Big Bang Theory star Jim Parsons wins fourth Emmy Award for comedy actor

The actor has won the Emmy four times in the past five years

Jim Parsons accepts the award for Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series for his role in 'The Big Bang Theory' as presenters Julia-Louis Dreyfus and Bryan Cranston look on during the 66th Primetime Emmy Awards (MARIO ANZUONI/Reuters)

Jim Parsons has won his fourth Emmy for lead actor in a comedy for his role in The Big Bang Theory.

The actor, who stars as nerdy physicist Sheldon Cooper in the series, beat Ricky Gervais, Matt Le Blanc, Louis CK, Don Cheadle and William H Macy to win the award.

Read more: Emmy Award winners in full

Parsons has won the accolade four times in the past five years, losing out only to Jon Cryer from Two and a Half Men in 2012.

The 41-year-old thanked his father in his acceptance speech, who he said died before all of the “craziness” surrounding his success in the Big Bang Theory began.

He said: “He encouraged me to be an actor. He never discouraged me to be an actor, and in a career that hinges so much on confidence a lot of time, that was really a great gift.”

Parsons, who stars alongside Johnny Galecki and Kaley Cuoco in the show, is set to become one of the highest paid TV actors ever after signing a new contract to earn around $1 million per episode.

Elsewhere at the awards, Julia Louis-Dreyfus picked up best actress in a comedy series for her role in HBO’s Veep, while Ty Burrell won best supporting actor in a comedy series for Modern Family.

Bryan Cranston won best actor in a drama series for Breaking Bad, which was the biggest winner of the night, picking up five awards in total including the top prize for best drama series.

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