Jim Parsons had the career that millions dream of, but the “Big Bang Theory” star says that success came at a high personal cost.
At the height of his fame, Parsons was not celebrating his successes.
Rather, the Emmy Award-winning actor said he is feeling “stressed” and “miserable” because he is overwhelmed by his compulsive habits.
“Looking back now, I realize that in the best moments of my life, I was miserable in so many ways,” Parsons said during an appearance on “All Out with John Dean.” “I wasn’t happy and I was stressed.
“I felt like there were a lot of plates that I had to keep, and that any success or good things that were happening in my life were only because of this overwork…discipline and all that,” he continued. “And that was probably true to some extent. I don’t know.”
Parsons acknowledged that his strict discipline may have contributed to his success, but said the constant pressure he puts on himself is not worth the mental strain.
“I can’t say, because I was like that too,” he added. “But I don’t do that anymore, no matter how much it costs. It’s just stressful and miserable sometimes. I made myself miserable.”
“Is it because of your own work ethic?” host John Dean asked.
“If you want to call it that,” Parsons said. “It was partially reflected in my work ethic, but basically it was just compulsive behavior.”
Parsons said the perfectionism that helped propel his career has left him trapped in a cycle of compulsive behavior that he now recognizes is unnecessary.
“Yes, I was disciplined. Yes, I had a good work ethic, but it was essentially a form of obsessive-compulsive disorder,” he noted.
“I basically had a list of things in my head that I needed to do in order to feel comfortable and to be confident that I could do my job correctly, and I don’t think that was true.”
The actor said his compulsive daily routine caused him to miss out on “a ton of life” that didn’t fit into the structure he had built for himself. To this day, Parsons admits he doesn’t know if he could have found a better balance.
“I honestly don’t know,” he told Dean. “Likewise, I can’t go back. If I didn’t have that life, I wouldn’t be where I am. Well, I wouldn’t be where I am now.”
“And that somewhat self-deprecating nature was part of it,” he added. “So I don’t know what to tell people…or rather, I don’t know how much I need it.”
After landing the role of Dr. Sheldon Cooper on CBS’s “The Big Bang Theory” in 2007, Parsons rose from small roles on stage and television to become one of Hollywood’s most famous sitcom stars.
His performance on the show earned him four Golden Globe Awards and four Golden Globe Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series.
“The Big Bang Theory” ran for 12 seasons from 2007 to 2019 and became one of the most successful sitcoms in television history.
Parsons co-starred in the sitcom with Johnny Galecki, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar, Mayim Bialik, and Melissa Rausch.
He is also known for his roles in Young Sheldon, The Normal Heart, Hidden Figures, and The Boys in the Band.
