John Goodman Reflects on Fame and ‘Roseanne’ Experiences

John Goodman recently shared insights about the challenges he faced with fame after starring in the sitcom ‘Roseanne.’ In an interview with the SAG-AFTRA Foundation, the 74-year-old actor revealed feelings of fear and unease that accompanied his rise to stardom.

During the conversation, Goodman expressed regret about not handling fame better. He admitted, ‘I wish I would have taken to it better…I was frightened.’ His candid reflection suggests that the sudden shift from being an independent actor to a celebrity was daunting.

Goodman discussed his career transformation in the late ’80s and early ’90s. He recounted advice he received to hire a publicist to manage his newfound fame. ‘I had a bad time dealing with how famous I got all of a sudden,’ he shared, underscoring the complexities of navigating celebrity status.

Joining ‘Roseanne’ was initially a strategic move for Goodman, aimed at providing stability. He liked working with Roseanne Barr from the start. ‘When I left, I just knew I had the job.’ ‘Roseanne’ was a departure from the era’s ‘wealth porn’ shows, offering a more realistic portrayal of working-class life.

Following ‘Roseanne,’ Goodman had a successful film career, with roles in ‘The Flintstones,’ ‘The Big Lebowski,’ and ‘Monsters Inc.’ In 2018, he returned to play Dan Conner in the ‘Roseanne’ reboot, which was canceled after Barr made a controversial statement online.

ABC launched ‘The Conners’ shortly after, sans Barr. Goodman continued to act in both ‘The Conners’ and ‘The Righteous Gemstones.’ He reflected on the longevity of ‘The Conners,’ stating, ‘I sure enjoyed it while I was there.’

He also mentioned that his communication with Barr ceased about seven or eight years ago. Barr, in her podcast, expressed feelings of betrayal related to Goodman scaling back his appearances on ‘Roseanne’ during its later seasons.