The Mystery Around George’s Death on Young Sheldon, Solved

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The Big Bang Theory fans saw his death coming from a mile away, but what no one expected was how many viewers wondered whether George from The Big Bang Theory also died in real life. While the answer seems obvious, the question is understandable.

Did George die in real life from Young Sheldon?

No, George from Young Sheldon didn’t die in real life after the character’s death in Season 7, Episode 12, “A New Home and a Traditional Texas Torture.” However, it’s understandable why fans would think that Lance Barber, who has played George since Young Sheldon Season 1, had also died in real life.

Many TV shows have killed off characters played by actors who have passed away off-screen. One recent example is Adan Canto, who played Arman Morales on FOX’s The Cleaning Lady from Seasons 1 to 2. Canto died on January 8, 2024, from appendiceal cancer. He was 42 years old.

Though The Cleaning Lady started filming Season 3 in December 2023, Canto didn’t film any episodes of the season due to his declining health. The Cleaning Lady killed off Arman after Canto’s death in Season 3, Episode 6, “El Reloj,” which aired three months after Canto passed away. In the episode, Arman is killed after he intercepts a gunshot aimed at his love interest, Thony De La Rosa, and falls off a cliff in a vehicle with the gunman, who was attempting to capture him. The Cleaning Lady honored Canto in a title card at the end of the episode: “In Loving Memory — Adan Canto,” the title card read, along scenes from Season 1 of Thony and Arman sharing a dance and a kiss.

Another example of a show killing off a character after the actor who played them had died is David McCallum, who played Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard on NCIS from Seasons 1 to 20. McCallum died on September 25, 2023. He was 90 years old. NCIS wrote off Ducky in Season 21, Episode 2, “The Stories We Leave Behind,” when Ducky’s co-worker, Dr. Jimmy Palmer, arrives at his house to find his mentor dead in his bed. “Dying quietly in your sleep isn’t the worst way to go,” comments Agent Timothy McGee back at the NCIS offices.

While George from Young Sheldon didn’t die in real life, that hasn’t stopped fans from making jokes that the actor had also passed. After George’s death, Barber and his co-star, Doc Farrow, who played Assistant Coach Wayne Wilkins, shared a joint Instagram post thanking viewers for watching Young Sheldon for seven seasons. “Reflecting on our incredible journey and the unforgettable moments between friends as we near the end of ‘Young Sheldon,'” Farrow and Barber captioned the post. “Our relationship on screen was full of ups and downs, challenges and triumphs, much like any great coaching partnership. Each episode we shared not only brought our characters closer but also taught us lessons in resilience, respect, and the power of second chances. As we bid farewell to this amazing chapter, we are grateful for every heated debate, every laugh, and every heart-to-heart. Here’s to the memories we’ve created and the stories we’ve told.”

While man users commented their praise for Barber’s performance in George’s last episode others made jokes about the character’s death. “How’s bro posting when he’s dead 😭😭💀💀,” a user wrote, to which another user responded, “He could be dead in the series but not in real life.” One more user commented, “Cause he’s not dead? He’s only dead in the show.” The original user clapped back noting that they were being sarcastic: “ik that i am joking.”

How did George die in Young Sheldon?

George died in Season 7, Episode 11, “A New Home and a Traditional Texas Torture,” which saw him suffer a fatal heart attack while at work. Coach Wilkins and Principal Tom Peterson arrive at the Cooper’s house to deliver the news. The event is canon to Young Sheldon’s mother series, The Big Bang Theory, in which Sheldon’s father also died when he was a teenager. However, thee were some changes.

In The Big Bang Theory Season 4, Episode 2, “The Cruciferous Vegetable Amplification,” Sheldon learns that George’s cause of death is listed as “SBL,” which viewers assume was an acronym for the medical condition that killed him. However, the issue is that there are no medical conditions related to a heart disease with that acronym. “Small bowel lymphoma” and “Sclerotic bone lesions” are the most commonly used medical acronyms for “SBL,” however, neither would really fit his actual death.

Young Sheldon is available to stream on Paramount Plus.

Check out our gallery on Iain Armitage then and now to see how much the Young Sheldon star has grown up.