Jeopardy! fans say contestant looks 'exactly' like beloved Big Bang Theory character
A Jeopardy! contestant has gone viral after fans of the show pointed out his resemblance a beloved character from The Big Bang Theory.
In two episodes that aired on April 18 and April 21, an undergraduate student caught the attention of viewers for his appearance in addition to his quick wit, which saw him claiming the winner title.
After emerging triumphant in Final Jeopardy!, the newly minted champion returned for Monday night's episode — where he, once again, caught the attention of viewers for his striking appearance.
Liam Starne, a student at the University of Chicago residing in Illinois, won Final Jeopardy and the two-day champ ended the episode by taking home $52,802.
Most notably, however, many fans of the syndicated game show took to social media after the episode aired and pointed out that the student named Liam Starnes looked like their favorite wunderkind physicist from the hit sitcom — Sheldon Cooper.
In addition to his win, Starnes is now the hot topic of Jeopardy! after social media users called him to the 'lookalike' or 'teenage version' of the TV character.
Many fans of the syndicated game show took to social media after the episode aired and pointed out that the student named Liam Starnes looked like their favorite wunderkind physicist from the hit sitcom — Sheldon Cooper
Some viewers said he looked like a mix of the adult and child versions of the scientist from the fan-favorite TV show and the prequel spinoff series Young Sheldon.
The fictional character was portrayed by Jim Parsons and Iain Armitage, respectively.
Parsons portrayed Sheldon Cooper, starring as one of the leading characters from The Big Bang Theory, which aired on CBS from 2007 to 2019.
The award-winning actor, 52, also did voiceover acting for Young Sheldon, which starred Armitage and aired from 2017 to 2024.
Parsons starred on the show for its entire 12-season run alongside his co-stars Johnny Galecki, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar, Sara Gilbert, Mayim Bialik and many more.
The hit TV series won 10 Emmys during its run. And for Parsons' performance as Sheldon, he took home four Emmys and two Golden Globe Awards.
Previously, Mayim Bialik — who played Sheldon's love interest and later wife Amy Farrah Fowler on the show — co-hosted Jeopardy! for a brief time from August 2021 to December 2023.
Some viewers said that the Jeopardy! contestant also looked like 'Sheldon's son,' while others called him a 'young Sheldon dupe.'
Some viewers said he looked like a mix of the adult and child versions of the scientist from the fan-favorite TV show and the prequel spinoff series Young Sheldon. The fictional character was portrayed by Jim Parsons and Iain Armitage, respectively; pictured in August 2017
Starne, a student at the University of Chicago residing in Illinois, won Final Jeopardy and the two-day champ ended the episode by taking home $52,802
Previously, there was also another connection between the two shows. Mayim Bialik — who played Sheldon's love interest and later wife Amy Farrah Fowler on the show — co-hosted Jeopardy! for a brief time from August 2021 to December 2023; pictured alongside Parsons and Wil Wheaton in series still
Parsons portrayed Sheldon Cooper, starring as one of the leading characters from The Big Bang Theory, which aired on CBS from 2007 to 2019
The hit TV series won 10 Emmys during its run. And for Parsons' performance as Sheldon, he took home four Emmys and two Golden Globe Awards
One fan took to X to delight in seeing the Jeopardy! contestant on their screen.
'SHELDON IS LEGIT ON #JEOPARDY RIGHT NOW... LOL,' they wrote.
Another person, who claimed they were Starne's 'family friend,' tweeted about how he was seemingly surprised by people thinking he is the 'spitting image of Sheldon Cooper.'
In agreement with what appeared to be the general consensus, another person penned a tweet: 'Sheldon Cooper is your current residing Jeopardy champion.'
One X user added that they 'never doubted teenage Sheldon for a minute' before congratulating the new triumphant titleholder.
Meanwhile, another concurred with the viewpoint, tweeting: 'OMG! Liam on Jeopardy looks EXACTLY like Sheldon Cooper.' They added, 'He's amazing to watch and absolutely brilliant.'
Another person, who claimed they were Starne's 'family friend,' tweeted about how he was seemingly surprised by people thinking he is the 'spitting image of Sheldon Cooper'
In agreement with what appeared to be the general consensus, another person penned a tweet: 'Sheldon Cooper is your current residing Jeopardy champion'
One X user added that they 'never doubted teenage Sheldon for a minute' before congratulating the new triumphant titleholder
Meanwhile, another concurred with the viewpoint, tweeting: 'OMG! Liam on Jeopardy looks EXACTLY like Sheldon Cooper.' They added, 'He's amazing to watch and absolutely brilliant'
Another referred to the contestant as 'Sheldon's son'
One X user said: 'They got young Sheldon on Jeopardy!'
'Rooting for Liam tonight,' another person wrote. 'He's giving Sheldon vibes!'
One Jeopardy! viewer referred to him as 'Middle Sheldon'
Meanwhile, another added that he is 'soooo Sheldon Cooper'
One Jeopardy! fan called him 'adorable' and a 'dupe'
'Even I thought Sheldon is here,' another viewer wrote on X
'Liam looks like a real life Sheldon Cooper,' one viewer tweeted
'Rooting for Liam tonight,' another person wrote. 'He's giving Sheldon vibes!'
One Jeopardy! viewer referred to him as 'Middle Sheldon' while another added that he is 'soooo Sheldon Cooper.'
One Jeopardy! fan called him 'adorable' and a 'dupe.'
'Even I thought Sheldon is here,' another viewer wrote on X.
'Liam looks like a real life Sheldon Cooper,' one viewer tweeted.
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