“It’s Sort of Close to Eternal,” The Big Bang Theory Star Reveals Simple Secrets From His Wonderful 20-Year-Relationship With His Husband

The Big Bang Theory fans remember Jim Parsons’ on-screen character Sheldon, as a quirky, super-smart, obnoxious, and not-so-romantic guy who, despite all of his shortcomings, manages to find a soulmate. The happy ending of the series offers hope to all of those folks out there who often feel misunderstood. But Jim Parsons’ off-screen love life is equally hopeful and deserving of attention.

Bright Side brings you the details of Jim Parsons’ marriage to Todd Spiewak whose relationship serves as an example of ever-lasting devotion that seems to be so rare to find these days, especially among celebrities.

The pair met on a blind date.

Parsons and Spiewak met in 2002 at a karaoke bar, where they went on a blind date set up by Parsons’ best friend from grad school and Spiewak’s boss. The song titled I Found Someone that Spiewak sang that night seems to have foretold what was going to happen. And indeed, there was almost an instant connection between them.

’’When we first got together, I remember lying in bed and closing my eyes, but not being asleep. And that sensation of ’light.’ I was like, ’I don’t know what’s going on exactly, but it’s sort of close to eternal,’" Parsons confessed in one interview.

Their relationship was sort of a secret for a while.

Since Parsons didn’t come out until 2012, he avoided mentioning his and Todd’s relationship to the press. When he won the Emmy Awards for the first time, he thanked his mother, but the mention of his then-boyfriend remained unnoticed. But Todd was there from the very beginning, long before Parsons rose to fame.

Parsons admits Todd has been his greatest support.

When Parsons was launched to stardom, it took a while for him to get accustomed to being famous. But The Big Bang Theory actor proudly confessed that his partner has been his greatest source of support throughout. In one Instagram post, Jim shared his gratitude for Todd for always being by his side and for being his ’’main source of sanity and gravity’’ through the ’’wonderful yet crazy journey of the last 12 years,’’ adding that he would not have been able to do it without him: ’’No exaggeration. I love you, Todd!’’

They publicly acknowledged their relationship in 2013.

When Parsons won his second Emmy in September 2013, he did mention Todd in his acceptance speech, which, after years of rumors, drew a lot of attention: “I love ... oh, my favorite person on Earth, Todd Spiewak,” were Jim’s words that finally made the relationship public. But the actor also saluted Spiewak’s parents, who were in the audience, for being “an important part” of their lives. A little later that year, at a different event, Jim and Todd walked the red carpet together for the first time.

They’re not only lovers but also business partners.

By establishing their very own production company, That’s Wonderful Productions, the couple has become business partners. As a producer and graphic designer, Spiewak is actively involved in the company’s work. Parsons often publicly praises Todd for his personality, dedication, and for always being there: ’’I am very grateful for his presence in that way. In that way, and many others yes, he is definitely an angel for me.’’

The couple made it official in 2017.

After dating for more than a decade, the couple finally decided to say ’’yes’’ in 2017. And for all of those who questioned why they waited for so long, Parsons had an answer ready: "We just didn’t care about the act of it that much.’’ He confessed: ’’That sounds cold in a way, but I finally thought: ’Well, let’s have a party then for the celebration, and we’ll go ahead and legalize this thing.’’

Getting married was much more special than they expected.

But the act of tying the knot carried a deeper meaning than they had expected: ’’It was so much more meaningful in the moment for me than I predicted, and it’s been resonantly much more meaningful for me afterward than I ever saw coming,’’ Parsons said. Talking about the wedding party, he described it as ’’fantastic’’ and ’’much more fun’’ than he thought it would be.

And they feel their connection is “eternal.”

Although they never intended for their relationship to become an example of a successful same-sex union, the couple was awarded the Inspiration Award by the LGBT youth advocacy organization GLSEN. But Parsons explained that he never thought about his relationship with Todd as “an act of activism.” He prefers to think of it as “an act of love, coffee in the morning, going to work, washing the clothes, taking the dogs out... A regular life, boring love.”

Bonus: Similarities between fiction and real life.

Parsons played Sheldon Cooper in the legendary show for more than a decade. His personality was so striking that fans started identifying the actor with the fictional character. Though Parsons may not be a science genius like the fictional character, both of them ended up finding the one and falling in love.

Near the end of the show, in season 11, Sheldon marries Amy, a girl who turned out to be the perfect match for him — intellectually and emotionally. Perhaps not surprisingly, Parsons and Mayim Bialik, the actress who portrays her, are close friends in real life.

Are there any couples in your life that have been in a fulfilling relationship for this long? What do you think the secret ’’ingredient’’ is of a blissfully happy, long-term union?