John Goodman (actor)
John Goodman is an acclaimed American actor, celebrated for his versatility in television, film, and stage productions. He gained widespread recognition for his role as Dan Conner on the hit sitcom "Roseanne," which aired from 1988 to 1997 and became one of the most-watched shows in the U.S. during its run. Born on June 20, 1952, in Affton, Missouri, Goodman faced challenges early in life, including the loss of his father at a young age. He pursued acting at Missouri State University and initially struggled in New York City before landing his breakthrough role.
Throughout his career, Goodman has appeared in over fifty films, including notable works like "Barton Fink," "The Flintstones," and "Argo." He has received several accolades, including seven Emmy nominations and a Golden Globe award. Beyond his acting roles, he has been candid about his personal struggles with depression and alcohol, advocating for mental health awareness. Goodman has been married since 1989 and resides in New Orleans. His enduring career and rich body of work have made him a respected figure in the entertainment industry.
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John Goodman (actor)
Television, film, and stage actor
- Born: June 20, 1952
- Place of Birth: Affton, Missouri
- Significance: John Goodman is an award-winning American television, film, and stage actor who is best known for his role as Dan Conner on Roseanne, a series that ran from 1988 to 1997 and was the most-watched television show in the United States from 1989 to 1990. Goodman has starred in more than fifty films.
Background
John Stephen Goodman was born on June 20, 1952, in Affton, Missouri. His father, Leslie F. Goodman, was a postal worker, and his mother, Virginia Roos, was a store clerk and waitress. Goodman's father died of a heart attack when Goodman was two, leaving his mother to raise him and his two siblings. Goodman attended Affton High School, where he was a member of the football team and performed in some school theater productions. Tall and hefty, Goodman won a football scholarship to attend Missouri State University, but an injury quickly ended his budding football career. Goodman majored in drama and remained at the university, where he studied with fellow actors Kathleen Turner and Tess Harper.
After graduating in 1975, Goodman borrowed money from his older brother to rent an apartment with his girlfriend in New York City near the theater district in Manhattan. He struggled at first, working in small dinner theaters, doing voice-overs, and acting in embarrassing television commercials—for one aftershave advertisement, he had to slap himself in the face, and for another, he had to take off his clothes and get in a shower. To make ends meet, Goodman worked as a waiter, a bartender, and a bouncer. In 1978, he starred in the Broadway production Loose Ends with Dennis Quaid, Bruce Willis, and Kevin Kline, but the play was not well received by audiences.
In the 1980s, Goodman's acting career began to take off. He landed roles in the movies Eddie Macon's Run (1982) and Face of Rage (1983). In 1985, Goodman began playing Huck Finn's father, Pap, in the Broadway musical Big River. He remained with the production until 1986 when he was cast in True Stories, his first major film. The following year, Goodman starred with Nicolas Cage in Raising Arizona.
Life's Work
Goodman performed in a stage production of Antony and Cleopatra in 1987, unaware that an ABC talent scout was in the audience. Impressed with Goodman's performance, the scout recruited him for Roseanne, a new sitcom featuring comedian Roseanne Barr. Barr's character in the show was Roseanne Conner, the sharp-tongued, sarcastic wife and mother of the blue-collar clan. Goodman was cast as Dan Conner, the laid-back husband and father. The show was an instant hit—and Goodman's career skyrocketed. For his role as Dan Conner, Goodman was nominated for seven Emmy Awards. In 1993, he received a Golden Globe for best actor.
Goodman continued to act in films while starring in Roseanne. In 1990, he appeared in the Steven Spielberg thriller Arachnophobia. The following year, he starred in the Cohen brothers' film Barton Fink. In 1992, Goodman received critical acclaim for his starring role in The Babe, a film about baseball legend Babe Ruth. He starred in the film adaptation of The Flintstones in 1994. The following year, Goodman produced Kingfish: A Story of Huey P. Long, a made-for-television biopic. Goodman was nominated for an Emmy for his role in the film.
Goodman took a break from Roseanne after the eighth season to focus solely on his film career. His many films after this time include the critically acclaimed Argo (2012), Flight (2012), The Gambler (2014), Trumbo (2015), Love the Coopers (2015), 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016), and Patriots Day (2016). In 2017, Goodman starred in three action thrillers: Kong: Skull Island, Once Upon a Time in Venice, and Atomic Blonde. Goodman also starred in the HBO series Treme, a 2010 drama about life in New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. In 2018, Goodman reprised his role of Dan Conner in the much-anticipated revival of Roseanne. The revival, however, was canceled after just one season, when Barr was fired from the show after making racist comments on social media. The same year, Goodman starred in The Conners, a spin-off of Roseanne, following Dan Conner and the rest of the Conner family without Roseanne. While starring in The Conners, Goodman also had a number of voice-only roles, including eighteen episodes of The Freak Brothers (2020-2023) and eighteen as the voice of Sulley in Monsters at Work beginning in 2021.
In 2019, Goodman took on a starring role as a morally “flexible” televangelist in the comedy TV series, The Righteous Gemstones. In 2023, he also appeared in two episodes of the TV series Monarch: Legacy of Monsters.
Impact
Goodman's net worth of $65 million reflects his outstanding success as an actor. He has proven himself to be one of Hollywood's most successful character actors. Goodman is known for his versatility—he is equally skilled at both comedy and drama. His longtime costar and friend Roseanne Barr described him as "the funniest and deepest actor in the world."
In an effort to help others, Goodman openly discusses his struggles with depression, his weight, and alcohol. (The actor has been sober since 2007.)
Personal Life
Goodman has been married to Anna Beth Hartzog since 1989. The couple had one child in 1990, Molly Evangeline Goodman. Goodman and his wife live in New Orleans.
Bibliography
Appelo, Tim. "John Goodman Can't Quit." AARP The Magazine, 27 July 2017, www.aarp.org/entertainment/television/info-2017/john-goodman-celebrity-news-interview.html. Accessed 5 Oct. 2024.
Brooks, Xan. "John Goodman: 'Alcohol Was Becoming Life or Death. It Was Time to Stop.'" Guardian, 26 Oct. 2012, www.theguardian.com/film/2012/oct/26/john-goodman-argo-ben-affleck. Accessed 5 Oct. 2024.
Day, Elizabeth. "John Goodman: 'There Were Many Times I Could Have Gone Under.'" Guardian, 5 Apr. 2015, www.theguardian.com/culture/2015/apr/05/john-goodman-many-times-i-could-have-gone-under-interview-american-buffalo. Accessed 5 Oct. 2024.
Fisher, Luchina. "John Goodman Discusses Bringing Dan Back in 'Roseanne' Reboot." ABC News, 8 June 2017, abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/john-goodman-discusses-bringing-dan-back-roseanne-reboot/story?id=47913219. Accessed 5 Oct. 2024.
"John Goodman." The Famous People, www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/john-stephen-goodman-1910.php. Accessed 5 Oct. 2024.
"John Goodman." IMDb, 2024, www.imdb.com/name/nm0000422/. Accessed 5 Oct. 2024.
Sajja, Jennifer Zaba. "John Goodman Talks New Film, Bruce Willis, and 'Roseanne' Revival." CBS News, 16 June 2017, www.cbsnews.com/news/john-goodman-talks-new-film-bruce-willis-and-roseanne-revival/. Accessed 5 Oct. 2024.