When "Young Sheldon" premiered in 2017, Sheldon (Iain Armitage) was only nine years old, and George's death was years in the future. Still, the major life event crept up periodically. In Season 1, George has his first heart attack, and a second one follows early in Season 5. "The Big Bang Theory" fans are also privy to George's poor health, as Sheldon regularly alludes to his drinking (even going so far as to say the liquor store owner mourned his death).
In the ongoing sixth season, Sheldon is 12 years old, and the specter of death is looming larger in the series, setting up a dark end for the series. The inevitable event affects the cast as well. When a fan tweeted, "Missy and George's relationship is beautiful. We will all be destroyed by her reaction to his death," star Raegan Revord jumped in to reply: "I'm already destroyed and it hasn't even happened yet."
Still, some fans are holding out hope that "Young Sheldon" will play fast and loose with anachronisms, perhaps even nixing the death altogether. @silliestgoofy tweeted, "Hope they pull the alternate universe card on Young Sheldon so George Cooper doesn't die because it will break my tiny little heart."
