 'Astonishing' Epic and 'Flawless Filmmaking': 'Breathtaking, Bold and Perfection' Why Aren’t There More Imax 70mm Screens for ‘The Odyssey’? ‘It’s Not Practical,' Company Says Despite the overwhelming success of “The Big Bang Theory,” Parsons said he wouldn’t relive it “for any amount of money.” He went on to acknowledge that the role “is not going away,” but since the show wrapped in 2019, he’s been “changing my relationship to it.”

“It’s evolving, and it gets better all the time. What I feel is better, what I feel is healthier. It’s not something that I think probably anybody, but I was certainly not equipped to, looking back,” Parsons explained.

“The Big Bang Theory” ran for 279 episodes from 2007 to 2019, and followed the misadventures of a group of socially awkward science geeks and their much cooler female neighbors. Parsons starred alongside Johnny Galecki, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar, Melissa Rauch and Mayim Bialik. The show earned 10 Emmys during its run, including four best lead actor in a comedy wins for Parsons.

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