'Big Bang Theory' Star Jim Parsons Addresses Show's Ending

One day after CBS announced that the upcoming 12th season of The Big Bang Theory would be the beloved sitcom's last, star Jim Parsons shared a heartfelt message on Instagram about the show's ending.

The four-time Emmy winner, who plays Sheldon Cooper, described his affection for the cast and crew, as well as the writers who "found ways to keep coming up with organic, entertaining ways to keep the life of this show going which is a task much, much more challenging than anyone other than them will ever know or understand."

Parsons began his lengthy post by explaining how hard it was to come to grips with the end of the iconic series.

"It is hard (nearly impossible, actually) to really accept that this is a picture of the first of the final 24 episodes we will shoot for The Big Bang Theory. I feel very fortunate that we have another 23 episodes to shoot this season because I am hopeful that with each and every one, my level of REALLY accepting this fact will sink in," he began.

"Something else I feel grateful for — and this gratitude needs no time to 'sink in' or become more 'realized:' this grateful feeling is always with me but is multiplied in this moment of us announcing our final season — but I feel such intense gratitude for our devoted viewers who are the ACTUAL reason we have been graced with the opportunity to explore these characters for 12 years of our lives."

"I feel grateful to our crew — many, many of whom have been with us since day one — and who are the people who bring a sense of steadiness and dependability, who are so warm and kind and always quick to say hello and smile at us every time we come to the set and who, even though you don't see them on TV, are in many ways the real and steady heartbeat that keeps this body of work alive and breathing while we, like flailing arms and legs, act like jackasses and fools in attempt to make someone laugh," he continued.

"I am grateful to all the writers of our show — those with us now and those that have come and gone — because, without them, there would literally be no Big Bang Theory at all, ever," he said.

"And while I know that they already know it, it bears repeating again and again: I am so terribly grateful for the cast in this picture and the cast members who aren't pictured here — whether they were in one scene or many episodes along the way; you are all my playmakers that I have fallen in love with and who have become a part of my life on set and off.

He concluded, "You are my playmates when we don't feel like playing but have to because it's our job to get out there and communicate and pretend we're these other fictional people and we look into each other's eyes and say these words and end up creating this weird, other reality that has enriched my life more than I will fully ever understand. I will miss all of you and all of this more than I can say and more than I can know at this time."

Parsons did not address the report from Entertainment Weekly that said he was behind the decision to end the show, as he was ready to walk away from the hit series.

With a reported salary of about $1 millions per episode, Parsons — along with four original co-stars Kaley Cuoco, Jonny Galecki, Kunal Nayyar and Simon Helberg — would have earned more than $50 million including profits if he had agreed to stay on the show for two more years, which CBS was reportedly attempting to negotiate.

But the actor was reportedly ready to let go of the show that first put him on the map.

In a joint statement by Warner Bros. Television, CBS and Chuck Lorre productions, the team behind Big Bang told fans the series will end in May 2019.

"We are forever grateful to our fans for their support of The Big Bang Theory during the past twelve seasons. We, along with the cast, writers and crew, are extremely appreciative of the show's success and aim to deliver a final season, and series finale, that will bring The Big Bang Theory to an epic creative close," the companies and creators said in a joint statement to Entertainment Tonight.

The Big Bang Theory will premiere its final season on Monday, Sept. 24 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS before moving to its regular time slot Thursday, Sept. 27 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.