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Before Jim Parsons, another 'The Big Bang Theory' actor almost played Sheldon Cooper

The actor noted, "It was a very selfish request on my part...I said I'd rather play this guy, who seems to have a future of romantic triumphs..."

When it comes to iconic TV characters, Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory stands tall. Jim Parsons’ portrayal of the eccentric nerdy theoretical physicist earned him multiple Emmys and turned Cooper into a household name. But what if we told you that another 'Big Bang Theory' star almost played Cooper instead? Enter Johnny Galecki, who ultimately took on the role of Leonard Hofstadter. Originally, Galecki was approached to play Cooper. However, after reviewing the scripts, Galecki felt a strong inclination toward Hofstadter, Cooper’s best friend and roommate.

As per SlashFilm, he explained that Hofstadter’s romantic arc, especially his budding relationship with Penny (played by Kaley Cuoco), intrigued him more. He remarked, "It was a very selfish request on my part. I hadn't been able to traverse those stories of the heart. I've often been cast as the best friend or the gay assistant of whatever character got to explore those relationships. I said I'd rather play this guy, who seems to have a future of romantic triumphs and difficulties…But then, the more material I got from Chuck and Bill, the more I was drawn to the Leonard role…”

Many fans don’t know that even after bagging the role of Hofstadter, Galecki was hesitant about joining the series, turning down the role five times. His doubts about the show’s success almost derailed the casting process. Luckily, his agent persuaded him to take the leap, and the rest is history. While Galecki was struggling with his decision, Parsons walked into the audition room and left no crumbs. Casting director Nikki Valko recalled being in awe of Parsons’ ability to bring Cooper to life. Valko shared, "It wasn't like he came in with a bow tie or looked real nerdy. But boy, when he opened his mouth I couldn't believe what came out of it, just all that science…”

Chuck Lorre, too was blown away. Parsons delivered a fully researched version of Cooper complete with his unique dialogue rhythm, body language, and his own take on the character. Lorre praised, "He had decided how this character handles his body, how he occupies space or is uncomfortable occupying space. It was a whole other level of audition. And it was not the character that I envisioned. Frankly, I don't remember what kind of character I envisioned, but that wasn't it! I was thrown off in a good way…" Parsons’ performance was so captivating that Bill Prady, the co-creator, asked him to audition again to ensure the magic wasn’t a fluke.

Moreover, as for revisiting Cooper in the future, Parsons remains noncommittal. As per Deadline, he remarked, “You know, one of the things is that it was so special as what it was as what it is. And they call it lightning in a bottle for a reason, and you can be certain it wouldn’t be that. And so why would we be doing it? I don’t know that that’s how I feel on that right now. But like I say, God willing, life is very long.” While he isn’t ruling out a return, he’s content with the legacy Sheldon Cooper has left behind.