At 71, John Goodman Admits the Scary Reality We've Always Suspected!

I don't eat every 5 minutes and they don't want me write a book I would love you to write a book have you ever thought about this no no no I at 71 John Goodman reveals the terrifying truth we thought all along John Goodman the Beloved star of Roseanne and the big Labowski has been a fixture in Hollywood for decades but behind the scenes he has been hiding a battle that threatened to take everything away from him from losing his father at a young age and battling severe bullying due to his weight to facing a crippling addiction that almost Ed his career John Goodman has faced more than his fair share of challenges how did he rise from the depths of Despair to become one of the most respected actors in the industry and what terrifying truth did he reveal at 71 that left everyone in shock discover the true story behind the laughter and the man who fought Against All Odds to find his place in Hollywood early life and challenges born in Afton Missouri in 1952 he faced the loss of his father at a very young age this left him feeling lonely and withdrawn especially when his older brother went off to college he also struggled with being bullied in school because of his weight which made him feel even more isolated but Jon wasn't just a kid who faced difficulties he had hidden talents and interests that would eventually shape his life he loved listening to the radio reading comic books and even dabbling in theater during High School his older brother Leslie played a significant role in introducing him to the world of comedy and music which sparked a lifelong passion for performing after graduating high school JN took a break from studying but he soon earned a foot scholarship to Missouri State University where he planned to continue his athletic Pursuits unfortunately an injury ended his football dreams before he even had a chance to play on the field discovering a new passion but instead of giving up Jon found a new passion in the University's drama program he discovered a love for acting and quickly immersed himself in the world of theater he even had the chance to study alongside future Hollywood stars Kathleen Turner and Tess Harper forming friendships that would last a lifetime Jon's dedication to his Newfound passion paid off and he graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1975 his alma mater recognized his achievements years later awarding him an honorary doctorate in Humane letters in 2013 it was a proud moment for John a symbol of how far he had come from the shy and lonely boy he once was after graduating from college John Goodman packed his bags and headed for the big city New York City With a Little Help from his brother he found a small apartment in Hell's Kitchen right near the Theater District he tried to make NS meet by working as a bartender and waiter but it wasn't easy breaking into the industry but Jon didn't give up on his dreams he started doing voiceovers commercials and even performing in plays he even landed a gig in a famous TV commercial for men in skin bracer where he slapped himself and said the funny line thanks I needed that Jon kept working hard acting in Off Broadway shows and dinner theaters it wasn't glamorous but it was a way for him to practice his craft and get his name out there and all that hard work eventually paid off in the early 1980s he started getting small roles in movies taking his first steps toward becoming a Hollywood star first film and Rising stardom in 1983 John Goodman a fresh-faced actor with a passion for his craft found himself in Laredo Texas on the set of his very first movie Eddie Mon's run he had taken a chance moving to New York City in 1975 to pursue his acting dreams working in dinner theater Children's Theater and even off Broadway Productions to stay afloat this opportunity in Laredo was a major step up for him a chance to be part of a real Hollywood production with established stars like John Schneider and Kirk Douglas the movie produced by Martin bregman was an action thriller about an escaped convict On The Run Goodman alongside his fellow theater colleagues Dan Floric and JT Walsh had been cast in supporting roles although his role as Mr Herbert was small it marked Goodman's first foray into the world of film Goodman later recalled that he never even saw Kirk Douglas during the filming but he was excited to be part of such a significant project little did he know that this humble beginning would pave the way for a long and successful career in film and television Eddie Mon's run might not be Goodman's most famous film but it holds a special place in his heart as the starting point of his cinematic Journey it was a chance for him to learn the ropes of filmmaking work alongside experienced professionals and discover his potential as a Screen Actor breakthrough roles in Roseanne following his debut Goodman's acting Journey took a hilarious turn in 1987 when he landed a role in the Cohen Brothers cult classic comedy Raising Arizona it was a far cry from the action-packed Thriller he had previously been a part of Goodman's audition for the film was an experience in itself he flew to New York to meet Joel and Ethan Cohen the film's directors without even having seen their previous work Blood Simple but he quickly found himself in stitches laughing and goofing around with the brothers for almost an hour the casting room was filled with laughter and Good Vibes and Goodman knew he had found a special project even even if he hadn't gotten the part Goodman said he would have been happy just to have spent that time with the Cohen Brothers their writing was brilliant and their sense of humor was right up his alley Raising Arizona was a turning point in Goodman's career it solidified his reputation as a talented comedic actor and open doors for him in Hollywood but more importantly it was a project that he genuinely enjoyed working on he had a blast playing Gail snotes one of the hilarious escaped convicts who helped Nicholas Cage's character Hawaii kidnpped a baby the film's success both critically and commercially was the icing on the cake for Goodman then he joined the cast of the hit sitcom Roseanne in 1988 he already knew Roseanne Bar from their days filming commercials for Pizza Hut but this was their first time working together on a major project Jon was drawn to the show because it felt familiar to him growing up in the midwest with a modest upbringing he could relate to the workingclass family portrayed in the sitcom the chemistry between him and Roseanne was undeniable and he knew right away that he had landed the role of Dan Connor Roseanne's husband for John Roseanne was a welcome change of pace he had been living out of a suitcase for years traveling from job to job and this role offered him the stability of staying in one place for a while the cast and crew were like a family always making each other laugh and creating a fun and supportive atmosphere on set Jon's main goal on set was to make Roseanne laugh so hard that she'd pee her pants he and the rest of the cast would team up to try and crack her up making for a hilarious and enjoyable working environment however sitcom acting was a different style than what Jon was used to it was more formulaic and predictable which he tried to resist as much as possible he wanted to find new ways to make his character interesting and relatable within the constraints of the format in 2018 the Rosanne Revival now called the Connors brought John Goodman back to the familiar role of Dan Connor this unexpected return was sparked by a conversation with Sarah Gilbert who played Darlene on the original show she asked John if he'd be interested in a revisal and he immediately said yes the memories of working on Roseanne came flooding back mostly the good ones JN missed the camaraderie and the laughter and he was eager to reunite with his former castmates the Revival was a success lasting for several seasons and rekindling the love for the Connor family among viewers but before the Connors Jon's career had already taken him to new heights in 1990 he starred in the horror comedy Arachnophobia playing a quirky exterminator who battles a deadly spider infestation John's involvement in Arachnophobia was a result of his growing Connections in Hollywood he found himself hanging out at Steven Spielberg's production company ulent entertainment rubbing elbows with some of the biggest names in the industry it felt like he had finally found his place a community of creative and talented individuals who shared his passion for filmmaking this newfound sense of belonging led him to accept the role in Arachnophobia even though he initially struggled to develop his character with time running out before filming began John Drew inspiration from a high school biology teacher he remembered as being quite funny he used this memory to create the character of Delbert mlto The Eccentric exterminator who became a fan favorite looking back on his early Fame Jon admitted that he wasn't always equipped to handle the pressure and attention he felt overwhelmed by the sudden recognition and allowed it to negatively impact his life it's a common struggle for many celebrities as the weight of Fame can be a heavy burden but Jon's honesty about his struggles is refreshing and relatable he acknowledged that he could have handled things better and that he was Ill prepared for the challenges that came with success in 1991 John Goodman took on a fiery role in the Cohen Brothers film Barton Frink he played Charlie Meadows a friendly but mysterious insurance salesman who becomes the neighbor of the struggling writer Barton fin the character of Charlie was a far cry from The Lovable Dan Connor one of the most memorable scenes in the film involved a raging fire in a hotel hallway with Goodman's character fully engulfed in flames while it might look terrifying on screen Goodman later revealed that he was well protected during the filming he was covered in a special fireproof goo and the hallway was lit up to ensure his safety however the sight of her husband engulfed in flames wasn't exactly comforting for Goodman's pregnant wife who visited the set one day and wasn't too thrilled about the stunt interestingly both Goodman's wife and John truro's wife were pregnant at the same time during the filming Goodman even joked about being a macho boy and a stunt boy willing to take on any challenge that came his way despite the Heat and the flames he saw it as a thrilling experience but the relationship between Goodman and John Truro who played the titular character Barton Frink was a bit more distant for reasons Goodman himself didn't fully understand they kept their distance during filming despite the distance between them Goodman's performance in Bart andf was powerful and memorable his portrayal of the enigmatic Charlie Meadows added a layer of mystery and Intrigue to the film it was a role that showcased his versatility as an actor and his ability to delve into the darker side of human nature in 1998 John Goodman joined the cast of The Big Labowski a quirky comedy by the Cohen Brothers that would become a cult classic he played Walter sachak A Vietnam veteran and bowling Enthusiast with a short fuse and a penchant for dramatic outbursts from the moment he read the script Goodman knew he was in for a treat the humor was offbeat and hilarious and he immediately fell in love with his character Walter despite his sometimes prickly personality he felt like he understood the character instinctively and the role just evolved naturally for him the film rehearsal process was a godsend for Goodman as it allowed him to explore the character further and develop his comedic timing although the dialogue was tightly scripted the delivery felt so natural that many viewers assumed the actors were improvising one of the most memorable scenes in the film involved Goodman shouting obscenities at the top of his lungs in a quiet neighborhood at 3: in the morning initially this made Goodman uncomfortable but he eventually embraced the absurdity of the situation and had a blast filming it he even got to smash up a Corvette with a crowbar which he described as a surprisingly enjoyable experience the big Labowski wasn't a massive box office hit when it was first released but it quickly gained a cult following and is now considered a beloved classic in 2001 John Goodman's voice took center stage in the animated hit Monsters Inc he played James P Sullivan or Sully a big furry monster who worked as a professional scarer but before he stepped into the recording booth John had no idea just how huge this movie would become Jon had been doing voice acting for animated projects since his wife got pregnant his first experience was with Steven Spielberg who directed him remotely for a show about dinosaurs in New York City John loved the flexibility of voice acting as it allowed him to stay close to home while still being part of exciting projects when JN met John Lasser the head of Pixar he knew he had found a special place the Pixar team was like a big family and John felt right at home it was during the making of Monsters Inc that Billy Crystal who voiced Mike wasowski suggested they record their lines together this was a game Cher as the energy between between them skyrocketed and the characters came to life in a whole new way the Pixar team was also incredibly creative and Innovative they showed JN and Billy the progress of the animation and it was mindblowing but what's even more interesting is that they actually made the movie twice they filmed it once didn't like it and then started over from scratch but even with all the changes they always made sure to keep the heart of the story and the characters true to their original Vision Jon's character Sully was a big tough monster on the outside but he had a soft spot for Buu the little human girl who accidentally entered the Monster World it was Jon's job to bring out both Sully's intimidating and caring sides a challenge he embraced with his usual talent and Charisma Monsters Inc was a huge success becoming one of Pixar's most beloved films John Goodman's portrayal of Sully was a major part of that success his voice acting brought depth and emotion to the character making him both funny and heartwarming it was a role that would forever be associated with John Goodman in 2012 John Goodman starred in the thrilling historical drama Argo playing the role of John Chambers a legendary Hollywood makeup artist who gets involved in a secret CIA mission to rescue American hostages in Iran Goodman had to meet with the movies director Ben Affleck who was also a pretty smart guy to discuss the role even though the script was awesome Ben was in a hurry to start filming so the audition process was a bit rushed Goodman was impressed by Affleck's passion and energy while directing he was always moving around and really into the scenes but he had to tone it down a bit when he was on camera it's funny how some people are different on and off camera isn't it while working on Argo John Goodman had the chance to meet Alan Arin another amazing actor who became a good friend and Scrabble partner Goodman really looked up to Arin who was not only smart and funny but also gave him helpful advice about acting Goodman's performance as John Chambers was based on what he read in the script he didn't know much about the real John Chambers until after the movie was finished it's interesting how actors can bring a character to life even without knowing a lot about the real person they're playing but here's a funny coincidence after the movie came out Goodman met a friend of John Chambers who asked him how he managed to imitate Chambers limp Goodman hadn't even realized he was limping but he had recently had two knee Replacements so maybe that's where it came from it's a strange and funny twist that shows how sometimes life imitates art in unexpected ways in 2013 John Goodman's talents were showcased in the Cohen Brothers critically acclaimed film inside Luen Davis he played Roland Turner a jazz musician with a larger than life personality and a penchant for outrageous Behavior this role was a departure from his typical comedic characters allowing Goodman to explore a more dramatic and complex side of his acting abilities Goodman recalled receiving a call from Ethan Cohen one of the film's directors who playfully referred to him as madman a nod to his previous collaboration with them in Barton Fink the script for inside Lu and Davis resonated with Goodman immediately and he was drawn to the character of Roland Turner the character's quirky personality and unique mannerisms including a funny haircut reminiscent of juliia Caesar were all present in the script Goodman embraced these details adding his own flare and interpretation to create a memorable and captivating character Goodman enjoyed working with his talented co-star Oscar Isaac who played the lead role of Luen Davis Isaac's dedication to his craft and his natural Talent impressed Goodman who found him to be a supportive and enjoyable collaborator Isaac's performance which seemed effortless and graceful inspired Goodman to elevate his own performance in 2019 John Goodman stepped into the wild world of the righteous gemstones a rockus comedy series created by Danny McBride he plays Eli gemstone the patriarch of A Dysfunctional televangelist Family a role that's both hilarious and surprisingly heartfelt working with Danny McBride and the rest of the talented team behind the righteous gemstones has been a wild ride for Goodman he's constantly challenged to keep a straight face during filming as McBride's comedic genius often leads to impromptu laughter on set it's a testament to the show's creators jod Hill David Gordon green and Danny McBride that theyve fostered such a fun and collaborative atmosphere for Goodman the first season was particularly challenging as his character was grieving the loss of his wife he had to balance the humor with the emotional weight of the storyline a task he tackled with his usual Grace and skill throughout the series Goodman often finds himself playing the straight man grounding the over-the-top antics of his co-stars in a sense of reality he strives to bring as much truth and authenticity to Eli gemstone as possible even even when surrounded by the absurdity of the show's humor Goodman's Journey with the character has been one of continuous Discovery he's constantly learning new things about Eli's backstory and motivations which adds depth and complexity to his performance he trusts the writers and his fellow actors to guide him knowing they'll never let him down overcoming personal struggles but behind the scenes he was battling alcoholism a problem that threatened to destroy his career and his marriage but with the unwavering support of his wife anab Beth Goodman He Man managed to overcome his addiction and transform his life when Jon met Anna in 1988 he didn't think he had a chance with her he had always struggled with insecurity and self-doubt especially when it came to women but Anna saw something special in JN and they soon fell in love they got married in 1989 and welcomed their daughter Molly the following year Jon's career was booming but behind the scenes his addiction to alcohol was spiraling out of control he started drinking at work slurring his words and thinking he could fool everyone but his co-stars noticed and his Roseanne co-star Roseanne Bar even confronted him about it expressing her concern for his well-being Jon's wakeup call came when he missed an Emmy rehearsal because he was too drunk he called his wife who he jokingly compared to the gestapo and admitted he needed help Anna stepped up and found him a treatment center where he began his journey to sobriety but alcoholism wasn't Jon's only struggle he had also been battling weight issues for years reaching a peak of almost 400 lb the combination of his work schedule and his drink in habits made it difficult for him to maintain a healthy lifestyle career Resurgence after getting sober Jon finally had the clarity and energy to focus on his health he hired a personal trainer and started exercising regularly eventually losing over 200 lb this dramatic transformation not only improved his physical health but also his overall well-being John credits his wife Anna for being his Rock during this challenging time she supported him through thick and thin helping him get the help he needed and encouraging him to make healthier choices their marriage has stood the test of time thanks in part to their Mutual support and understanding Jon's sobriety has also changed his perspective on life he no longer uses alcohol as a crutch and feels more in control of his emotions and actions he's grateful for the second chance he's been given and is determined to live a healthier and happier life with his family