Throughout the record-breaking run of The Big Bang Theory, Sheldon Cooper journeyed through adulthood, marking significant life milestones in the show. For many of the show’s episodes, the focus was on Sheldon (Jim Parsons), the socially awkward genius who struggled to navigate his friendships while exploring romance, advancing his career, and even winning the Nobel Prize. He was considered the breakout character of the 12-season-long The Big Bang Theory, not only because of Parson’s award-winning performance but also due to his tremendous transformation, as he learned how to finally act his age in the CBS sitcom.
Working at The California Institute of Technology as a senior theoretical physicist, Sheldon belonged to a group of fellow scientists including Leonard Hofstadter (Johnny Galecki), Howard Wolowitz (Simon Helberg), and Rajesh Koothrappali (Kunal Nayyar). Their little circle eventually expanded with the addition of Penny (Kaley Cuoco), Bernadette Rostenkowski (Melissa Rauch), and Amy Farrah Fowler (Mayim Bialik). However, Sheldon’s stubbornness, lack of humility and empathy, and other eccentricities hinder him from consistently getting along with his peers.
Towards the end of The Big Bang Theory, Sheldon’s rude demeanor and worse social habits were traded for selflessness and emotional maturity – traits his friends and family had long been waiting for him to possess. However, aside from Sheldon's emotional maturity, how old exactly was he throughout The Big Bang Theory?
How Old Is Sheldon At The Beginning Of Big Bang Theory?
Sheldon and his fraternal twin sister Missy were born on February 26, 1980 in Galveston, Texas. Since The Big Bang Theory, which was set in real-time, premiered on September 24, 2007, Sheldon was 27 years old at the beginning of the show. He graduated high school at the age of 11, finished his bachelor’s degree as a summa cum laude at 14, and earned his doctorate at 16. Sheldon’s supreme intelligence allowed him to lead an impressive life from a young age, yet this was also the reason for his childish and immature behavior.
How Old Is Sheldon At The End Of Big Bang Theory?
By the time The Big Bang Theory’s two-part finale aired on May 16, 2019, Sheldon was already 39 years old. At this point, he was married to Amy for a year, and together, they worked on their Nobel Prize-winning theory of Super-Asymmetry. The show’s twelve-year duration was used not only for pushing Sheldon’s character development, but also for cementing his status as a pop culture icon.
How Old Is Sheldon In Young Sheldon?
The Big Bang Theory spawned a spin-off prequel titled Young Sheldon, which revolves around the young years of science prodigy Sheldon Cooper (Iain Armitage). The show’s premiere had adult Sheldon say, “Nobody I knew in East Texas in 1989 cared about Newtonian physics,” explicitly mentioning that its first season was set in 1989. As such, Sheldon was only nine years old when he started attending high school at the start of The Big Bang Theory-connected story in Young Sheldon.