Iain Armitage, the 16-year-old actor renowned for portraying Sheldon Cooper on Young Sheldon, recently shared a heartfelt tribute following the death of his on-screen father, George Cooper Sr., played by Lance Barber. In an Instagram post, Armitage expressed his sorrow, writing, “Love you, George! Love you, Lance!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️,” accompanied by photos of the two both on and off set .
The emotional farewell occurred in Season 7, Episode 12, titled “A New Home and a Traditional Texas Torture,” where George Sr. suffers a fatal heart attack at work. This event aligns with the backstory established in The Big Bang Theory, where it was mentioned that Sheldon’s father died when Sheldon was 14 .
Armitage later reflected on the filming experience, noting that the scene affected him differently than anticipated. He shared that the absence of Barber on set during the finale scenes was particularly challenging, as Barber’s presence had always brought a vibrant energy to the set .The cast’s reactions to George’s death were deeply emotional. Zoe Perry, who portrayed Mary Cooper, expressed that the loss felt like the death of a future, highlighting the profound impact the storyline had on the cast .
Young Sheldon concluded its seven-season run on May 16, 2024, with the cast sharing their sentiments and gratitude on social media, marking the end of an era for the beloved series .
