Young Sheldon is the prequel series to The Big Bang Theory, focusing on Sheldon Cooper decades before he became a fan-favorite scientist, played by Jim Parsons for 12 seasons. Because this show comes before The Big Bang Theory in continuity but was made after, we already knew some of the pieces of the story; thanks to some Young Sheldon Easter eggs, we knew some of the show’s humor, some of the characters, and some of the struggles that awaited.

Overall Young Sheldon was a hit, just as much as The Big Bang Theory, and is an excellent show to watch even if you have not seen its predecessor. But Young Sheldon does not only focus on Sheldon, but the whole family as well. With the show in the middle of its sixth season, let’s catch up on its great ensemble cast of characters.
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Young Sheldon Cooper (Iain Armitage)

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Young Sheldon is the main character of the story, though the show does expand to focus on the whole family and their struggles. Young Sheldon is a younger version of the Sheldon many fans know and love from The Big Bang Theory, and is exactly like you’d imagine him to be as a child — precocious, awkward, and weirdly reminiscent of a ventriloquist dummy.

Adult Sheldon (Jim Parsons)

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Reprising his role from The Big Bang Theory, Jim Parsons returns as the voice of adult Sheldon. His voice is the narrator throughout the show, explaining young Sheldon’s thought process and giving other intricate information about the characters in the show. Hi nostalgic lens colors everything in this sweet, quirky comedy.

Mary Cooper (Zoe Perry)

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Mary Cooper, Sheldon’s mom, is the most prominent character besides Sheldon that we see here. She is a character who deeply loves and respects the church but also tries incredibly hard to ensure that their family appears respectable to the church. This is not an easy task as she faces many issues while raising her three kids. However, she is a loving mother who wants the best for her children.

George Cooper Sr. (Lance Barber)

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George Cooper Sr. is Sheldon’s dad. From watching The Big Bang Theory, we already know two things that will happen before young Sheldon reaches the age of adult Sheldon. One, he will die, as George was dead before Sheldon turned 21. Another, he will cheat on his wife, as Sheldon reveals in The Big Bang Theory; catching him in the act with another woman is why Sheldon always knocks three times now. Lance Barber does an exceptional job at making us love this character and relate to his emotions even though we know the story’s tragic end.

George “Georgie” Cooper Jr. (Montana Jordan)

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Georgie Cooper is Sheldon’s oldest sibling and only brother. He is a lot like his dad, interested in sports more than educational activities. He may be nothing at all like Sheldon, but he is a very sweet brother, and is often there to comfort his younger sister, Missy, when she needs it.

Related: Young Sheldon Season 6: Plot, Cast, and Everything Else We Know

Missy Cooper (Raegan Revord)

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Missy Cooper is Sheldon’s twin sister, and their dynamic works exceptionally well on camera. It’s already known that Sheldon is brilliant, but in this show, Missy seems highly trained at reading emotions and tones, with the emotional intelligence he never had. She is the opposite of everything Sheldon is.

Conner Tucker/Meemaw (Annie Potts)

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Sheldon mentions Meemaw throughout The Big Bang Theory, but she truly comes to life in this show with the help of the great Annie Potts. She is a grandmother who is always there for her grandkids and her child Mary. She tries to keep the peace between Mary and her kids, explaining each other’s thought processes to help them converse. She brings elder wisdom to Young Sheldon, and is arguably the highlight of this TV show’s cast.

Pastor Jeff (Matt Hobby)

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Jeff is the prominent pastor in the church that the family belongs to; Mary works with him closely, and Sheldon debates theology more than once with him. Pastor Jeff is a man who wants the best for the church, but unfortunately, that means he is not always as kind-hearted as the Cooper family, and is representative of the many stark differences between Sheldon’s environment and his personality which makes him a bit of an outcast.

Related: Young Sheldon Season 5: Why the Series Won’t be the Same as Before

Billy Sparks (Wyatt McClure)

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Though not a tremendous character, Billy is the neighbor next door and is in the show frequently. He is not the brightest, nor is he good at sports. He seems to be the comic relief most of the time, or at the very least, he makes everyone else look good.

Brenda Sparks (Melissa Peterman)

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Brenda is a more important character than her son. She is the judgmental neighbor who often gets in arguments with Mary, though sporadically, they have a few hearts to hearts. However, Brenda eventually becomes the one who sleeps with Mary’s husband, and her interactions with George are always tense for the viewer as a result.