<Tr> <Th> Years active </Th> <Td> 1994--present </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Spouse (s) </Th> <Td> Todd Spiewak (m . 2017) </Td> </Tr> <P> James Joseph Parsons (born March 24, 1973) is an American actor . He is known for playing Sheldon Cooper in the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory . He has received several awards for his performance, including four Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series and the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Television Series Musical or Comedy . </P> <P> In 2011, Parsons made his Broadway debut portraying Tommy Boatwright in the play The Normal Heart, for which he received a Drama Desk Award nomination . He reprised the role in the film adaptation of the play, and received his seventh Emmy nomination, this time in the category of Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie . </P>

Who plays sheldon on the big bang theory