The ‘Young Sheldon’ Cast Reflects On the Sitcom’s End After 12 Seasons: ‘They Really Feel Like Family’

Fans heartbroken over the fact that The Big Bang Theory had come to a close after a sensational 12-season run, were delighted to discover that the adventures of the ingenious Sheldon Cooper would continue in the prequel spin-off, Young Sheldon. What followed was a look at the childhood of this eccentric character that allowed them to see, over the course of seven seasons, Sheldon grow up to become the man they knew and loved.

As he combats a life of football and church in Texas for one as a genius child, audiences learn everything about the early life of the character, narrated by adult Sheldon, with Jim Parsons vocally reprising his Big Bang Theory role. Catch up with the cast of Young Sheldon and see what the stars had to say about the series!

Iain Armitage portrays the quirky, rule-following supergenius Sheldon Cooper as he struggles to fit in as a disproportionately young high school — and, eventually, college — student.

The young actor had to deliver a three-page monologue in front of Parsons and series co-creators Chuck Lorre and Steven Molaro during his audition. Armitage said he didn’t try to imitate Parsons, which helped him land the part.

“No one’s really the same when they’re a grown up as they are when they’re a kid so I can sort of do my own thing,” Armitage told Entertainment Weekly in 2017. “Once you understand the character of Sheldon, then voila!”

Armitage first caught attention with his YouTube series, Iain Loves Theatre. As his channel gained notoriety, he got to be a Perez Hilton correspondent at the 2015 Tony Awards at just 6 years old. Not long afterward, the young theater fanatic landed a key role on Emmy-winning series Big Little Lies (2017–2019) as Ziggy, the son of single mother Jane (Shailene Woodley). He also appeared on a 2018 episode of The Big Bang Theory in a video Sheldon recorded when he was, well, young Sheldon.

While managing the workload of his full-time sitcom gig, Armitage has also taken voice acting jobs, including as a younger (but still perpetually hungry, goofy, and chill) Shaggy in Scoob! (2020), and as the protagonist in Paw Patrol: The Movie (2021).

The 16-year-old star hasn’t appeared in any projects since Young Sheldon wrapped, but it’s safe to say his future looks bright.