Fact Check: Did George Cooper's actor in Young Sheldon, Lance Barber, attend his character's funeral in real life?

Young Sheldon, the prequel series to The Big Bang Theory, wrapped up its final season on Thursday, May 16, 2024, on CBS. The one-hour two-part finale was titled Funeral and showed the Cooper family trying to process the death of George Cooper Sr., played by Lance Barber. George, who was the Cooper siblings' father, was a huge part of the storyline and the finale looked at how the family dealt with his death.

Since he was dead in the show, George Cooper wasn't a part of the series finale. However, the actor playing the role was a part of the finale. Lance Barber attended the funeral, in an unexpected role - as one of the mourners paying their respects to his dead character on the show.

Disclaimer: This article may contain spoilers for the last two episodes of Young Sheldon. Reader’s discretion is advised.

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Young Sheldon star Lance Barber attended his character’s funeral in disguise

George Cooper Sr. died in season 7 episode 12 titled A New Home and A Traditional Texas Torture. The final episode of the final season of Young Sheldon saw the Coopers attending George's funeral service.

While The Big Bang Theory fans have known that George's death was certain, the episode showing it left them heartbroken. While the storyline was emotional and heavy, Lance Barber found a way to balance the drama and add some comedy.

The funeral service for George went smoothly as family and friends mourned his death. While fans were also mourning the death of the beloved character, Raegan Revord, who plays Sheldon's twin sister, Missy Cooper, revealed Lance Barber's secret cameo on the series finale.

Revord mentioned that Barber was dressed up as "Georgina," an old, white-haired woman, to "attend his own funeral."

In a wide shot of everyone at the funeral, Lance Barber is seen at the back of the church as the show’s cast bid their last goodbye to the Cooper patriarch.

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What’s next for the Coopers?

Season 7’s episodes 13 and 14 are confirmed to have been the final episodes of the show as it will not be returning for season 8.

The story of Sheldon as a child and teen might be over but the Coopers are getting another spin-off, this one focusing on Sheldon's older brother Georgie. Titled Georgie and Mandy’s First Marriage, the new series will star Montana Jordan as George "Georgie" Cooper Jr. and Emily Osment as Mandy.

The upcoming series will continue the story of the Coopers, set a month or two after the events in the Young Sheldon finale. Following their father's death Georgie will have to step up and take over family duties.

The upcoming spinoff is expected to come out in the 2024-2025 season, although the exact premiere date remains unknown. Aside from Jordan and Osment, the series will see Rachel Bay Jones and Will Sasso reprising their roles as Mandy’s parents, Audrey and Jim McAllister.

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Steve Holland, who was the executive producer of Young Sheldon, will continue with his duties in the upcoming spinoff. Holland has also mentioned in an interview with The Wrap that other members of the Cooper family might occasionally cameo in Georgie and Mandy’s First Marriage.

All seven seasons of Young Sheldon are available to stream on Paramount+.