Who Plays Pastor Jeff In Young Sheldon?

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In simpler terms, the TV series titled “Young Sheldon” is a prequel to the popular show “The Big Bang Theory,” focusing on the early life of character Sheldon Cooper (portrayed by Jim Parsons in the original and Ian Armitage in this one). Most characters in “Young Sheldon” are new to the universe of “TBBT,” with the exception being members of Sheldon’s family. On “The Big Bang Theory,” Sheldon frequently discussed his religious upbringing, which is a significant aspect in “Young Sheldon.” Meet Pastor Jeff Dillard.

Pastor Jeff consistently appears throughout the seven seasons of “Young Sheldon,” either as a central or recurring figure. He serves as the cleric at the Cooper family’s church, and strives to guide Sheldon towards faith and God. Simultaneously, he aims to be a guiding force for Sheldon in any path he chooses, whether spiritual or secular. However, he is not widely admired among fans, and his interactions with the Cooper family are often strained. Over time, some of his personal flaws become apparent, contributing to less amicable relationships and unfavorable portrayals throughout the show’s run.

Speaking about the actor who portrayed Pastor Jeff on “Young Sheldon”, it’s Matt Hobby – a comedian and performer. Although his role in “Young Sheldon” is one of his major appearances to date, Hobby has also made guest appearances in various well-known TV series and a few movies as well.

Matt Hobby got his first big break on Boardwalk Empire

Following some minor appearances in movies and TV shows, Matt Hobby landed his first significant mainstream opportunity when he was chosen to portray Philip, the Thomas family’s house servant, on HBO’s “Boardwalk Empire”. Despite appearing in just five episodes, this role served as a crucial milestone in Hobby’s acting journey. Later on, he took on a more consistent recurring part on “Hart of Dixie”, playing Rudy Truitt for ten episodes spanning seasons 2 to 4. This was followed by a five-episode stint on the single-season Fox legal drama “The Grinder”.

Since taking on the role of Pastor Jeff, Hobby has made appearances in individual episodes for both “Fresh Off The Boat” and “Your Pretty Face is Going to Hell.” Later, he reprised his Pastor Jeff character in two guest spots for a spin-off of “Young Sheldon,” titled “Georgie and Mandy’s First Marriage.” In addition to acting, Hobby is a stand-up comedian and hosts the podcast “Smackers” (formerly known as “Pay or Request”).

Matt Hobby’s real-life wife also plays Pastor Jeff‘s wife

A point that hasn’t been emphasized much is that Pastor Jeff is remarried. Specifically, he was previously married to a woman named Selena (Zuleyka Silver), but she appeared only in Season 1 of “Young Sheldon”. In Season 2, Pastor Jeff met a police officer named Robin (Mary Grill) during a traffic stop, and the two eventually got married. Interestingly, Matt Hobby and Mary Grill, who portray Pastor Jeff and Officer Robin respectively, were already married for eight years in real life when Mary joined the cast of “Young Sheldon”.

As a gaming enthusiast, I’ve got a side hustle in comedy, where I team up with my buddy Hobby for some hilarious acts. We even had our own web series together, but it seems to have wrapped up and can’t be found online these days.

On the acting front, I’ve got quite a resume. Apart from playing Robin Tifford and other roles alongside my spouse, I’ve graced shows like “Veep,” “Mad Men,” and “The Mindy Project.” Just a few of the many gigs I’ve been lucky enough to land in this crazy world of entertainment!

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2025-05-13 23:48