Johnny Galecki Was Offered to Play Sheldon on TBBT: Here's Why He Refused
With ten Emmy Awards under its belt, the hit sitcom The Big Bang Theory proved to be hugely popular all over the globe, and a massive part of its success is the cast, without a doubt. So, it goes without saying that it would be difficult to imagine any other actor portraying the characters fans know and adore.
But did you know that Johnny Galecki was not only considered for the role he became known for but also another main character on the show? That's right!
Before he was cast as Leonard Hofstadter, Galecki almost played Sheldon Cooper but decided to turn down the role. But what was the real reason behind his decision?
All TBBT fans will agree that the show wouldn't be the same without Galecki's depiction of Leonard Hofstadter and Jim Parsons' Sheldon Cooper – some might even say they were irreplaceable. After all, these two characters were central to all events that took place in the show during its 12-year run. And let's not forget that Parsons' performance was so vital to the show's success that his decision to leave was the catalyst for the show's cancellation.
However, as hard as it is to picture anyone else playing Sheldon or Leonard now, it turns out that showrunner Chuck Lorre initially offered Galecki to play Sheldon Cooper as the character was, in fact, originally written with him in mind. Galecki, however, turned down the offer, being more interested in taking on Leonard as it was very different from what he had done before. More specifically, it was the "profound dynamic" between Leonard and Penny that stood out to him as he wanted to get a chance to try himself out in themes of love.
He revealed to Variety, "It was a very selfish request on my part. I hadn't been able to traverse those stories of the heart. I've often been cast as the best friend or the gay assistant of whatever character got to explore those relationships. I said I'd rather play this guy, who seems to have a future of romantic triumphs and difficulties."
Fortunately, Galecki was a natural fit for the role he wanted, and Jim Parsons soon made his entrance with a mind-blowing audition that left show co-creator Bill Prady convinced he had found the right person to replace Galecki.
As shocking as Galecki's refusal may seem to fans and as difficult as this decision might have been for him, it paid off in the end. He was able to establish a successful career on TBBT as Leonard and become one of the most recognizable actors on television. Who knows how his career and the show's success would've been impacted if he had not changed his mind!