Actor Jim Parsons says coming out as gay in a The New York Times interview was a “wonderful gift.”

Parsons, who is best known for playing Sheldon Cooper in the CBS comedy The Big Bang Theory, quietly came out gay in a 2012 interview with Patrick Healy for the Times.

Appearing on Bravo's Inside the Actors Studio, Parsons said that he was grateful that Healy asked the question.

“I never had a coming out piece, I just didn't mention it. I took Todd with me to events … and then finally one day while working on Harvey I did a piece with Patrick Healy for The New York Times and he just point-blank asked, 'Was working on The Normal Heart meaningful to you as a gay man?' And I was like, 'Well, yeah. Yeah,'” Parsons said.

“And what a wonderful … I can't tell you what a wonderful thing that was. What a gift he gave me with one question. It was suddenly out there and official,” he added.

Parsons added that he met partner Todd Spiewak on a blind date at a karaoke bar.