Long Before TBBT, Jim Parsons Starred in 00s Sitcom No One Remembers
The actor didn't even know what a breakthrough was awaiting him.
Many people think that Jim Parsons' breakout performance as Sheldon Cooper was his first on-screen appearance, and that he was lucky to get so much attention for his first role on television.
This is not the case, however.
Years before The Big Bang Theory, Parsons had already started to make his way up the career ladder with the role of a park ranger named Chet on NBC's Ed.
He appeared in a season 3 episode and shot his scenes alongside two members of the main cast, Julie Bowen, who portrayed Carol Phyllis Vessey, and John Slattery, who portrayed Dennis Martino. Unfortunately, neither the actor nor the show itself became nearly as popular as The Big Bang Theory at the time. According to Parsons himself, he has only fond memories of filming his role and holds it close to his heart:
"It was a really small part, and I was really excited. I remember watching it and it was just so neat. One of the best things that happened was Julie and John, however. Especially having been on the show for so long, now I realize how kind and inclusive they were to me, when I was on the set that day," the actor mentioned in the Variety interview.
The episode of Ed starring Jim Parsons was released in 2002. Just 5 years before the first episode of The Big Bang Theory aired on CBS and marked the beginning of the actor's remarkable career.
Many years later, an aspiring actor would become a nominee and winner of many prestigious awards such as Golden Globe and Primetime Emmy for the role of Sheldon Cooper.
Unfortunately, the show Ed is not available on any streaming platforms, so your best bet to see Parsons' first performance would be to try to watch it on YouTube.
However, if you are in the mood for a Big Bang Theory marathon, you can stream it on HBO Max.