Lance Barber First Appeared In A Big Bang Theory Role Totally Unrelated To His Young Sheldon Character
Lance Barber was cast in a small role on The Big Bang Theory long before his stint on Young Sheldon, and fans find it peculiar.
Lance Barber is one such actor who crossed The Big Bang Theory and Young Sheldon tele-verse. Long before taking up the recurring role of Sheldon Cooper’s father, George Cooper Sr., in the spin-off prequel, Barber appeared in a minor role in The Big Bang Theory.
Unlike the other cast members of The Big Bang Theory who increased their net worth through recurring roles, the TV star’s stint on the sitcom was recorded in only one episode. However, eagle-eyed fans wasted no time singling out the actor despite his costume and makeup. Check out the totally unrelated role Lance Barber played on the CBS-produced show before ever stepping into the world of Young Sheldon.
What Role Did Lance Barber Play In The Big Bang Theory?
Since the premiere of Young Sheldon in 2017, Lance Barber has expertly portrayed the role of George Cooper Sr., the traditional Texan dad who tries to uphold a tough exterior despite his eminent soft side. Barber joined the long list of beloved American sitcom dads on the CBS-produced show, but this was not his first rodeo as far as Sheldon Cooper’s life story goes.
The TV actor first appeared in Sheldon Cooper’s world in season five, episode 11 of The Big Bang Theory, when he played a rather undesirable role that fans frowned on. In the episode titled, “The Speckerman Recurrence,” Lance Barber starred as Leonard’s high school bully who reconnects with him in a karmic setting.
The plot plays out with Barber’s character, Jimmy Speckerman, turning up on Leonard’s (Johnny Galecki) Facebook page and asking them to meet up. Jimmy seeks help from the physicist while being oblivious to the trauma he left him back in the day.
Leonard meets up with Jimmy for drinks, but he only does, so he could “say all the things he wanted to say in high school.” However, the conversation takes another turn because Jimmy greets him like an old friend and proceeds to banter with him. He reminds Leonard of their school days, and it left him uncomfortable. Jimmy proceeds to tell Leonard that he needs help with making glasses that convert non-3D movies into 3D.
At this point, Sheldon (Jim Parson) steps in to speak up on Leonard’s behalf as he reminds Jimmy of all the atrocious things he did to the latter when they were kids. It is safe to say that fans saw Jim Parson and Lance Barber play polar opposite roles compared to their father-son relationship in Young Seldon, even though Iain Armitage plays the younger version of Sheldon.
Lance Barber’s portrayal of Jimmy Speckerman’s complex character was quite popular among fans because it addressed relatable content. However, it was not well-received. Barber’s character turned out to be one of the most hated ever in the series. “The Speckerman Recurrence” episode aired back in 2012, and it would not be until five years later before the actor stepped into the recurring role of George Cooper Sr.
How Did Lance Barber Feel About His Crossover From Big Bang Theory To Young Sheldon?
It is safe to say that the star actor was prepared for fans to figure out the connection when he landed his role in Young Sheldon. Lance Barber started his stint on the spin-off as an original cast member, whose role had fans pointing out the plot inconsistencies between both shows. One of these inconsistencies was Barber’s double roles gleaned from Young Sheldon and The Big Bang Theory.
During a June 2022 interview with Entertainment Tonight, Lance Barber addressed the issue surrounding his two roles. The actor began by mentioning that it was ‘fun’ for him to play both characters. However, when he got the Young Sheldon gig, he knew his past Big Bang Theory role would resurface. Barber explained:
“It was fun for me because when that happened, and I got that job, it was apparent to me that that was going to be noticed, especially from how deep the fans are of those shows. So it wasn’t going to go unmissed by the fandom.”
The TV actor went on to recall some of the wild theories he heard about his crossover between both shows. Lance Barber did not hold back his laughter as he noted that some fans made allusions to a multi-verse. The star also made sure to denounce the deductions as he relayed:
“I have heard some and there’s been some weird stuff like is this a multidimensional universe. It’s nonsense. It’s an actor playing a different part!”
Another perceived inconsistency that fans picked apart was how George Cooper Sr.’s description was different between both shows. In The Big Bang Theory, George Sr. is described as a lazy alcoholic. However, in Young Sheldon, Lance Barber portrayed a committed family man who exemplifies selflessness in several episodes.
Over the years, the Hollywood actor, who made quite a fortune on Young Sheldon, has amassed quite an impressive resume in the TV space right from his days on 2003’s On the Spot. Lance Barber’s breakout role came in 2005 when he starred alongside Lisa Kudrow in HBO’s The Comeback. He would go on to expand his acting credit in It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, where he played the recurring role of Bill Penderosa. Barber’s other TV credits can be gleaned from episodes of Grey’s Anatomy, Gilmore Girls, Monk, The Mentalist, and How I Met Your Mother, among others.