Iain Armitage born July 15, 2008 is an American actor who has gained widespread recognition for his talent and versatility at a young age. He is best known for his portrayal of Sheldon Cooper in the CBS series Young Sheldon, a spin-off prequel to The Big Bang Theory, which aired from 2017 to 2024.

In addition to this iconic role, Armitage played Ziggy Chapman in HBO's critically acclaimed series Big Little Lies from 2017 to 2019. He has also made numerous guest appearances on television and lent his voice to beloved animated characters, including Chase in PAW Patrol: The Movie and young Shaggy Rogers in Scoob! and Scoob! Holiday Haunt.

Iain Armitage was born in Arlington, Virginia, to actor Euan Morton, originally from Bo'ness, Scotland, and theater producer Lee Armitage.

He is the grandson of Richard Lee Armitage, former United States Deputy Secretary of State. Raised in a family deeply rooted in the performing arts, Armitage was naturally inclined towards acting and theater from a young age.

Armitage first gained attention through his YouTube channel, Iain Loves Theatre, where he reviewed musical theater performances. His enthusiastic and insightful reviews caught the eye of the theater community, leading to offers from two talent agents. His popularity soared when he served as a correspondent for Perez Hilton during the 2015 Tony Awards and was referenced in the show's opening number.

In January 2017, Armitage made his television debut in an episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit ("Chasing Theo"), playing Theo Lachere, a young boy who had been kidnapped. He also appeared in an episode of Impractical Jokers ("Look Out Below"), where he interacted with Murr in a challenge.

Armitage's breakout role came as Ziggy Chapman in HBO's Big Little Lies, where he starred alongside Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, and Shailene Woodley. His performance was widely praised and helped establish him as a rising star in Hollywood. In the same year, he appeared in several films, including The Glass Castle, a film adaptation of Jeannette Walls' memoir, I'm Not Here, and Our Souls at Night, which featured Jane Fonda and Robert Redford.

In 2017, Armitage was cast as the young Sheldon Cooper in Young Sheldon, a role that earned him critical acclaim and a devoted fan base. His performance was so well-received that he made a guest appearance on The Big Bang Theory, portraying young Sheldon in a videotape intended to inspire the older Sheldon.

2020s
Armitage continued to expand his career into voice acting. In 2020, he voiced young Shaggy Rogers in the animated film Scoob! and was set to reprise the role in Scoob! Holiday Haunt. Although the latter film was canceled in August 2022, his work in the animated genre remains notable.

In 2021, Armitage voiced Chase in PAW Patrol: The Movie, replacing Justin Paul Kelley from the Nickelodeon series. His ability to bring animated characters to life further showcased his versatility as an actor.

Beyond his acting career, Armitage has a keen interest in languages. He is proficient in Russian, which he began learning during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown through a language-learning app. Additionally, he has studied Armenian, Ukrainian, Assyrian, Sinhalese, German, Spanish, and Italian, showcasing his dedication to cultural and linguistic diversity.

In an interview with Northern Virginia Magazine in 2022, Armitage revealed that his mother was initially hesitant about his pursuit of an acting career. She was concerned about the potential negative impact of Hollywood on child actors, but eventually, she became one of his biggest supporters. "Mom is just so cool and so kind and always so grounding," Armitage shared, emphasizing her pivotal role in his life and career.