'The Big Bang Theory's' Jim Parsons confirms he is gay Jim Parsons holds his award for outstanding lead actor in a comedy series for "The Big Bang Theory" at the 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on September 18, 2011. UPI/Jayne Kamin Oncea NEW YORK, May 23 (UPI) -- Emmy Award-winning actor Jim Parsons confirmed to The New York Times he is gay and in a 10-year relationship. The 39-year-old star of TV's "The Big Bang Theory" did not identify his long-term partner or go into detail about his private life. The Times interview coincides with Parsons' upcoming return to Broadway in "Harvey" after a successful run in "The Normal Heart" last June. In the article, journalist Patrick Healy writes, "Mr. Parsons is gay and in a 10-year relationship, and working with an ensemble again onstage was like nourishment, he said."