Jeopardy! Contestant Liam Starnes Draws Sheldon Cooper Comparisons

LOS ANGELES, California — Contestant Liam Starnes made a memorable appearance on “Jeopardy!” on April 18, as fans quickly pointed out his striking resemblance to Sheldon Cooper, a character from the beloved sitcom “The Big Bang Theory.” The undergraduate student from Barrington, Illinois, faced off against Rachel Gray and one-day champion Steven Hoying during the episode.

Viewers took to social media during the airing, commenting on Starnes’ likeness to the genius physicist, portrayed by Jim Parsons. “Seriously, that’s Sheldon!!!!!!!” one fan exclaimed on X, formerly known as Twitter. Others echoed similar sentiments, with comments like, “Big time Sheldon Cooper vibes from Liam” and “Liam looks like Sheldon Cooper’s little brother.”

Starnes led with $19,600 heading into Final Jeopardy!, successfully wagering $12,801 and finishing with a total of $32,401. Following his victory, fans celebrated his win and continued to remark on his resemblance to the fictional character. One viewer wrote, “I never doubted teenage Sheldon for a minute! Congrats Liam.”

After claiming his title as a one-day champion from Hoying, Starnes returned to compete in the next episode of “Jeopardy!” where he continued to draw attention for his likeness to Cooper. With his cumulative winnings reaching $52,802, he is set to face new challengers in the upcoming episodes.

The series “The Big Bang Theory” ran for 12 seasons, from 2007 to 2019, and featured a group of friends navigating life and science in Pasadena, California. Parsons’ iconic role earned him four Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe. The show’s spin-off, “Young Sheldon,” debuted in 2017, illustrating Sheldon’s early years as a young prodigy.

Interestingly, Sheldon’s love interest and later wife, Amy Farrah Fowler, co-hosted “Jeopardy!” from August 2021 to December 2023, tying the two series together before Starnes’ appearance. As Starnes prepares for his next round, fans eagerly await to see if he can continue his winning streak while maintaining his “Sheldon-like” charm.