The Big Bang Theory was one of the most popular sitcoms of the 2000s, so it’s no wonder fans were thrilled when a prequel series about its lead character debuted in 2017. Jim Parsons won four Emmys for his portrayal of quirky super-genius Sheldon Cooper before Iain Armitage carried the mantle as Sheldon’s younger counterpart.
Young Sheldon follows his formative years — small-town Texas, family of five — as he enters high school at just 9 years old. Naturally, he has difficulty fitting in, but gets by with the help of his family, even as they struggle to understand him.
The origin story brought the heart and humor of The Big Bang Theory into a family sitcom setting, utilizing a single-camera approach rather than its predecessor’s traditional multi-camera, live-audience format. Young Sheldon isn’t the only franchise expansion; its own spinoff, Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage, debuted in 2024.
Here’s what the Young Sheldon cast has been up to eight years after the show’s debut.
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.
Lance Barber plays Sheldon’s football coach father, George Sr., who is a complete contrast to his bookish son.
Barber’s breakthrough came in HBO’s acclaimed comedy, The Comeback (2015–2014) as the chief tormentor of Lisa Kudrow’s Valerie. He’s been a small-screen regular ever since, including a recurring gig as suicidal dirtbag Bill Ponderosa in It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2010–2018) and guest spots on Monk (2009), Grey’s Anatomy (2010), and Justified (2010).
Barber’s introduction to the Big Bang universe came in the original series, when he played Leonard’s (Johnny Galecki) high school bully. In a 2017 chat with EW, he said he hoped fans would forgive the slight canonical disruption: “I think that we’ll have to ask the fans of the show to suspend some disbelief. Based on social media, it’s going to be difficult for some of them and I hope that I can do a good enough job to take them away from that.”
In 2025, the actor reprised the role of George Sr. in an episode of Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage.
Barber’s wife, Aliza, is a chef. The couple shares two children
Zoe Perry portrays Sheldon’s empathetic and religious mother, Mary Cooper, who is able to get through to him in a way that doesn’t come quite as naturally for the rest of the family.
Perry’s first TV appearance came before her 10th birthday when she portrayed a younger version of Jackie — a role played by her mother, Oscar-nominated actress Laurie Metcalf — on Roseanne (1992–1995). She began a proper acting career about a decade later, booking appearances on Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2006), Grey’s Anatomy (2012), NCIS (2016), and Scandal (2017).
In Young Sheldon, Perry once again plays a younger version of her real-life mother, given that Metcalf was Mary Cooper on The Big Bang Theory.
“I definitely never imagined I’d be playing my mother at a younger age. I feel very privileged that it’s happened and that I get to do it,” Perry told EW in 2017. “I definitely called her up as soon as I knew that there was an audition in place… Her really great advice was just that, you know, the comedy’s there obviously… As long as you ground it in reality, you’re golden.”
Since Young Sheldon ended in 2024, she’s reprised her character on the spinoff, Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage. The actress also appeared on The Conners in 2025.
Perry has been married to Canadian film producer Gab Taraboulsy since 2022.
