Iain Armitage (born July 15, 2008) is an American actor. He is best known for his role as Sheldon Cooper in Young Sheldon, a spin-off prequel to The Big Bang Theory, from 2017 to 2024. He also played Ziggy Chapman in Big Little Lies (2017–2019) and voiced young Shaggy Rogers in Scoob! (2020) and Chase in Paw Patrol: The Movie (2021).
Iain Armitage | |
|---|---|
 Armitage in 2020 | |
| Born | July 15, 2008 Savannah, Georgia, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 2012–present |
| Known for |
|
| Father | Euan Morton |
| Relatives | Richard Armitage (maternal grandfather) |
Early life and career
Armitage first gained prominence appearing in the YouTube series Iain Loves Theatre, where he reviews musical theatre shows. His videos' success caught the attention of the theater industry and led to him receiving offers from agents. In 2015, he served as a correspondent for Perez Hilton during the 2015 Tony Awards and was referenced in the opening number of the show.
In January 2017, Armitage starred in the Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episode "Chasing Theo," playing a kidnapped child. In the same year, he played Ziggy Chapman in the HBO series Big Little Lies and appeared in The Glass Castle, a film adaptation of Jeannette Walls' memoir of the same name. He also appeared in the films I'm Not Here and Our Souls at Night, starring alongside Jane Fonda and Robert Redford.
In March 2017, Armitage was cast as a young Sheldon Cooper in Young Sheldon (2017–2024), a prequel series to the sitcom The Big Bang Theory. In December 2018, he appeared in "The VCR Illumination", an episode of The Big Bang Theory, playing young Sheldon on a videotape recording intended to cheer up and encourage an older Sheldon.
In 2020, Armitage voiced young Shaggy Rogers in the Scooby-Doo film Scoob!. He was set to reprise the role in the film Scoob! Holiday Haunt, which was set for a release in late 2022 on HBO Max, but was canceled in August 2022. In 2021, Armitage voiced Chase in PAW Patrol: The Movie.
Personal life
Armitage is the son of Scottish actor Euan Morton and American theater producer Lee Armitage. He is the grandson of former United States Deputy Secretary of State Richard Lee Armitage. His godfather is Signature Theatre director Eric Schaeffer.
Armitage is homeschooled and resides with his family in Arlington, Virginia. The family previously maintained a residence in Manhattan, splitting their time between Arlington and New York City. He has learned to speak multiple languages to different extents, including Russian, Armenian, German, Spanish, Italian, Assyrian, and Sinhalese.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | The Glass Castle | Young Brian Walls | Film debut |
| Our Souls at Night | Jamie Moore | ||
| I'm Not Here | Stevie | ||
| 2020 | Scoob! | Young Shaggy Rogers (voice) | |
| 2021 | Paw Patrol: The Movie | Chase (voice) | |
| TBA | The Adam Trials |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Impractical Jokers | Himself | Episode: "Look Out Below" |
| 2016 | Little Big Shots | Guest judge | Episode: "The Idiom of Love" |
| 2017 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Theo Lachere | Episode: "Chasing Theo" |
| 2017–2019 | Big Little Lies | Ziggy Chapman | Main role |
| 2017–2024 | Young Sheldon | Sheldon Cooper | |
| 2018 | Jeopardy! | Video Clue Giver | 6 episodes |
| The Big Bang Theory | Young Sheldon Cooper | Episode: "The VCR Illumination" | |
| 2020 | Nickelodeon's Unfiltered | Himself | 2 episodes |
| Group Chat | Episode: "Group Chat Unleashed – Party Pooper Prank" | ||
| 2022 | The Price Is Right at Night | Himself | Episode: "The Price is Right at Night with Iain Armitage and Raegan Revord" |
| Ghostwriter | Wilbur (voice) | 2 episodes | |
| 2026 | Ghosts | Himself | Episode: "Woodstone Royale" |
Web
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2012–present | Iain Loves Theatre | Presenter |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Young Artist Awards | Best Performance in a TV Series – Leading Young Actor | Young Sheldon | Won | |
| Teen Choice Awards | Choice Breakout TV Star | Nominated | |||
| 2020 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | Big Little Lies | Nominated | |
| 2021 | Kids' Choice Awards | Favorite Male TV Star | Young Sheldon | Nominated | |
| 2022 | Critics' Choice Awards | Best Actor in a Comedy Series | Nominated | ||
| Kids' Choice Awards | Favorite Male TV Star | Nominated | |||
| 2024 | Kids' Choice Awards | Favorite Male TV Star | Won | ||
| Astra TV Awards | Best Actor in a Broadcast Network or Cable Comedy Series | Nominated |