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Jim Parsons recently disclosed that he felt "miserable" and "not happy" during the height of his time portraying Sheldon Cooper on The Big Bang Theory.
Despite securing four Emmy Awards and accumulating millions in earnings, the actor revealed that the enormous self-imposed pressure completely devastated his mental health.
Jim, 53, outlined the personal toll of his sitcom fame during an appearance on the podcast All Out with Jon Dean.
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"I look back now and realize that there were many ways, at some of the best moments of my life, I was miserable," Jim confessed. "I was not happy. I was stressed."
In October last year, Big Bang Theory actress Kimberly Hébert Gregory passed away at the age of 52.
Jim, who is presently performing on Broadway in Titanique, added, "I felt that there was so many plates I was supposed to be keeping in the air and that the success and the good things of life that were happening were only due to this overworking... discipline and whatever.
"Maybe to a degree that was true. I don't know. I can't say because that's how I was."
When the podcast host questioned him about his perspective on life at his present age, the actor stated he wouldn't return to the way he lived while shooting The Big Bang Theory for "any amount of money."
The star acknowledged his extreme work habits evolved into obsessive, OCD-like patterns - and he maintained a rigid mental checklist of requirements needed to feel at ease performing his job.
While he acknowledged that portraying Sheldon was a pivotal moment for his career, Jim revealed, "It translated in part into a work ethic, but it was really just obsessive behavior basically. Yes, I was disciplined.
"Yes, I had a good work ethic, but a lot of it was because it was kind of OCD in nature...I had a list of things basically in my head that I had to get done in order to be comfortable and know that I could do my job right, which I don't think was true."
Due to this mindset, Jim admitted he missed "tons of life."
The actor noted that the public's association of him with Sheldon "is not going away" despite the show ending seven years ago. Nevertheless, he stated his connection with the character is "evolving" and has become "healthier."
He observed, "I wouldn't be where I am right now if I hadn't have had that time of life, and the somewhat self-tortured nature of it was part of it."
Jim headlined the enormously popular series for 12 seasons and 279 episodes from 2007 to 2019.
His performance on the program garnered significant critical acclaim and numerous prestigious accolades, including four Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, one Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy, and Guinness World Record recognition as one of television's highest-paid stars.
Jim started the series in 2007 with a comparatively modest initial salary of approximately $60,000 per episode.
As the sitcom climbed to the top of the Nielsen ratings, his baseline salary rapidly increased to $200,000, and subsequently to $350,000 per episode.
In 2014, Jim, along with co-stars Johnny Galecki and Kaley Cuoco, secured a groundbreaking agreement guaranteeing $1 million per episode.
During Season 12, the original five core cast members willingly accepted a modest salary reduction to $900,000 per episode to help increase compensation for later additions Mayim Bialik and Melissa Rauch.
However, Jim also secured a 1% backend equity position in the show's earnings - and since The Big Bang Theory produces over $1 billion yearly through syndication and streaming agreements, this equity delivers him millions in ongoing royalty payments annually.
Jim chose to leave the series in 2018 even though CBS presented him with a $50 million offer to continue for Seasons 13 and 14. He has also consistently dismissed involvement in any potential Big Bang Theory reboot, explaining that he believes the creative journey ended appropriately.
