Jeopardy! has seen it’s fair share of notable contestants, from Ken Jennings to Amy Schneider, but the show’s latest contestant may take the title.
Liam Starnes, an undergraduate student from Barrington, Illinois, recently appeared on the show as a contestant, facing off against contestants Rachel Gray and one-day champion Steven Hoying.
However, Starnes has social media talking, in large part because of his resemblance Sheldon Cooper, the physicist portrayed by Jim Parsons on the sitcom The Big Bang Theory.
The Big Bang Theory ran for 12 seasons from 2007 to 2019. Created by Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, the series also starred Johnny Galecki, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar, Sara Gilbert and Mayim Bialik, who alternated Jeopardy hosting duties with Ken Jennings from August 2021 to December 2023.
HOLLYWOOD, CA – MARCH 16: Actor Jim Parsons arrives for the The Paley Center For Media’s 33rd Annual PaleyFest Los Angeles – “The Big Bang Theory” held at Dolby Theatre on March 16, 2016 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Albert L. Ortega/WireImage)
During his appearance on Jeopardy, Starnes lead with $1600 heading into Final Jeopardy!. Starnes eventually won over Gray and Hoying after correctly answering the final question and wagering $12,801 and bringing his total to $32,401.
However, viewers seem to be focused on the resemblance to Sheldon Cooper more than his win, if social media responses are anything to go by.
The undergrad student would return for another episode of Jeopardy!, where he emerged as a two-day champion ending the episode with a haul of $52,802. Starnes is set to compete on Tuesday night’s episode of Jeopardy!, where he will square off against two new contestants.
