

"The Big Bang Theory" star Jim Parsons is gay. And he's been in a relationship for 10 years.

This bit of personal revelation was shared with the public not in a People magazine cover story but casually slipped into a lengthy New York Times profile of the actor discussing his performance on Broadway in the play "Harvey."

Yes, the actor who plays Sheldon on CBS' hit sitcom finally has gone on record with his sexuality. And though the news may not shock most fans, it's a little surprising how he went about it. The New York Times isn't commonly known as a place people turn to for personal revelations about celebrities. There's a whole army of celebrity websites and magazines that has this corner of the culture staked out and guarded.

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Although Parsons has had an extensive career in the theater, it's his role as Sheldon Cooper on "The Big Bang Theory" that's made him a star. The role has earned him two Emmy Awards, a Golden Globe and a Critics' Choice Award.

The series just ended its fifth season, and its sixth season will begin in the fall. Parsons is using the downtime between seasons to star in "Harvey." Last year, he spent the break starring in the drama "The Normal Heart," about gay men dying of AIDS.

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— Patrick Kevin Day

Photo: Jim Parsons and Mayim Bialik in "The Big Bang Theory." Credit: Robert Voets / CBS.